Volume 14 , Issue 30

Summer of 1873 - White Sulphur Springs Surroundings

In The Daily State Journal, of Richmond, Virginia, dated 20 June 1873, page 1, there was an article concerning the surroundings of White Sulphur Springs, written by a New York traveling correspondent that mentioned on June 19th gave the readers a complete description of the surroundings of this popular and favored resort, and the adjacent resources for enjoyment and pleasure.

The correspondent made a lengthy communication that nine out of ten of all the visitors tot he "White Sulphur Springs," will pronounce the scenery which surrounds them, vastly more grand and beautiful than any within sight of Saratoga; the climate more pleasant, and the air more salubrious; while the mineral waters are equally or more beneficial, in a greater number of maladies, than those renowned New York springs.

The New York correspondent also mentioned the opportunities for hunting and fishing, in this Greenbrier country, are much finer than are those of Saratoga. He also mentioned, "While it is unquestionably true, that the artificial or artistic attractions of the New York springs may surpass those of Virginia, the latter have vastly the advantage in natural attractions and scenery; being elevated some two hundred feet above tide-water, surrounded with the most picturesque mountain scenery near the western slope of the great Appalachian chain, on the Chesapeake and the Ohio railroad, and in the valley of Howard creek, near its confluence with the Greenbrier river; kate's mountain near by on the south; the Greenbrier mountains about one mile to the west; with towering peaks of the Alleghany mountains about a half a dozen miles to the east and north."

And they have the further advantage of being nearly in the centre of the great "Virginia Springs region," so visitors can go in a few hours, as they may wish; having the Hot, Warm and Healing Springs from thirty-five miles to the north; the Sweet and Sweet Chalybeate, sixteen miles to the east; the Salt and the Red Sulphur, the one twenty-four, the other forty-one miles to the south; and all of them easily accessible by railroad or by comfortable stages, over good roads back in those days of the nineteenth century.

The correspondent told of how Colonel Peyton kept a stall of splendid saddle horses, and fine driving horses at all times.

Lewisburg, the county seat of Greenbrier county, was a thriving, handsomely-located town, some nine miles drive froth White Sulphur, on a good turnpike road and was a place of attraction and affording a pleasant drive, which was enjoyed by the guests and patients to the Springs. It was in the Springs region, they had salubrious and invigorating air, and the most agreeable temperatures, cool at morning and evening, and at not time oppressively warm. The thermometer ranges during the summer were between 60 degrees and 70 degrees, rarely attaining a greater height than 85 degrees at any time of the day. The atmosphere was so elastic and invigorating as to enable invalids to take exercise in the open air without inconvenience of fatigue.

The Red or Sweet Chalybeate Springs, of which G. L. Peyton & co. were proprietors, had made improvements for the season.

The New York correspondent stated towards the end of the article, "If those men owning lands in the vicinity of the Springs, would give more attention and care to raising grapes and other fruits, including berries, there is no doubt but that they would find it profitable and realize a ready and handsome return for their labor; and the same would be true in regard to truck gardening and early vegetable; as large quantities are required for the thousands of visitors at this popular resort."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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