Sweet Sulphur Springs: Difference between revisions

 

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[[File:Sweet Sulphurs Springs photo.jpg|thumb|Postcard of Sweet Sulphur Springs hotel, circa 1909]]

[[File:Sweet Sulphurs Springs photo.jpg|thumb|Postcard of Sweet Sulphur Springs hotel, circa 1909]]

”’Sweet Sulphur Springs”’, previously known as White Sulphur Springs,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Carrol F. |title=Fidelity |url=http://ingenweb.org/inpike/Jeffcit.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904165917/http://ingenweb.org/inpike/Jeffcit.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2025 |website=ingenweb.org}}</ref> was a popular health resort and hotel near [[Velpen, Indiana|Veplen, Indiana]] operating from the 1890s to 1914, renowned for the supposed medicinal properties of the springs the hotel was located near.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite news |date=September 6, 1925 |title=Will Build Big Resort Hotel At Velpen, Ind. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press/184467379/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=[[Evansville Courier and Press]] |pages=18}}</ref> Many of its visitors came from neighboring cities Louisville, St. Louis and Evansville.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite book |last=Blatchley |first=Willis Stanley |author-link=Willis Blatchley |url=https://scholarworks.iu.edu/iuswrrest/api/core/bitstreams/a81406b6-5224-48e1-b01a-802476bef085/content |title=The Mineral Waters of Indiana |date=1903 |publisher=W.B. Burford |location=Indianapolis |language=en-US}}</ref>

”’Sweet Sulphur Springs”’, previously known as White Sulphur Springs,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Carrol F. |title=Fidelity |url=http://ingenweb.org/inpike/Jeffcit.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904165917/http://ingenweb.org/inpike/Jeffcit.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2025 |website=ingenweb.org}}</ref> was a popular health resort and hotel near [[Velpen, Indiana|Veplen, Indiana]] operating from the 1890s to 1914, renowned for the supposed medicinal properties of the springs the hotel was located near.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite news |date=September 6, 1925 |title=Will Build Big Resort Hotel At Velpen, Ind. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press/184467379/ |access-date=November 6, 2025 |work=[[Evansville Courier and Press]] |pages=18}}</ref> Many of its visitors came from neighboring cities Louisville, St. Louis and Evansville.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite book |last=Blatchley |first=Willis Stanley |author-link=Willis Blatchley |url=https://scholarworks.iu.edu/iuswrrest/api/core/bitstreams/a81406b6-5224-48e1-b01a-802476bef085/content |title=The Mineral Waters of Indiana |date=1903 |publisher=W.B. Burford |location=Indianapolis |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==

== History ==

American hotel

Sweet Sulphur Springs, previously known as White Sulphur Springs,^[1] was a popular health resort and hotel near Veplen, Indiana operating from the 1890s to 1914, renowned for the supposed medicinal properties of the springs the hotel was located near.^[2] Many of its visitors came from neighboring cities Louisville, St. Louis and Evansville.^[3] By 1957, the area had been abandoned and was covered by trees.^[4][5]

The sulphur springs were first discovered by a young boy named Gabe Nelson in 1854, whose supposed medicinal properties “attracted many visitors”.^[6][7] There are three springs 100 feet apart, all of which were reported to taste like bitter sulphur.^[3]

In 1891, the proprietor of the hotel was J. G. Scott, when he was noted as refurnishing the hotel, then known as “White Sulphur Springs”.^[8][9] J. G. Scott sold the property to T. Herbig in February 1892,^[10] who later ran an advertisement describing it as a “great health resort” where the water would cure dyspepsis and heal other ailments.^[11] In March 1895, Herbig sold the springs to “some gentleman from Louisville”.^[12] In July 1895, Fisher and Becker were reported as the proprietors of the “Sweet Sulphur Springs”,^[13] and they advertised the property as under new management.^[14] It was later reported they had advertised in 25 newspapers in Southern Indiana.^[15] Proprietor Charles Fisher died in 1900^[16] and the property was then inherited by his son Edward Fisher.^[17] The hotel burned down on June 10, 1914, costing an estimated $25,000 in damages.^[18] The property was purchased by the Chambers Brothers in 1925, with the intent of rebuilding the hotel and restoring it to its former glory.^[19]

The hotel was reported as being able to accommodate up to 80 guests, with 40 rooms.^[20][21] It had six bathrooms and a bath house. The water from the springs were pumped by a gasoline engine into tanks to supply the hotel.^[3] It also had amenities such as a pool and billiard room, dining hall, croquet and picnic grounds, dancing hall and bowling alley.^[3][20][21] In 1903, geologist Willis Blatchley reported that the hotel operated from June 1 to October 1.^[3]

The hotel burned down around^[a] 2PM on June 10, 1914, the result of a fire starting in the kitchen. The Huntingburgh Independent reported that the fire was caused by a ‘defective kitchen flue‘ and that by the time the fire had been discovered, it was no longer possible to stop.^[18] The hotel was estimated with a value of $25,000, but was only insured for $10,000 and owners Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher never rebuilt the hotel.^[18]

In 1925, the Paul Lewis and Chambers Brothers formed the Sweet Sulphur Springs Inc. company with hopes to rebuild the hotel and purchased the property where the old Sweet Sulphur Springs resort had burned down.^[2][21] The original plan included a large year-round hotel, golf links, tennis courts, electrical baths and a bathing beach.^[2][7] By 1927, they advertised their plan to start a new town called “Log City” at the site of Sweet Sulphur Springs by selling lots to fund the new town.^[22] However, it quickly become apparent that most visitors to the area didn’t want to spend money on lots, but for the food and music.^[21]