Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society

The History of Mineral Springs Park

Erected in 1878 by Albert Albertson, the Mineral Springs Hotel grounds contained springs thought good for the rejuvenation of the body, and eventually resulted in resort-like activity drawing people from near and far.  Shown sitting on the veranda is Effie Brown, identified by her neice, Alice May (Dickey) Hill.

It was 1834 when Hezekiah Brink settled in Sterling.  He staked out a claim and built his log cabin. He did not stay for the winter but went back to Madison, Indiana, and then returned to his cabin in the spring of 1835.  That summer John J. and Albert Albertson, twins, from Monroe County, N. Y. came out and laid claim to a half section of land adjoining Mr. Brink's in Section 14.  In September of 1841 Samuel Albertson, a brother of the twins, joined his brothers in pioneering in Illinois.  He purchased 80 acres from John and farmed this for ten years, and, then purchased 200 acres from Isaac.  This later became known as Woodlawn Mineral Springs.  A small creek meandered through this property and in it he discovered the springs.  He had previously treated people with herb remedies gathered from the woods and fields.  He then decided to use the spring water which turned out to be good for stomach trouble and rheumatism.  Finally Mr. Albertson had a test made of the water and the test showed the following findings: bi-carbonate of soda, lithia, potassium, iron, magnesia, sulphate and bi-carbonate of lime with traces of chloride and silica.

After the medicinal qualities of the water were determined, Mr. Albertson decided to promote the springs as a health resort.  In July Of 1877 he erected in the grove a hall for the use of picnic parties and those who wished to hold festivals or meetings.  It was twenty four feet front by forty eight feet deep, with a dressing room attached.  It was near the mineral spring.  Then just at the edge of the spring he built a bathing house in which were several rooms giving hot, cold, electric, steam and other baths.  By September he was ready to receive those who wished to wash and be clean.  In this bath house was a hall large enough to accommodate a dancing party, or a picnic party that might have been caught in the rain.  There was always an orchestra furnished to play for the dances and the elite of Sterling patronized them.  In the meantime he laid out streets and walks, and the grounds became one of the finest picnic and pleasure grounds in northern Illinois.

In 1878 he erected a three story hotel which accommodated a large number of people while on vacation or taking massage treatments.  It was equipped with regular bath tubs having hot and cold water, gas lights, and was modern in every respect.  The basement consisted of a big kitchen, also well arranged and with all the necessities to cook and bake for the ones who were staying at the hotel.  On the second floor was a lovely dining room, most inviting, with all its matching furniture. The large table occupied the center of the room, beautifully set in perfect style and always adorned with a large bouquet of flowers, white linen, and expensive dishes.  This room was the pride of Mrs. Albertson. The rest of that floor had bath rooms and sleeping rooms.  The third floor was the gathering place of those who came to attend the spiritualistic meetings, usually conducted by Dr. Hannah Pettigrew.  In other rooms were the offices where other doctors gave massage treatments.

With its walks and drives the place became a fashionable watering place.  The Dr. Hannah Pettigrew, mentioned above, was brought from New York and became the head doctor, along with other prominent doctors.  In 1887 Dr. E. S. Hoag was in charge.  Hundreds of testimonies were received by the institution from those who had actually benefited from the waters.

The Albertsons managed the hotel.  It was a three story structure with a wide veranda across the front.  One of the outstanding features of the hotel was a solid walnut staircase, with walnut bannisters, running up to the third floor.  Accounts differ as to the interior.  Helen John said she remembers eating in the basement because she recalls that the walls of the dining room were the stone foundation.  Another interviewee said it was on the second floor and that a dumb waiter was used to transport the food. Florence Swartley lived in the hotel as a child for two years, 1905 and 1906, while her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Woodyatt, managed the hotel.  Mrs. Albertson was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), but Mr. Albertson became a Spiritualist in his religious beliefs.  He provided the rooms on one of the upper floors for the Spiritualists and where they held their seances.  Mrs. Swartley remembers seeing the paintings on the transoms over the doors which they created while blindfolded, claiming that the spirits guided their hands.  She said she used to be afraid to go up to that floor for fear the spirits would get her.

