First, a WarningThis is NOT a History

lesson.I am NOT a Historian

This is merely an introduction to one of

Jefferson County’s long forgotten and recently re-

discovered historic treasures

The Antebellum Years

Ca 1819-1858

Orientation

The Earliest Depiction of …

…the resort ca 1819, a watercolor view from the western banks of the

Shenandoah.

Around 1821 Dr. DeButts was introduced to the Springs and he declared the waters

cured, among other ailments:

• High Blood Pressure• Rheumatism• Auto Intoxication• Kidney Conditions• Albumenuria• Pustula Eczema• Acne Bulgaris• Neurasthenia• Nervous Disorders• Constipation• Arthritis

• Chronic Dyspepsia• Liver Troubles• Furred Tongue• Loss of Appetite• General Debility• Depression• Gout• Heart Troubles• Dropsy• Dyspepsia• All Digestive Troubles

grew with great rapidity

Not surprisingly, the resort

And Grew

Howe’s 1845 drawing of Shannondale Springs

The Real Reason Folks Felt Better at the Springs:

To escape from the swampland and oppressive heat of the Coast

And the Added Benefits!!No Yellow Fever

No Cholera

No Typhus

In Its Heyday As many As 13 U.S. Presidents Visited

Five(6 if you include Geo. Washington who surveyed our area as a youth) are documented with

varying measures of certainty.

A son of President Tyler may have drowned in the Shenandoah off the Springs and it’s possible

Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur may have been occasional guests in their

times.

Monroe Van Buren Fillmore Pierce Polk

and even authors of potboiler romance novels

Many notables visited the resort in antebellum times. Among them were

politicians, business moguls, devotees of the arts

The opening lines of the “Potboiler”

How Did These Luminaries Arrive?

Three Words of Explanation about the Following Scenes:

Let’s Play Pretend !!

The Shannondale Ferry

Uncle Horace on the Pole

This may be a free black ferryman named Lawson Goins

Various Activities Abounded

Ladies sample the waters

Two Anglers Waiting to Wet a Hook

One of two Presidential Cottages

Launching the Johnboat

Afraid of the Water?

And the Famous Health Regimen6:00AM- Arise and throw your cloak on your shoulders, visit the spring, take a small tumbler of water, move about in a brisk walk

7:00AM- Drink another tumbler of water

7:30AM- And take another drink

8:00AM- Breakfast (Don’t ask)–After breakfast, if you can command a carriage, take a drive, otherwise take a slow ride on horse-back until 10

10:00- 12:00AM- enjoy yourself in conversation or other mode most agreeable to you- eat no luncheon

12:00Noon- Another tumbler of water

12:00-1PM- take exercise at ten pins, quoits, or billiards

1:00PM- And, you guessed it, another tumbler of water

2:00-5- Dine and amuse yourself in social intercourse until 5

We’re Feeling Better Already!!

5:00PM- Take a drive, ride, or walk until 6

6:00PM- Gulp, drink another glass of the “magic” water and exercise till 7

7:00PM- Take a cracker and a cup of black tea. If you are a dancer, you may enjoy it, but in moderation, until 9

9:00PM- quaff a glass of water from the spring, and retire to your room.

No Wonder We Feel BetterWe’re too tired to feel bad!

For the less healthfully inclined,There were other pastimes provided.

There was horseracing, jousting, a large gambling casino, a 100 foot long bar, music for terpsichorean delight and all

manner of other diversions.

In modern parlance, Shannondale Springs:

the “IN” place to be!

An Indication of Renown

Staffordshire China was likely used as tableware during the resort’s heyday.

As late as 1856, improvements to the Springs

were an ongoing affair.

The poster at the right is an

example of the treasures we

hope to uncover by publicizing our once world renown resort. It was found

folded in a bible owned by the

family of a free black ferryman, Lawson Goins, in

2004

Fate Curtails SuccessFrom the Virginia Free Press, March 25, 1858

FIRE AT SHANNONDALE SPRINGS

“We regret to record the destruction of the large and commodious Hotel buildings at Shannondale Springs which occurred on

Saturday morning last. The fire originated from a burning chimney, and so rapid was

its progress, that all efforts to stay its course were unavailing. “The entire buildings … all now lie a mass of smouldering ruins.”

