In 1824, according to the American Botanist and Family Physician newspapers, it was said that Sheldon water could cure itch and skin irritations, permit hair growth and help cure problems with the liver and blood.
However, this would not be the first instance in which this discovery would come about. The Indians are believed to have been the first to discover the springs. They held religious gatherings, bathed and drank the water that spilled out of the clay near a forest on the Missisquoi River. In 1609, it is thought that the Indians helped treat Samuel D. Champlain’s injured and sore-covered soldiers by bringing them water and sediment in animal skins.
The springs would become most popular between 1865 and 1870 when Sheldon lead the United States in medicinal water resorts. That would all be started in the early 1800’s by two men, Moses Kimball and Mr. Draper. The two men would allow all who came to their house to share in some medicinal water to clear sickness and restore health.
The men failed to realize how much the water would be worth until sometime later when they would start up a business. In 1817, they created what would be known as the “Kimball Spring.” Following the creation of the business, other businesses would start up. They included the “Missisquoi”, “The Sheldon”, “The Central”, and the “Vermont Spring”. In 1868, the “Missisquoi”, the most famous of the springs, would have approximately 14,800 boxes of 24 quart bottles shipped out for sale bringing in a yearly income of about 80,000 to 100,000 dollars.
The discovery of mineral springs and the building of bottling houses brought people into town and with that came the need for hotels.
“The Missisquoi Springs Hotel” was built in 1867. It was the builder’s goal for it to be the largest hotel in the United States. Just one of the wings contained 100 private rooms complete with gas, velvet carpet, hot and cold running water. The hotel also boasted such big city hotel accommodations by having its own band from New York City. The hotel would not survive though. Due to the glamour of the hotel, it would never get out of its financial burden and after operating just a few years, it would burn to ground in July of 1870 thanks to an angry cook. The women cook after having been fired, packed her personal items, set fire to the building, and left, not to be seen again.
Finding the cache-
Parking can be found at N 44.54.854 and W 72.57.492.
From here proceed to the listed coordinates, at which you will arrive at the hotel.
DO NOT REMOVE THE CACHE FROM ITS RESTING SPOT, THERE'S NO NEED, PLEASE OPENED IT HOW IT IS!
The room is locked and you will need to first find the room key, which is conveniently located within reaching distance of the room. Under no circumstances is the key to leave the area and like the room must be put back EXACTLY how it was found, as there is no need to make the maids work any harder than they must. No information about the key is to be posted either. Logs with information specific to the nature of the cache WILL be deleted without question. Do NOT log a find for this cache unless you enter the room successfully.
For a travel bug to checkout, one MUST be left in its place, the same goes for a geocoin or any sort of tracking item. Please log in the book and online the TB’s that are being moved. Other items may be left in the cache but its a TB for a TB. This concept will mean an abundance of travel bugs at all times. If you decide to place a bug into the cache that does not have a bag, feel free to use a bag from the box left in the cache.
Filling the hotel with bugs will make it a success!
One of the attached photos is taken of the Missisquoi Springs Hotel, the other is taken looking down river with the Missisquoi Springs bottling house in the picture. While the location of the original hotel is hard to pinpoint, it is believed after much research that the river bank near the bend is where the 2005 Missisquoi Springs Hotel is located in comparison to the 1867 view from the original hotel. Also provided is an early business card. Notice it is a drawing of the entire building as planned, not what was built.
Have fun and we hope you learn something!