****** The park is going through renovation right now. It is possible to see the sign from the sidewalk without entering the park.****
Welcome to Towne Park and Mineral Springs as described by the Algonquin Historic Commission:
"The refreshing waters of "Mineral Springs" were very popular for Algonquin's first inhabitants and early settlers. Victorian-era summer tourists frequented the spring, often filling bottles with water to take home. At noon time, children and factory workers headed for the spring for a welcome drink of its cold, satisfying waters. The spring was fed by artesian wells in the hills and believed to have medicinal benefits fostering good health. The spring and surrounding land were owned by James H. Philp, Esq. who would neither sell the land nor erect any buildings on the picturesque setting, but allowed anyone to freely use it for leisure and enjoyment. In 1915, residents voted to purchase the property to ensure it remained open park space for all time. The spring's cement stair and bench was the first project of the Algonquins Women's Club. The spring was capped off for safety, and the water continued to pour from a pipe until subdivision development on the hill in the 1970's diminished flow.”
From the Village of Algonquin website:
For centuries, humans and wildlife have sought fresh water at the mineral springs. Though no archaeological evidence remains, the site is in the immediate vicinity of documented trails of indigenous peoples who lived in and traveled across the nearby Fox River before European settlers located near the springs adjacent to the creek feeding into the river. For these pioneers, the site was the principal water source around which the town, the oldest in McHenry County, was settled in 1834.
Given this historical importance, the Algonquin Woman’s Club sought to preserve the site and the surrounding land that became Towne Park in 1915. Due to these actions, the site is also important to women’s history. From the late 1860’s, until women were granted the right to vote in 1920, women’s clubs across the nation, like Algonquin’s, worked to educate people about local social and civic issues and devised solutions to better their communities. The Algonquin Woman’s Club encouraged local government to purchase the land that became Towne Park where the Mineral Springs site is located. When constructed, the site sat at the top of historic “Lovers Lane,” with countless marriage proposals made at the cement bench added by the Algonquin Woman’s Club, particularly by soldiers heading off to various wars since World War I.
The Mineral Springs site also presents an opportunity to educate residents and visitors about Algonquin’s history of indigenous habitants, pioneer settlement, and women’s civic contributions, strengthen the community’s sense of place, and make the village more attractive to live, conduct business, and visit.
Logging requirements: Visit this site and post a photo of yourself and the fence with the "Mineral Springs" sign on it.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.