Thousands of people patronized the park and it became necessary to add several cottages.  The old hotel was situated on part of the property where Dr. Mueller built his home.  An octagonal shake roof (or cone shaped) was built over the springs and it can still be seen.  There were four pumps installed in this pump house.  Both Helen and Florence said the water had a terrible taste.

The drives into the area today are the original ones.  In the center of them was the picnic area. Many Sunday Schools from Sterling held their picnics there.  Other civic functions were held, too.

I have not determined how long the hotel flourished.  Mrs. Swartley said that Ed Arterburn managed it after her parents left.  For how long I do not know.  I want to quote from an article I read: "We must bear in mind that there was a financial disturbance in the early nineties; such things being known as a panic, and even a fashionable spa would naturally have its ups and downs in a panic.  We can easily imagine what might happen to one in a depression."

About 1898 a group of business men bought the Woodlawn Mineral Springs Resort from Samuel Albertson and he and his wife moved to their farm across the road.  The resort became the location of the Great Northwestern Fair, an annual event that attracted people from near and far because its healthful waters were still available to those who believed in hydropathy (the water cure).  It was considered one of the most beautiful fair grounds in Illinois.

All the standard attractions were included in the fair.  A very large floral hall was built.  It had four big wings and the center was 50 feet high.  There were livestock buildings and concessions of all kinds.  A race track was created and a large grandstand and horse barns were built.  One of the biggest attractions was "Shooting the Chutes", which provided thrills for hundreds of people.  The Chutes were directly back of the grandstand.  The creek was dammed to form a lake.  To get to the top of the chute necessitated a climb up several flights of stairs. People could ride in boats down this tall wooden ramp into the lake.  The fair always had a balloon ascension, which was an exciting event.  Kennard Besse recalls that one year the balloonist somehow got tangled in his parachute.  The balloon sailed out over Rock River, and when he finally freed himself of the parachute he jumped out into the river and was able to swim to shore.  The fair continued until 1911.  This was the same year that C. F. Walsh made his first thrilling flight in an airplane from an open field west of the grounds...the first airplane flight in Sterling.

On April 21, 1904 there was a disastrous fire at the fair grounds.  Three large horse barns, five valuable race horses, two carts and a considerable portion of the fence around the track were entirely consumed by the terrific fire.  The five horses that were burned were the property of Judson T. Williams, president of the Woodlawn farm company, and were valued at $5,000 with no insurance.  A newspaper of that day gives a very detailed account of the fire.

In 1903 or 1904 the Chautauqua Association was started.  This was similar to the famous chautauqua on Lake Chautauqua, New York.  A huge tent was erected on the grounds, I presume in what was formerly the picnic area.  Its aim was for the cultivation of higher thinking and for distributing information on current issues, and for art and music.  The cost was small-- $2 for a season ticket.  It would run for 10 days.  Camping facilities were offered and a patron could take his tent, or rent one.  There were several rows of tents.  Many of the Sterling people, and others from a distance, found tent life for ten days an agreeable relief from the regular routine and made them their temporary home while they absorbed culture.  Helen John told me that her family went every year.  They took their own tent and it contained five rooms.  There was a long hall through the middle that served as their dining room, and two bedrooms and a kitchen and a bathroom.  Springs and mattresses were placed on sawhorses to serve as beds.  Her family took along a 2 burner kerosene stove for cooking.  They got their fresh water from the spring house every morning with a pitcher or pail.  If a tent did not have a kitchen the family could eat their meals at the hotel.  Helen said her family always had their Sunday dinner there.  The tents were square.  They had a flap in front that could be raised on poles to form a porch.  People brought their own platforms to complete the porch, plus rockers and hammocks.  At night the flaps were lowered for privacy.  Mrs. Swartley told about the ghost walks at night.  There were gasoline torches in front of the tents. People would wrap themselves in the sheets from their beds, carry the torches, and form this ghost walk.