No photos exist but the fire at the old building must have looked similar to the one

at Shannondale Club in 2003.

The halcyon days of Shannondale Springs were over

Intermezzo

1858-1888

What If…

…major historical events hadn’t intervened and the Springs had been rebuilt? But ….

Those are big words, “What, If & But” !

The Greenbrier

BUT, in 1859…

…John Brown Led the Raid on Harpers Ferry

And in 1861…

…America’s Bloody Civil War Erupted

S’dale Springs Role in the Civil War Remains Sketchy at Present.

•Col. John Mosby, the Gray Ghost, fought skirmishes near the Resort. •Records report a NY infantry unit captured several prisoners at S’dale Springs in 1862.•Mosby’s Raiders are rumored to have used the area as a “hideout” on occasion.•We hope to uncover more information in the future.

After the War, Interest in Rebuilding Remained Elusive

The property was used for picnicking, holiday celebrations, day trips, church

outings and similar adventures by locals.

For years The Spa Was:

In 1880’s there still were several buildings extant including the “Presidential

Cottages”, Bathhouses, and farm buildings. All that remained of the Grand Hotel were a few walls that had survived the destruction

of the fire.

The Second Incarnation of:

1888-1909

By the Late 1880’s...

...the economy improved and the property

was acquired in 1888 by investors

who rebuilt the hotel and improved the resort’s amenities. And in 1890…

...The New Hotel Was Completed!

At the opening dance in July, the only criticism was the female to male ratio was 3:1

Financing had been linked to the Charlestown Mining and Manufacturing Company

CTM&M Co.’s boom went bust and H.C. Getzendanner bought the property at auction for $9055.

In 1903 the resort opened with modern conveniences!!

Electric fans Bathrooms Telephones

Golf Tennis Boating

Swimming Bathing Fishing

Stables

and, of course, that “MAGIC WATER”!

Hotel #2 Was Built over the Old...

...hotel’s foundation. Not as grand as its predecessor, it was still a commodious building, 100’x30’ with porches, 2 floors a basement and attic.

Mystery Photos ca 1890’s

#1

Mystery Photos ca 1890’s

#2

Mystery Photos ca 1890’s

#3

...”no bar for the sale of spirituous liquors...” be present on the premises.

Concern about Morals Dictated...

Sadly, Mr. Getzendanner lacked diverse revenue resources of the

antebellum owners. The Spa struggled despite his best efforts. AND…

Room&Board-$2/dayor $8-10/wk !

…Dejà Vu All Over Again (Y. Berra)

The Resort’s 2nd incarnation was cut short by a

fire (reportedly of suspicious origin) in 1909. Shannondale Springs began a slide into obscurity

Intermezzo

1909-1982

In the Years Immediately After the Fire...

...the ferry continued to operate; picnics, holiday celebrations and religious retreats

again predominated at the Springs.

In 1919 E.B. Frye Bought the Resort

He had intentions of raising sugar beets

and offering the resort’s grounds to friends.

The beets were a bust.

Frye then leased the property to C.L Crane who had at least two ill-fated schemes to

make money from the Resort

• a country club community in 1924

• the sale of bottled spring water in 1931

Frye’s Plans Remained Just Plans

In 1937 Thornton T. Perry, a notable local citizen began acquiring the parcels of land that now

comprise the Horseshoe bend of the Shenandoah River.

For nearly 50 years the Shannondale estate remained in the Perry family and was used mainly for farming.

Mr. Perry’s Nephew T.T. Perry II and his children T.T. Perry III & Eleanor C.P. Read made the

property available to the public in 1982.

The Plaque on Shannondale Springs Road...

...heralds our next chapter

Present Day

1982- ????

It Took Some Time

But the ceremony that dedicated the plaque was conducted on October 22, 1989. The

culmination of the Perrys’ wish to preserve The Springs became officially a:

Fait Accompli !!!

Ah, If Only Life Were Really So Simple

The DNR now had proprietorship of the Horseshoe Farm of which Shannondale Springs comprised but a

small portion. But, the State had no plan for the resort.

The Birth of F.O.S.S. ( Friends Of Shannondale Springs)

During this time( the early 1980’s to mid 1990’s ), Shannondale Springs was largely still shrouded

by mist (to wax poetic). The exception were a few

inquisitive souls who either thru research or

serendipity, stumbled across our historical gem.

