Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-12-20
BURGD0RF HOT
SPRINGS NOTED
HEALTH RESORT
By A. F. PARKER

On the south side of Salmon river
in Idaho county, sixty miles south of
Grangeville by wagon road and four
teen miles southwest of Mount Mar
shall and Marshall lake, is a country
little known outside of mining inter-
ests operating there. Fed by Marshall
lake is Lake creek, which traverses
creek bottom lands known as Secesh
meadows. On this creek is located the
Burgdorf sulphur hot springs, visited
by miners, trappers and frequent Wis
itors for sixty years, and until recent
ly owned and operated by Fred c.
Burgdorf for fifty-eight years.
Mr.. Burgdorf was native of Ger
many and was So years old October
10 last. He followed the sea as a |
lad, was shipwrecked off the China |
coast and was for sixteen months in /
China. Returning to San Francisco,
he heard of the gold excitement at 4
Warrens and started for that camp
with company of men, but was only
moderately successful, so he left for
Lewiston, worked in a hotel all win
ter, and in the spring again headed
for the Millers' camp, at the junction
of Lake and Secesh creeks. This camp
was confined to a small area of creek
bottoms.
Plan Idaho Territory
This Millers' camp has the credit
of creating the germ of Idaho terri
tory, for at the Wood stage and ex-
press station was formulated the ORR
ginal plan of organizing Idaho terri
tory by band of disappointed miners
from Warrens. Returning outside.
they interested Lewiston to such an
extent that the movement for creating
Idaho territory speedily spread south
TO Boise City, where the boundary
lines OF the proposed territory as now
defined were sanctioned at a caucus
of Boise citizens and transmitted to
congress, which enacted the organic
act in March, 1868.
AT this camp Mr.. Burgdorf went Sc
curlty Tor a man contemplating pur-
chase of an interest in the hot springs
property, but who finally turned 1t
over to Mr.. BurgdOrf in 1865 since
which time he has resided there until
August 2, 1923, when he sold the en-
tire plant to James Harris. The prop
erty at that time consisted of a road
house and express station. Mr.. Burg
lori transformed it into summer re-
sort, with houses, barns, live stock,
electric plant, ETC., and through con-
struction of state and forest high
way from Mccall, at the outlet of Br
he Big Payette lake, it has been made op
accessible to the outside world. su,
Visits Springs in 1880 Oh
The first visit of the writer to the ~;
springs was in July, 1880, after trav-
ling on horseback over the Nose Mil 4,
Tor tran from Mt. Idaho to Warrens
ia Florence, and thence descending a ine
'reclpitous trail to the wire bridge .ne
cross Salmon river and ascending US, uoe
Soulder creek to the meadows where LII
he springs are. ma
There is tbe GRAND soo,,.. - fur
nightly mountain ranges, salmon and val
rout in its creeks, larger game in ano
ne adjacent back country. Marshall. Wn'
Don and Payette lakes within easy pro
lstance, all containing trout and sal ma
ION, together with the historic min. iua
lg camps OF Warrens, Florence, Mar iess
lali, mountain and tributary QUARTZ
nd placer mining operations. To these Que
ay be added the manifold attractions seV'
the Salmon river country, Thunder aIe
ountain and Sheepeater regions in ueV
e heart of central Idaho. the
Amid such surroundings Mr.. Burc- Ills.
,rf spent fiftv-eiebt vaors u;s % ach,
mmodations md courteciaS 70 .,,,os, ity
We the springs n fina ronutotior in G
roughout the mining regions, his ia can
rs being always provided with the VIII
SC OF everything available, and an you;
'ht-foot open fireplace with big and ID
ms on which rested pile of blazing can
Ie knots. oppo
The curative properties of these st.
ings were known prior to their ac-
sltlon by Mr.. Burgdorf, and many A
'aculous cures were reported from h1o
lous sources in the days Of long n.
Wife Comes from City
IT. Burgdorf met his wife when
went through with a party from
yer, Colo, during the Thunder M
ntain excitement and was so in II.
ated with the surroundings that N
left her city home to live in the III
wilderness. On her visit to I'D
lgeyille she assured the writer
she had never regretted it. and
d; Il feel that the greatest thing
We done for Idaho is to keep my III
and at the age of 81, so well able iii
try on his work, for he has been
Of the upbuilders of the state"
S. Burgdorf died November 1. in
and, Ore. At the same time Mr..