Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-30
A MINERAL SPRING


Thirty-three years ago last August the in
habitants of East Boothbay found themselves
obliged to resort to every available means to
supply their want of water. there being
great drouth At that time, large amount of
water was needed in ship-building for steam
was found at Sprouts meadows. distant from
the village one and one-half miles. The
distance being so far, Mr.. James Seavey, one
OF the present inhabitants of that village,
thought that he could dig well on his
premises and find an abundance of water to
supply the wants of the villagers. Com
mencing with a diameter of IL feet and going
down to depth of about II feet they came
to a point where four different lodges met in
the exact center of the well with no signs of
water. They then decided to blast and no
sooner had they done so than the water flow
ed in very freely from a seam of about ten
inches which they made. From this seam
the water flowed fast that they were
obliged to use wedges to stop it until
they could stone the well. At that time
there was great rejoicing, knowing that
never-failing supply of clean water had been
found. But the JOY was short lived Mr..
Chas Sargent reported that the water was SO
impregnated with minerals as to be unfit for
use. This was found TO be fact and the
water was not used.
A few years later the property WAS sold to
Mr.. Geo Whtehouse. who with others tried
to make some use of the water, but failed,
and in 1855 he filed the well with stone and
covered it up Finally the property came
into the hands of Mr.. Edward Z. Race m
1875 The existence of the well had then
been wel-niph forgotten by everybody. But
one day when the owner was at work in his
garden the iron bar which he was using
struck on something which felt like old logs.
Just then one of the older citizens was pass
ing. Mr. Race asked what is covered up
under these large lOgs?" He replied, Didn't
YOU know there was well covered up there?"
and then gave particulars. From another
gentleman further particulars were learned
and Mr. Race found that he had on his prop
erty what was a mystery, fountain of never
failing. clear water that was practically use
less He opened up place large enough to
admit a small bottle and got sample of the
water, Experimenting with it a year he dis
covered that it was strongly impregnated with
minerals. In the fall of 1881 he decided to
open the we'll. Last August VIXEN the water
had gone from most of the wells in the
village Mr.. Race proceeded to uncover the
we'll. The water came in so fast that 1t
was with great difficulty that it could be kept
out so as to r, move the large stones and ex-
anime the bottom, which was found as de-
scribed. A sample of the water was then
submitted to +. l.. Bartlett State assayer
and chemist, who analysed it, finding II. 80?
grains of mineral matter in one u. 5. gallon.
After this the water was used freely by per-
sons troubled with various diseases with
favorable results, and now its curative
quality is established. Walls of brick
set in the best imported cement SO as
to exclude all surface water. have been
built up from the lodges. The well is now
Fl feet deep, nine feet in diameter and will
run full in a short time. The water is so
highly charged with minerals and gases that
the odor is noticed at once when within few
feet of the well. The spring is located on
the Damariscotta river within 20 feet of the
road leading from Boothbay to the popular
summer resort, Ocean Point. Distance from
spring to Ocean Point, about three miles.