Magical Waters EarthCache
A cache by BiT Message this owner
Hidden : 7/27/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:







MAGICAL WATER




This small town in Ohio’s heartland was famous in the late 1800s to the 1950s for it “Magical Water”. The water had a very special geological property that made it world famous. The large amount of this property in the water makes this somewhat of a rare geological occurrence.

Take a nice drive through the rural farmland of Ohio and learn a lesson how the “Magical Water” was discovered and why it is “Magical”.

HOW IS THE WATER “MAGICAL”?


The earth itself is a large source of is this "magical" property. In fact, the earth itself is a "magical" object. When the water is underground in the earth it actually absorbs this “magic” from the surrounding environment. At this location the underlying bedrock which the water percolated through also contained a higher percentage of this “magical” property and thus helped make this water more “magical” than water from other springs.


SOME HISTORY OF THIS TOWN USING THE “MAGICAL WATER”

In 1879, J.E. Newhouse discovered a “Magical Spring of Water” in his park, Green Bend Garden. Visitors to this park found relief from a number of afflictions after drinking from the spring and its fame began to spread. A devout minister told Mr. Newhouse that he would be committing a grave sin if he did not put the water to use to “help heal suffering humanity”. Thus Newhouse and Company was formed.

The success of this bathhouse was amazing. Soon over 500 bathes were given daily. The crowd finds their way in buggies, carriages, horseback, foot or anyway to get there. Invalids came from all over the country seeking relief from such ailments as Bright’s disease, diabetes, rheumatism, paralysis, kidney disease, nervous disorder, and etc.

To meet the needs of hundreds of invalids that streamed to the springs, a new town rapidly grew up. Lots were surveyed off and the area became a boomtown. Hotel boarding houses, businesses, and homes were built as fast as contractors could construct them. In 1883 the town was incorporated with 300 permanent residents and up to 10,000 guests flooded into the town in the summer months.

There were seven hotels in town; the Fountain House (1880-1924), also known as the Central Hotel, Hoskins house, Conrad Hotel, Sager Hotel, Ballard Hotel, Park Hotel and the Park Hotel Annex. From its beginning in 1879 until the 1950s, the town was constantly alive with guests, both those who came for medical reasons and those who came for pleasure. The town had an amusement park, boating, horseback riding, golfing, hunting, fishing, and slot machines.

After the 1950s the advances in medicine and drugs made mineral bath treatments obsolete. Business declined and eventually closed. The Park Hotel was converted into a polio clinic for a time but closed after a vaccine was discovered for the disease. Soon after, the population declined to about 300 citizens. These citizen’s were committed to keeping the springs open to the public and in 1985 the Spring Water Park was created.

Be sure to take a drive through town. You'll be able to notice some of the bathhouses still standing but now converted to different uses. Notice the house north of the Post Office, that was once a doctor's house and practice that used the “Magical Water” as a treatment. Finally drive to N40 21.309, W083 15.808 (Do not enter the property because I am awaiting permission for entrance, you can view from the road) and you'll see the stone pillars and a capped spring (now dried up with weeds on top).

To claim a find, please email me the answer to the three questions below. Also you will need to upload a picture of yourself displaying your GPSr with the marker in the background. Only logs with the uploaded picture and sent email will be accepted.

Question 1: How was the special geological property of the "Magical Water" discovered?

Question 2: What is the special geological property of the "Magical Water"?

Question 3: Are there any other areas in the USA like this?

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 2 sebz fvta, dhrfgvba 3 sebz lbhe erfrnepu.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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