The chautauqua was managed by H. M. Holbrook of Chicago.  Nationally known speakers were presented, and all sorts of cultural attractions.  Among them were: William Jennings Bryan, Father Vaughn, Colonel Bain and Billy Sunday.  Other talent consisted of the Hearons Sisters Concert Co., L. B. Wickersham, orator; Gertrude Goodwin Miller, reader actress; the famous George B. Wendling in "The Man of Galilee"; Henry Clark, lecturer; Ralph Parlette, humorist; Dr. Thomas F. Green, celebrated pulpit orator and lecturer; Alfred L. Flude, illustrated moving picture lecturer; and Rev. J. H. Sowerby, psychic phenomena.  Also John B. Ratto, humorist; The Dixie Jubilee Co.; & the Chicago Glee Club.  Another detailed description of the attractions mentions an address to be given by Mrs. John A. Logan, which took up four of the great figures in the Civil War, these being Generals Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, and Logan.  A reception was tendered Mrs. Logan by the Grand Army and other people in the city.  The officers of the association were prominent Sterling people and those making up the program committee in 1906 were W. W. Davis, J. B. Lewis, Rev. C. A. Cage, Mrs. S. S. Kehr, Father J. J. Bennett, Prof. E. T. Austin, and C. E. Bensinger.  The Chautauqua was discontinued in 1911.  In later years it was held in Lincoln Park.  I remember going to it there when I was a young girl.

I should mention that people were able to get out to Woodlawn and the Mineral Springs by street car, originally only as far as Powell's Corner (where McDonald's now is).  I can remember when the street cars were in Sterling.  They ran from the West end of town along Third Street to Broadway, curving there to Fourth Street to the city limits on the east.  From there the interurban went on to Dixon along the Lincoln Highway.  The first cars went all the way to the park in July, 1908, a spur having been laid along Woodlawn Road.  During the fair and chautauqua season excursion cars were added.  These were open air with the seats running the length of the center of the cars and facing outward.  I was also told that the Chicago and Northwestern trains stopped near the park and discharged passengers that were picked up with horse and buggy.  Many people came from Chicago during the hey day of the park.

When the resort was discontinued as a spa, it was occupied by several renters including the Walter Landis family, and Mr. and Mrs. George Brown.  Also a Richards family.  By 1919 it was in disrepair.  The park was sold to the Martin Brothers, noted real estate dealers.  In later years it was bought by Francis and Emily Forster and their sister, Mrs. McGinn.  (I presume that some of you may remember that the Forsters used to own a furniture store in the Masonic Building on West Third Street.  Their brother, Bart, had a funeral home where the Grennan funeral home now is.)  Robert Teets bought part of the land which he subdivided.

I have not yet found the exact year the hotel was dismantled.  It was done by a contractor who used the lumber to build three houses in Rock Falls.  Inklings from newspapers set the date as 1945.  Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Becker, who lived across the road from Mineral Springs bought the walnut staircase and stored it for a future gift for their daughter, Mrs. Kennard Besse.  As a child Mrs. Besse played in the old hotel.  As she grew older her love of the staircase grew and she often expressed a desire to own it.  The Besses later incorporated it into their home on Woodlawn Road.

To end my story I would like to quote verbatim from an article in the Gazette by Scott Williams, written in 1934.  "One might still believe the money spent by Mr. Albertson, on what may have been a pet dream, was not in vain.  The qualities of the waters were not only established, but the natural beauty of the Woodlawn Mineral Springs was protected.  Mr. Albertson has long gone and if one be inclined to pessimism while riding on the Woodlawn Road today, one may not be wrong in believing the Woodlawn Mineral Springs may soon be only a memory.  Modern subdivision, with its faults and virtues, has arrived and is slowly and perhaps surely taking possession of the Mineral Springs."  We know it today as a lovely wooded subdivision filled with beautiful homes.  Much of the natural beauty has been retained.