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| Marble City's healing springs big attraction |
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| Question: Another Newton County question for you. Can you name some of the springs around
Marble Falls? Were they all medicinal? |
| Answer: The area around Marble City had several springs and many believed that they were
medicinal springs with health restoring properties. In the 1890's, some of these springs attracted
spring and summer visitors, who often camped out near the springs, seeking to find cures for
such ailments as kidney complaints, sore eyes and stomach problems.
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| Sour Springs, about two miles east of Marble City was supposed to be impregnated with
sulphuric acid, which was thought to be beneficial to disorders caused by excess alkali in the
body's system. This spring was once walled with rough stones holding back the yellow clay soil.
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| Sulphur Springs, located at the base of Sulphur Mountain, only three miles east from
Marble City, contained a small amount of chloride of sodium, a large deposit of carbonic acid gas
and sulphur. It is reported that several hundreds of people camped there during the summer to
receive cures for kidney complaints. As Eureka Springs became more well known as a 'healing
resort," Sulphur Springs was no longer a health curing attraction.
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| Chaleybeate (or Chalybeat) Springs was only a short distance from Sulphur Springs at the
base of the same mountain. If you lacked energy and just had no "get up and go" this was the
spring known to restore physical energies and cure sore eyes.
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| Best known of the springs must be Tom Thumb Springs, which is situated about six miles
from Marble City. An earlier column told the story of Tom Thumb Springs and is on file at the
Heritage Museum in Harrison. A 1959 issue of "The Homestead" edited by Walter Lackey, also
tells the full story of this health resort in the 1880's. A great place to learn more about the various
springs in Newton County would be the Newton County Museum of History in Jasper. Donna
Dodson, director, is a wonderful source of information and always willing to help.
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| In 1890, land around Marble City was selling for $3 to $5 per acre. It was advertised as
land that could be made valuable for grazing and raising stock. The large spring at Marble City,
afforded an ample water supply, so this area quickly became a trading point. It is hard to imagine
that village filled with people standing on the street, visiting with each other; a water mill,
blacksmith shops, a marble yard, stores and a cotton gin, but that is only a small part of what
comprised the town of Marble City.
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| In 1870, Samuel Willcockson settled in Newton County, and with knowledge of mills and
milling, he brought his trade to Marble City. When the first post office was established, it was
officially called the Willcockson Post Office at Marble City, Arkansas. The first postmaster was
Amanda J. Willcockson. Some forty years before the first post office was established, mail
service was received in route from Jasper via Carrollton or Crooked Creek, but by 1883,
Marble City had grown in population and importance to demand a post office.
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| One must mention Peter Beller when referring to Marble City. He joined the Harp
brothers in quarrying the block of marble that was sent to Washington to become the third
memorial stone to be placed in the Washington monument. The Beller family played an important
part in the establishment of Marble City and their story is a long and interesting one.
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| Please remember two upcoming occasions: On Sunday afternoon, March 19th, 2006, the JoAnn
Forrest Genealogy/Meeting Room will be dedicated at the Heritage Museum. Music will be by
Tinker's Dam and by harpist Anne Brantley. The public is invited to attend.
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| On Saturday, April 29th, 2006, a commemoration service will be held at the historic Beller-Jenkins
Cemetery, located south of Harrison at Caravan or Milum Spring where the ill-fated
Mountain Meadows Massacre wagon train formed in 1857. This will be your chance to see the
restoration work completed on this once neglected cemetery by Boone County resident Robert
Campbell. Anyone with ancestors buried in this cemetery should make plans to attend.
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| Boone County Heritage Museum welcomes your visit from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Located on the corner of South Cherry Street and Central Ave., the museum
strives to preserve the history of Boone County and its people.
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| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Smith can be contacted at bchm@windstream.net |
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