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MINERAL WELLS,
TEXAS
by Sam
Fenstermacher
The town of Mineral Wells is at the intersection of Texas State Highways
180 and 281. Highway 180, previously U.S. Highway 80, crosses the
whole state of Texas heading east and
west. State Highway 281 crosses nearly the whole state, running from
Wichita
Falls to San Antonio.
Before the Interstate Highway System, Mineral Wells sat at the intersection
of two major routes of travel. Today, Mineral Wells sits at the intersection
of two major routes of road trip travel. |
View from the
top of Penitentiary Hollow, and Lake Mineral Wells at Mineral Wells
State Park.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
The Mineral
Wells State Park
The Mineral Wells
State Park is located just a mile or two east of town. This rugged
terrain along Rush Creek was an early home to several Native American
tribes including the Comanche. Here you'll find camping, a nice lake,
hiking trails, rock climbing, and one of the largest stands of undisturbed
Cross Timbers forest in the region. Rock climbing is a popular activity
in the Penitentiary Hollow area of the park. |
The
Baker Hotel ("Rooms with a Past" series)
A fine hotel of 14 floors and 450 rooms, constructed during the late
1920’s to take advantage of the town’s famed mineral wells. The
Baker reigned as one of the countries most glamorous hotels for
25 years. It remained open until the late 1960’s when changing travel
preferences and other social and cultural changes caused a decline
in business. |
Downtown Mineral
Wells
Today the Baker
stands as a landmark for downtown Mineral Wells. The old commercial
district along State Highway 281 (North Oak Ave.) is occupied by a
wide variety of retail shops and restaurants. You can walk and shop
in the shadow of the old Baker
Hotel. |
| A reprint of
a 1940’s Crazy Water postcard I picked up at the Famous Mineral Water
Pavilion in Mineral Wells. It carries no copyright notice on the front
or back. - Sam
Fenstermacher |
The Famous
Mineral Water
In 1877 James Lynch
and his wife Armanda settled on land that would eventually become
the town of Mineral Wells. After several years of hauling water four
miles from the Brazos River, they drilled a well in 1880. The Lynch
family was initially hesitant to drink their well water because they
thought it was poisoned. Over time they began drinking from the well,
and an amazing thing happened: their health improved substantially.
News of the curative powers of their water spread, and Mineral Wells
very quickly established its identity as a mineral water resort town.
National recognition resulted in explosive growth that shaped the
development of the town for several decades. During the 1930's the
Great Depression and other factors foreshadowed the end of the golden
age of Mineral Wells. By the 1940’s most of the mineral water companies
had closed for lack of business.
Today, very little from this gilded era remains. The Baker
Hotel resort and spa still stands, closed since 1972 and no better
for all the years it has stood vacant. Another landmark of the era
is the Famous Mineral Water Company Pavilion at 209 N.W. 6th Street.
The current Famous Mineral Water Pavilion was built at this location
in 1914. You can still enjoy a mineral water at the old bar, and for
anyone hesitant to commit to a full glass they have free samples.
An apothecary's cabinet at one end of the pavilion contains tools
and artifacts of the work of Ed Dismuke, founder of the Famous Mineral
Water Company. |
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Giant bottle
of mineral water in front of Famous Mineral Water Co. in Mineral Wells.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
Entrance to garden
at Famous Mineral Water Company pavilion in Mineral Wells Texas.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
Counter inside
Famous Mineral Water Company in Mineral Wells.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
| Ed Dismuke came
to Mineral Wells, as so many others did, seeking a cure for chronic
health problems. After being cured by the mineral water, Ed sold his
business in Waco
and founded the Famous Mineral Water Company. Ed Dismuke was an avid
promoter of the mineral water. As a trained pharmacist Ed was able
to derive additional products from the water, for example Dismuke’s
Famous Crystals and Dismuke’s Eyebath. These products were sold nationally,
for a time, during the heyday of mineral water. |
Texas Historical
Commission Medallion for Famous Mineral Water Company in Mineral Wells
Texas.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
The Chautauqua
auditorium, the 2nd Crazy Well Pavilion and the Carlsbad Well Pavilion.
Photo circa 1910
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Tracy Blackburn |
Today they sell
several varieties of Crazy Water at the Famous Pavilion in Mineral
Wells. These waters come from wells in the area including the Crazy
Well. Crazy Water gets its name from a crazy woman believed to have
been cured by the water of the Crazy Well many years ago. The Famous
Mineral Water Company wells are the only ones in town still accessible
to the public.
The Famous Mineral Water Company Pavilion is an interesting stop.
They stay busy selling mineral water, snacks, and other merchandise.
A good source of travel information for the area, they also tell a
great version of the history of Mineral Wells Texas.
© Sam
Fenstermacher
Book Hotel Here › Mineral
Wells Hotels |
BAT WORLD
Mineral Wells is also home to Bat World – a living Museum and
rehabilitation center for orphaned and injured bats which nest throughout
Mineral Wells. Like Austinites, the citizens of Mineral Wells have
grown to appreciate their insect eating, pollinating friends. Founded
by Amanda Lollar, Bat World is an affiliation of B.A.T.S., the Beneficial
Animal Teaching Society, a non-profit organization. |
Elmwood Cemetery
in Mineral Wells
Over 3,000 graves |
Elmwood Cemetery
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Elmwood Cemetery
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Old Neon sign
outside Mountaineer Bowling Lanes in Mineral Wells
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, September 2008 |
"Here is
a photo taken of the Grand Theatre in 1948 just after it was remodled.
I worked there as a teenager and later owned the building after it
had closed. This is one of 4 theatres that were open in the 1940's
into the 1960's in Mineral Wells."
Don Eichler, Center Point, Texas, September 14, 2006 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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