It’s Our Prerogative We’ll appoint a heroic protagonist in our tale.

Bill HartgrovesBill was one of those who stumbled upon the old ruins and became (excuse us, Bill) obsessed by

the prospect of reviving its prominence in Jefferson County history. With dogged effort he convinced the Historic Landmarks Commission to press for a lease on the historic site. In April,

1996, FOSS became a reality!!!

FOSS Targets Its Goals

Stabilization

Restoration

Inclusion

Study & Research

Education & Maintenance

Stabilization

FOSSies on the attack, weeds beware!!

The Bathhouse Emerges...

Restoration

The old saying of eggs being broken to make an omelet certainly ring true!!

Restoration = Demolition + Reconstruction

Gruber Restoration of Williamsport MD did a splendid job of dismantling and rebuilding. They’d be crackerjack jigsaw assemblers!

The Stones Were Numbered...

..., removed and replaced in the same configuration.

And Presto, Chango, the Job...

...nears completion. Surprisingly and fortunately, the interior needed very little work

With the Exception of a Door and Window Frame, no work was done on the Interior.

InclusionUnfortunately there are no images that depict the

machinations involved in all the legal, grant writing, research and fund-raising “stuff ”.

BUT, we can proudly present:

The FOSS Hall of Fame

The Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commissioners

Bill HartgrovesBill TheriaultCarmen CreamerBill DrennanCarl SullivanChuck Felton

John DoyleDale ManuelJim TaylorThe Perrys;

Thornton, Thornton II., Mrs. Eleanor P. Read & Dr. Tayloe

Susan Winter TrailAnd all FOSS

members

They Dood It !!!!

On February 5th, 1998, Shannondale Springs

was granted a listing on the National Registry

We can’t praise our predecessors, the original FOSS members and others, too much.

Study and Research,

except for an archaeological dig at a small area

by one corner of the bathhouse, didn’t happen.

Some Final Touches Were Added

These included landscaping with appropriate plantings of the period, thanks to the Shenandoah/Potomac Garden Clubs

Stabilization, Restoration and Inclusion

3 out of 5 isn’t bad, and once the resort was on the National Registry, interest flagged and resources were directed elsewhere.

Oops, That’s Not Quite Accurate!

Remember our protagonist, Bill Hartgroves? Bill continued his stewardship

and worked with the Jefferson County Museum to open an exhibit on the Springs.

The museum is located directly below the Charles Town Library. Bill and an anonymous

donor used their own dough to purchase Thornton Perry’s…

…ephemera at auction and provided them to the museum for all of us to enjoy.

“ Shannondale & Beyond”…

... had begun establishing the Springs’ presence in cyberspace, and when Bill felt the need to

relinquish stewardship of the Springs he selected S&B to take his place. We were honored to assume

the role of caretaker of the historic jewel at the

foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain.

Revitalized FOSS Has 3 Primary Goals

1) Continued maintenance 2) Improved accessibility and 3) A continuing search for:

news articles, correspondence, oral accounts, mementoes, and further archaeological studies

Let’s Take a Time out to Get Re-Oriented

OrientationRedux

The DNR’s Map Showing Hiking

Trails and Entrances

The Access Road by the River

5 Years Veils Good Works

Bill Hartgroves surveys the growth in 2004

Nature and some hard work

clears the fountain of debris

And the end result shows in the Spring

FOSS member emanGoes whacko

Some Scenes from Early 2005

An what we can expect on our

visits this coming Spring.

FOSSies Plan The 2005 Spring Attack

Wear that blaze orange !!!

The View from the Ferry Landing

Note the hole in the treeNote the hole in the tree

We Do Allow Breaks

Beauties and the Beasts

What’s the Purpose of this Exercise?

To Spread the Word about Our Treasure!!

Volunteers to educate the public about this marvelous place, acting as speakers and

guides.

Volunteers to improve signage and provide areas where visitors can rest their weary

bones.

How Can You Help?FOSS Needs Volunteers!

Volunteers to explore ways to finance further archaeological studies of S’dale Springs

Volunteers to maintain access so all can enjoy the Springs

Volunteers to find photos, letters, and other material to provide as complete a history of the

Springs as possible.

But Most of All:

FOSS Needs You to

www.Shannondale.org