The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-01
GLENN SPRINGS.
IT'S PAsT AND PRESENT-ITS LOCATION,
TRADITIONS AND HISTORY.
Me .Iourna[ Of COmmerce !:

To the Journal Of Commerce
Those of your readers who are beginning
to cast about for some place OF rest and shell
ter during the hot months which are ap-
preaching, will be pleased to know that this
celebrated Watering place is now open for
the season.
Glenn Springs is situated on high ridge,
dividing the Fair Forrest and North Tiger
Rivers. ninety miles rather northwest of
Columbia, within FIVE miles of the Spartan
burg and Columbia Union Railroad, aud
twelve miles south of the town of Spartan
burg. It is accessible more conveniently by
hack from Spartanburg G. H., by pleasant
and picturesque drive ofless than two hours
Professor Tourney, in his geographical sur
vcy of the State, speaking of this route, says:
Between Spartanburg and Glenn Springs
the Fair Forrest has scooped out channel
in the Gneiss rock, at the foot of HILL form
ing wild and picturesque little view
GIneiss is also well exposed at the quiet and
pretty spot called Cedar Springs, now an
asylum for the dumb deaf and blnd, where
bold spring of pure water issues from
assure in the rock.
Glenn Springs is classed by Professor
Walter, in his work on mineral springs
among the Sulphur Springs. But the an.
alysis by DR.. c. U. Shepherd, of the Char
lesion College, shows it to contain besides
sulphuretted hydrogen, sulphate of magne-
sia, carbonate of lime, and sulphatc of lime,
and is, therefore, both alkaline and saline,
aud hence the very large class Of diseases
which it benefits and cures. Indeed, there
is sscarccly an ailmcnt except well developed
tubucular consumption, and that in the last
stages, which it does not benefit.
Tradition says that in the year l7G4, over
century ago, when the wild deer, and other
dcnizens of the forest, were plentiful in the
District of Spartanburg, old hunters obscr-
we'd trails converging from all points of the
compass to n certain marshy cove at the base
of hill, where this celebrated spring is
now situ1ted. To this marsh these wild an
imals were in the habit, in the spring time
and summer, Of rcsorting, to drink the water
which run from it, and many an ant'cred
buck has lost his life in caring for his health
After the time of the deer and the buffalo
the cattle of the early settlers had the same
resort, and when lost from distant sections
they were almost always found at what was
then called the 'powdcr marsh" The early
settlers observing this fact, scoopcd out holes
in the mash for the water to fill up, and
used them as bathing places for their chill.
dren and, indeed, all who had any cruptivc
disease and for years and years it was re.
gardcd as Il sovereign remedy for complaints
OF this character. An old gentleman, of
some sixty years or more, now living in this
vicinity, informed me that when child he
was bathed in little puddle below the
spring, for some eruption, he said the itch
which it etfectually cared. At that early
age the spring was not found, and the water
was only used for bathing purposes. Sub
scquently. however the spring was discov-
cred, and the people began to initiate the
example Of their cattle, and commenced
drinking the water which they found, if
possible. more cfficacious, than boti,ins iu
it.
1t is said that Chancellor David johnson,
many years ago, bought the tract of land
upon which the spring is located, giving for
it an old horse, and afterwards sold it for
profit Of four hundred dollars-a good large
profit, but not equal to fifteen thousand dol
lars, which it subsequently brought.
About 1873, after the spring had attain.
ed something more than local notoricty,
Mr.. John B. Glenn, of Union County, while
on a visit to his brothcr-in law, Mr.. Austin
Spands, who then owned the property, hear.
ing Of its wonderful cures bought an inter
est in it, and moved up for the benefit of
the health Of his wife. They were child.
less and had been for years, but after one
season, Mrs. Glcnns health improved most
rapidly, and she became the mother of
bouncing boy, who still lives in the neigh
borhood, standing monument of the virtue
~ 81, tl
fame Of the spring extended far and near,
and great many persons resortcd to it for
their health Cabins We're built all over
the place, and yet there was not room
enough to accommodate the people. Mr.
Glenn was unable to build, aud he was in
duccd to sell out to a company of gentlemen
consisting of DR.. Morris Moore, DR.. Winn-
smith, DIR. 4. B. Irvine, DR.. Vanlcw, Dr.
Thornc, Davis Caldwell, Robert Moorcman,
Geo. Ashford, Knight Sims, VIM. Pcanot,
Morgan Houston, Saml Brown, j. B
Glenn. and some others, whom my infor-
mant does not now remember. These gen.
tlcnicn obtained charter from the Lcgsh-
turc, and in the year 1888 built the present
hotel and eight cottages in the lawn
The main body Of the house is sixty feet
square, three stories and half high, with
three wings fifty feet cach two stories and
4 half high. The rooms are ample and
well arranged. There is fifty feet dining
hall room and parlor, besides billiard room,
card room, reading rooms and reception
room, and there are six rooms in each of
the eight cottages. Upon the completion
OF the hotel, there was a grand opening, and
at once it became the fashionable resort of
the State. Many resorted to it for pleasure,
but many more for their health Even com