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HISTORY OF THE MINERAL SPRINGS IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, USA
Patricia Collins

P.O. Box 872

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

The presence of mineral water is one of the unique features that set Saratoga Springs apart from other cities in New York State. These naturally carbonated waters are the only ones east of the Mississippi River. The mineral waters all originate in the layer of limestone that underlies the shale and glacial drift of the area. The original springs appeared at the surface through faults or cracks in the shale. Although various theories have been discussed, no one has been able to successfully explain the origin of the waters or the processes by which they receive their mineralization.

The Mohawk Indians discovered the first springs sometime in the 14th century and named it “Medicine Spring of the Great Spirit”. The Indians believed that there was some magic, mystical power in the Saratoga waters which bubbled from the earth by their own volition and the waters were used by the medicine men of the tribes for cures and treatments.

According to local legend, in 1767, Sir William Johnson, pioneer and friend of the Indians, was carried to Saratoga on a litter by the Indians and brought to the High Rock Spring for treatment of an injury suffered during the French and Indian War. He is credited as the first white man to set eyes on the springs and the first to take the cure.

Since approximately 1784, when visitors first began to come to the new settlement called Saratoga Springs, our mineral waters have been used for drinking and bathing. At High Rock Spring, visitors took baths in rough, crudely build wooden troughs. Later, changing rooms and bathing facilities were added.

Late in the 18th century, Gideon Putnam settled in the area and, realizing the potential of the springs, built the first inn, laid out the village proper as well as discovering several new springs in what is now Congress Park.

Drinking the springs’ water was more popular than bathing in them during the first half of the 19th century. However, the use of the baths became very popular in the second half of the century with several sanitariums opening in the village. Dr. Strong, located on Circular Street, advertised “massage, Turkish, Russian, Roman, electric thermal, all baths and related remedial appliances” in an 1888 New York Tribune and operated one of the best known. It is no coincidence that the popularity of “take the cure” increased in America during the late 19th century, as going annually for “the cure” was extremely popular at the same time in Europe following a long established tradition.

With the advent of horse racing in 1863, Saratoga rapidly grew to first place among the ranking social resorts of the east, becoming known as “The Queen of Spas”. The social elite arrived in June and stayed until September. Life centered about the springs, the horse races and the walks and drives laid out between them.

In the closing decades of the 19th century, artificially carbonated water became popular. The soda fountain had been invented and its new and fancy drinks demanded unheard of amounts of carbonic gas. Where better to get the gas than in Saratoga where it existed in great quantities. So factories were built and huge pumps began to draw the waters from the earth.

Concerned about the excessive pumping by private companies, who were separating the carbon dioxide gas from the water for commercial purposes and seriously depleting the mineral water supply, the New York State Legislature passed a bill known as the “Anti-Pumping Act of 1908” which prohibited the gas companies from pumping mineral water for the purpose of extracting gas. The gas companies filed suit for an injunction and continued to pump the mineral water, sometimes just for shear waste because they could. Something had to be done to protect the springs for posterity.

Spencer Trask, creator of the Yaddo Retreat for artists, a man of influence and a prominent businessman, interested the Governor in the plight of the springs and the idea of state ownership of them. In May 1909, a bill was passed that created the State Reservation “for the purpose of the preservation of the natural mineral springs”. Eventually, the State acquired 155 springs, many of which were capped to prevent further flow, while the important springs were made available to the public.

In 1911, the Lincoln Baths opened in a remodeled gas company building. The original structure burned to the ground in March 1928. As the NYS Legislature was in session at the time, money was appropriated and rebuilding started immediately. The present building opened in 1930 at a cost of $700,000. The building contained 252 tubs and could accommodate up to 4,500 people a day at its peak.

The demand for mineral bath treatments increased and the Washington Baths opened in 1920. Records indicate that from June until September 1926, 96,800 baths were given, a 600% increase within a 10-year period.

In 1929, then NYS Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt established a committee of experts to develop a plan for the State Reservation to become a health resort. The committee was called the Saratoga Commission. With the cooperation of the NYS Legislature, bills were sponsored for the development of a new world class spa. Dr. Walter McClellan was named medical director and spent six months touring European Spas bringing home the latest technology.

The Reconstruction Finance Corporation loaned the Saratoga Commission $3,200,000 to finance the necessary construction. The “Hall of Springs” was the first building completed. When the formal opening ceremonies took place in July, 1935, the Saratoga Spa became the first major program completed under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal”. The program was designed to provide jobs for people who needed work due to the economic problems caused by the stock market crash in 1929 that led to the “Great Depression” years of the 1930’s. Additional buildings included the Gideon Putnam Hotel, Little Theatre, Administration Building which housed the Simon Baruch Institute that researched the restorative powers of the mineral waters, the Recreation Complex (pool, golf house and gymnasium) and the Roosevelt Baths I and II then the most modern equipped bath houses in the world with much of the equipment designed for use at the Saratoga Spa alone.

During World War II, the Veterans Administration set up a unit at the Spa. From 1943 until 1951, Roosevelt II was used extensively to treat soldiers, especially those who served in the Pacific theatre and had developed muscular disorders from exposure to tropical climates.

The mineral baths reached their peak of popularity in 1946 when 198,000 baths were administered.

With the discovery of antibiotics and other wonder drugs, the spa therapy concept became less popular. The medical community withdrew their support and the usage of the baths slowly declined along with the physical plants owned by New York State. While there hasn’t been a Medical Director since the early 1950’s, as late as 1965, a registered nurse was the supervisor at Roosevelt I. Eventually, there were no medical staff as the popularity of the mineral baths waned.

During the 1970-1980’s, only the Roosevelt I Mineral Baths remained open year round. The Lincoln Mineral Baths were opened during the summer months and the Washington Baths became the “National Museum of Dance”.

The Lincoln Mineral Bath Building was completely renovated in the late 1980’s at a cost of $6,000,000. Only one wing of the bath building houses the mineral bath operation now. In 1988, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation included the mineral bath operation as part of a 20-year contract with a private management company to operate both the Gideon Putnam Hotel and the mineral baths.

In recent years, with the emphasis on wellness and back to nature movements abounding, the mineral baths have experienced a renaissance. Besides our world famous mineral baths, we offer massage, reflexology, La Stone Therapy, Aromatherapy, Facials, Herbal, Algae and Moor Mud Wraps.

For a more detailed history of the springs, Dr. Grace Swanner, who became interested in the mineral springs when, as a medical student, she served as assistant to the medical director, has written the definitive book on the springs, “Saratoga, Queen of Spas”.