Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-07-21
THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.
The Mecca of The Old South, The
Crowning Glory of Greenbrier.

Drowning Glory OF GreenDrlef.
(Ex-Gov. William A. MacCorkle.)
1t is difficult to compress within
two columns the things that you
wish to say about the White Sulphur
Springs. For nearly hundred years
this famous resort has made the
name of Greenbrier known in every
part of our country. Today its name
is on more lips than ever, and its
sweet significance touches more
hearts and minds than ever before
in the history. of the country.
1t is not an easy matter to say
when the life of the White Sulphur
Springs began, for when the white
man came the animals were using the
water from the Lick and the Indians
had improvised the rude stone boiling
places and were using the steam in
the water to cure their rheumatism.
Mrs. Anderson was the first known
white person to be benefited by its
waters. She was carried there about
one hundred aud twenty five years
ago, used the waters and came home
we'll From that day the fame OF
the Springs spread throughout the
sparsely settled country. and the pio-
neers, who, by. reason of.their exposed
life, were distressed with rheuma-
tism, used the waters of the Springs
and were cured. From that time,
1873 to 1884, tents were erected
around the Springs and in 1856 log
cabins were built on the ground, and
ere long this little settlement was
the beginning of the fame of the
White Sulphur Springs.
It is trfte to tell that Michael
Bowyer, in 1884, obtained a patent
from the Commonwealth Of Virginia
for nine hundred and fifty acres, up
on which the Springs and the hotel,
the golf links and the town of White
Sulphur, east OF Towards Creek, now
stand. The property passed in 1916
to James Calwen, who became the
sole proprietor, at which time he be-
gan the development Of the Springs,
and he, the father of this great re-
sort, died in 1851. From 1878 to
1858 the property had been in
creased by six thousand acres and
still remained in the control Of the
Calwells. In 1887 great improve
ments were made. The diningroom
was enlarged. and the old ball room
was removed In 1880 the Virginia
Row was built, a part of which now
stands. The main White Sulphur
building was commenced in 1854
and finished in 1858. The great
diningroom was then the largest room
in the United States, If not in the
whole world. Before 1853, the old
J,srnes River and Kanawha Turn
pike came up from Dry Creek and
was changed to its present location
in 1854. In 1857 the property passed
from the descendants Of Farncis Bow
yer and James Caldwell, and then
was begun the great and wide dc
5elopment of the property.
The water is classified scientific
cally as sulpho-alkaline. 1t is per
fectly clear. of an agreeable taste,
and has tempature of about sixty
degrees Fahrenheit. Geolog;cally, the
Spring is the subject of vast impor-
lance as the tempature Of the water
exceeds the mean. tempature of the
region in which it is situated, the
water evidently coming from far
the bowels of the earth. 1t receives
it's name from the plumose, ilament-
Gus growth, involving large amount
Sf hydrated, sulphur, which lines the
basin and outlet of these waters,
and which, from its color has given
rise to the name of White Sulphur.
1t would he a waste of time to dis
cuss the benefit the waters are. to
the people 1t is almost a specific
remedy for dyspepsia and for al
times it has been almost specific
remedy for rheumatism. So much
for the mere history of this great
property.
The White Sulphur Springs is not
mere summer resort; it is an insti-
tuition unparalleled in its kind in the
United States For seventy-iive
years it has been the Mecca of the
llSeuth, and here some of the most
contentious propositions affecting this
aatry have been worked to their
fruition. It is not generally known,
but the great questions of the Seces-
sion government were carefully con-
sidered and brought to their conclu-