The Salt Sulphur Springs

The text is from Appleton's Handbook of American Travel, The Southern Tour, published in 1866, by D. Appleton & Co., New York.

The Salt Sulphur Springs, three in number, are about twenty-four miles from the White Sulphur, near Union, the capital of Monroe County. Like the White Sulphur, they are beautifully nestled in the lap of mountain ranges. The Springs are near the eastern base of Swope's Mountain. On the north, the Alleghany rises, while Peter's Mountain extends on the south and east. The Salt Sulphur was discovered in 1805, by Mr. Irwin BENSON, while boring for salt water, which he was led to hope for by the fact that the spot had formerly been a favorite "lick" for deer and buffalo. The hotels and cottages at the Salt Sulphur have accommodation for four hundred guests.

The text is from A History of Monroe County, by Oren F. Morten, published in 1816, Saunton, Va., Reprinted: Regional Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1974, 1980, 1988. Pages 201-210.

On Indian Creek where it is yet a small stream, and three miles from the county seat is Salt Sulphur Springs. The fine lawn of eleven acres is a cross-section of the narrow creek bottom, and it lies between lofty bluffs. On this lawn are the two mineral springs, the waters being chalybeate and sweetly sulphurous and containing iodine. The land was once held by a Benson family, and two daughters thereof married William Erskine and Isaac Caruthers. As the firm of Erskine and Caruthers, these men were conducting a summer hostelry in 1823 and they continued many years later. Their licenses in 1857 amounted to $219.17.

The largest building is of stone, 45 by 206 feet in size, contains 72 rooms, and cost $30,000. It overlooks the lawn, the other buildings standing along the brink of the stream. For several decades prior to the war of 1861 Salt Sulphur Springs was a famous watering place, and was numerously frequented by people from the lower South, especially South Carolina. Many Virginians from the tidewater counties also came here. The high water mark was in 1860.

The old time patronage was interrupted by the war, and has never been recovered. Since then the guests are mainly from the lower Kanawha valley and from Ohio. During recent years the attendance has been quite small. Extensive repairs, however, were made in 1880. Shortly afterward, the resort became the property of General John W. M. Appleton, a native of Boston and a Federal soldier. He acted as host until his tragic death by a horse in 1913.

Around the year 1873 Salt Sulphur Springs was a camp meeting resort.

Among the South Carolina visitors of August, 1844, was the famous John C. Calhoun. The circumstance is well remembered by the venerable Baldwin Ballard. Calhoun was accompanied by his wife and an invalid daughter. While the hostlers were making a change of horses at the Arnot place, the apostle of nullification asked for a drink of water. Robert Cummings, one of the hostlers, gave him a drink from the horse trough after the manner in which he was accustomed to quench his own thirst. In relating the incident Mr. Ballard speaks of Cummings as inexcusably careless or lazy. He could have offered the best of water by going to the spring house 70 yards above the trough.

Another reminiscence is related by John B. Cook of Centennial When a small boy he rode on the Salt Sulphur pike; in the same carriage with Henry Clay. The bluegrass statesman was a ready mixer. He took the boy on his knee and amused him by winking his ears and telling stories.

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