This month we are heading to the summer resort Richfield Springs, New York.
Richfield Springs was known by the local Native America population as “Big Medicine Waters,” and the Oneida tribe called the sulphur springs “Ga-no-wan-ges” meaning “stinking water.”
This month we are visiting the Arrowhead Hot Springs Company in San Bernardino, California. The mountain region known for its formations of light quartz was popular with Native Americans long before European settlement. There are multiple native legends for the landmark, one being that a flaming arrow led Native American Indians to the valley; hence, the arrow formation in stone pointing to the hot spring waters underneath.
This month we are back to the springs of Virginia as we visit the unincorporated community of Rock Enon Springs in Frederick County, Virginia.
Originally, the name of the resort was “Capper Springs” after one of the settlers, John Caper. In 1856, William Marker bought the property and began to advertise the springs as a health resort, as well as building a hotel that could accommodate visitors.
Rawley Springs is an unincorporated community in Rockingham County, 9 miles west of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and was once known for its lavish medical resort. European men began to settle the land in the early 19th century. One of the earliest settlers was Benjamin Smith, who sent his wife Elizabeth to the springs for her health in 1810. Doctors were perplexed on what was causing her illness, but within six weeks of staying at the springs and drinking the water she was cured. Shortly after, people began to set up summer camps by the springs. Joseph Hicks is credited for purchasing land and officially advertising the small village as a resort community in 1824.
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This month we are visiting Schoharie County, New York! The village of Sharon Springs is west of Albany and is near attractions such as Howe Caverns, Adirondack Park, Catskill Park, Fenimore Art Museum and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Sharon Springs, before European settlement, was frequented by the Iroquois population for the spring’s natural healing waters. Major European settlement began in 1825 with the establishment of a boarding house opened by David Eldredge.
This month we are visiting Saratoga County, New York – home of the Saratoga Springs! Saratoga Springs has been a popular resort for health for over 200 years.
The land was originally home to the Mohawk and Iroquois tribes, who used its forests for hunting and the mineral springs for health. Sir William Johnson of the French and Indian War spent his time healing at the springs after befriending the Native Americans of the area.
A European settlement was started in 1819, and quickly gained tourism success in 1832, when the Saratoga and Scenectady Railroad Station was built. By 1870, there was an express train from New York City to the resort town, furthering the springs’ expansion.
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