Mineral Spring

   The next stop is back the way we came. Look for a nice sandstone dam about one hundred yards below the bridge that crosses Route 8. If the water is low enough go under the bridge. In case of higher water, you will have to go up and over to the other side. Most residents of this area know the site as Mineral Springs.

    This part of the story starts in the year 1861. Joseph W. Silverthorn entered into an indenture with Levi Caldwell, S.W. Wilson, Wm. Flanegin, Eli Flanegin, Silas Dorman, James Cumms, and M.W. Mitchener on March 12th of that year. Joseph leased his land twenty years for oil privileges. He reserved sufficient land for his log and lumber yard, to run his saw mill, and to use his two lots and garden. In return, Joseph was to receive every tenth barrel of oil. Things did not go as planned, as you have guessed by now. They struck water while drilling for oil.

    Either earlier debts or debts incurred while drilling for oil forced Joseph to sell his land the next year. On March 15, 1862 Joseph W. and his wife, Eliza J., sold their ten acres to A.J. Spivey for $350.

    I doubt that anyone gave much thought to the water for a few years. The only thing most people thought was of value was the saw mill. So, to hurry things along I will just list the purchaser, date, and the price until events dictate otherwise.

William C. Murray paid $1000 plus interest to William Flanegin.
William C. Murray paid $500 plus interest to James Hewitt

    "The Fairview Summer Resort and Mineral Water Co." became a corporation of the State of West Virginia on July 10, 1896, with Mercer as president and Stone as secretary. E.B. Langfitt and J.C. Swearingen also invested in this company at this time. On February 9, 1898 Mercer and Stone were issued twenty shares of stock each, valued and $100 per share. The on June 27, 1898, A.W. Brown acting as trustee, sold the company to E.B. Langfitt for $950.

    The following recording in the deed books was a right of way for Route 2 that passes through the Mineral Springs property.

Dorothy C. Pease (infant) 01/30/33 $1, 03/28/33 $1, 04/29/33 $1000, 04/29/33 $1000

     Entering the old road into Mineral Spring from Route 8, climb the small hill on the right hand side. On top you should be able to find the homestead, which was the sanatorium, and the sandstone lined well. The thumbnail to the right is a picture of the well next to what was the Fairview Summer Resort.

     Once again, if you entered Mineral Spring from Route 8, on the left are some
sandstone cliffs. Above the cliffs are some small foundations. Here the Pease
family built a chicken coop which could be reached from the upper level of  their new family house and bar. Their old home had burned during the 1930's. Below the cliffs was the site of the Mineral Spring well, which the park pulled  in early 1988.
 

     So far I have not be able to locate any photographs of the 1800's pertaining to this site, but through the generosity of the superintendent of Tomlinson Run State Park, James Harvey, and Dorothy Pease Marshall we do have a nice photo gallery of later dates.

    The main body of this local history has dealt with the 1700's and 1800's. I hope the reader will forgive me for moving into the 1900's! So little has been saved or donated from the early years. Its a crime not to publish or record the information we do have available.

    This site transpired from a saw mill owned by Joseph Silverthorn: a failed oil venture, summer resort and water company, a speak-easy during the prohibition, to an all day family recreation area. Through the Pease era, they ran the speak-easy during the prohibition and sold the mineral water. Later the Pease family added cottages, a picnic area, dance and roller rink, and the bar. The Fullers carried on for another eight years before the State of West Virginia purchased the site in 1962.

    Upon the purchase, the state of West Virginia razed the entire site. Ending this chapter of history.  

   Back to the Entrance or  Murray's Mill