The Press., 1894-12-13
STAFFORD SPRINGS HOUSE.

| AS the work of demolition of the old Springs House begins then develops a sentiment of regretfulness at the loss of a l landmark that wrestles with our joy over thepublic improvement promised. The old hotel stands for much in Stafford s | history and prominence among the towns of the state. In it's day it was model hotel, through the summer months a center of gayety and fashion, attracting to it's hospitality notables of New England and from all parts of the country. In the winters it has been made place of social enjoyment for the people of the locality balls, sleigh rides and various festive gatherings piling up records of ''geed times," of which gray heads are full of recollections.
 The above picture was made somewhere back in the fifties. It shows the building very much as it looks while awaiting to- day the hand of the destroyer. The joints, tenanted and pinned together near ly century ago, are soon to be riven, and the nails, which have so long held to- gether the boards, are now to be torn from them. No wonder there are tender feel ings awakened at the thought.
 When was the Springs House built 7! Many who have looked into the matter think in the 18th century, but the pre-. ponderence of evidence is that the west half of the building, the oldest part, was built after the year 1900. The oldest reg. ister preserved, the property of Mrs. Geo. M. Ives, begins it's entries July, 1805 and probably that was not long after the time it was first opened for business.
 It is known that it was built by Dr. Samuel Willard, son. of Rev. John Will Hard, the first preacher of the town. .. F, The springk were noted long before thai tigpe.o About the middle of the 1stf Fc5e el6Fy pr. Joseph Warren, of Boston wha was killed at the battle of Bunker Hull, became interested in the spring The town records show that in Septem Der, 1766, he became owner of the spring and of tract of land contiguous, paying for the same s1O0 ''lawful money" The seller, William Orcutt, reserved rights fol the public use of the water, subject tt reasonable restrictions in favor of tht new owner, also reserving to himself tho overflow water, which was conducted to bath house, of which he retained owner ship. Dr. Warren intended to develop the springs and erect a hotel near them but the outbreak of the war of the revolu tion drew his attention to more patrioti, duties, in the performance of which h, laid down his life for his country. II 1771 John Adams, afterward president o the United States, came to Stafford b, advice of his physician, remaining som' four weeks. He speaks of 8 small build ing within few feet of the spring whicl : a MT. Child had built, and where fev infirm people who were using the water : found board. This house stood about ol the present site of Grace church. MT Adams found lodgings with John Green who kept tavern about on the site o . Samuel Rockwell's present residence, a the south end of Stafford Street. H, spent much of his time with his colleg elassmate, Rev. John Willard, spoken o
 above. A clue to fixing the date of tn
 building of the Springs House is found il
 the fact that Dr. Willard kept the ol' lstore ip Stafford Street, aud that he sol' l out the business in order to develop hi
 plans for hotel. His customer for tn
 store was Miner Grant, who, it is known
 went into the business immediately upo : coming to his majority, which was abou
 in 1900.
 It was no small enterprise to build sucl
 a house as the Springs House in tha time, with no village near, and no mai