Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of RedBoilingSprings, TN


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Tennessee
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Macon

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.7
area_land_km2 = 3.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.4
area_land_sq_mi = 1.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1023
population_density_km2 = 277.9
population_density_sq_mi = 719.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 235
elevation_ft = 771
latd = 36 |latm = 31 |lats = 57 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 50 |longs = 59 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 37150
area_code = 615
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 47-62000GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1299039GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Red Boiling Springs is a city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,023 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Red Boiling Springs is located at coor dms|36|31|57|N|85|50|59|W|city (36.532509, -85.849742)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,023 people, 404 households, and 252 families residing in the city. The population density was 719.8 people per square mile (278.2/km²). There were 457 housing units at an average density of 321.6/sq mi (124.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.14% White, 0.29% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 404 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 75.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,868, and the median income for a family was $28,333. Males had a median income of $26,313 versus $16,842 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,274. About 18.4% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

Originally known as Salt Lick Creek, Red Boiling Springs once enjoyed tremendous popularity as a mineral water resort, with its peak occurring in the first quarter of the 20th century, when it was visited by many famous personages. The hotel registers included the names of mayors, judges, lawyers, heads of business and industry, famous musicians and singers, governors and most notably President Woodrow Wilson.

Almost uniquely, five different types of mineral waters occur there. Some were named for the color they would turn a silver coin; two, dubbed "Red" and "Black", were from springs which were capped off and then piped throughout the town to a series of wells with manually-operated pumps on both public and private property. The flavor of the "Red" water was only somewhat sulfurous and seemed to be at least slightly agreeable to many; the "Black" was very-strongly flavored, off-putting to the novice, and an acquired taste (at best) for most. "White" was used only to cure dyspepsia. Oddly enough, "Freestone" contained none of the trace minerals that brought the crowds to the springs but it was by far the most palatable. "Double and Twist" was named for the effect it had on the person drinking it. "Double and Twist" was advertised as the "only water of its kind in the United States". [Bellar, Jim: "Red Boiling Springs The Tradition Lives. Macon County Times Publishing Company, 1981]

"Taking the waters" at Red Boiling Springs generally consisted of more than merely ingesting them; steam and tub baths featuring the waters and their alleged therapeutic properties were often featured. The various waters contained several minerals but sulfur was predominant, giving the waters the scent (and some would say, the flavor) of rotten eggs. There were medical doctors on hand to prescribe which treatments would work for a particular ailment.

As early as the 1840s the commercial potential of the "boiling" springs was realized by Samuel Hare, who began developing the area as a "watering place" but the Civil War halted progress. In the 1880s New York Businessman James F. O. Shaugnesy began development of the area as a resort. [Tennessee Historical Society [http://www.mytennesseegenealogy.com/tn_county/mac.htm#eh] ] In 1918 there were four hotels in town; a decade later that number doubled and soon after, over a dozen hotels and at least that many boarding houses had been erected to take advantage of tourism. An advertising brochure claimed "sickness among the year 'round residents is practically an unknown thing." [ "Red Boiling Springs" promotional booklet, 1924.]

The area's relative remoteness proved a boon in a way, in that visitors, once having made the then-considerable effort required to arrive, were likely to stay for at least several days or even weeks. By the early 1900s visitors could arrive by train at Carthage or Hartsville, then be met by "modern" taxi cabs to drive the remaining distance over windy, dirt roads. Eventually, the remoteness would be among the causes of the resort's decline. As the resort grew, it became the stopping point for minstrel shows, circuses and other entertainments to a far greater degree than typical for towns of its small size. The town boasted a number of "diversions": bowling alleys, tennis courts, shuffle board, croquet, a ballroom, swimming pools, a small golf course, theatre, and an amusement park. The hotels also provided picnics and barbecues.

Several factors contributed to the town's decline as a major resort. One was a general loss of confidence and interest in the purportedly curative powers of mineral waters by Americans as the 20th century progressed. A new highway system, built during the late '20s and early '30s, made it easier for people to travel, but it also meant they could travel to other places as well, such as the state parks that were opening. A number of the hotels burned and were not rebuilt. The townspeople were hesitant to support tourism. The town was already in decline when the Great Depression destroyed many Americans' disposable incomes and hence budget for travel. The area's general remoteness also began to work against it; this was greatly aggravated by World War II and the resultant gasoline rationing. Tourism focus shifted within Tennessee to more highly-developed areas such as the Smoky Mountains.

By the time the postwar period had arrived, most of the hotels had closed and the area was a shell of its former self. There was a slight rebirth during the 1950s. A booster club was formed, two of the hotels were restored and new attractions were added. A drive-in billed as the only one of its kind in Middle Tennessee outside of Nashville joined the local theatre. By the early '60s only 5 hotels remained.

On June 23, 1969 the rain began. In six hours the entire Salt Lick Valley was under water. An unofficial report stated that 10 inches of rain fell in 6 hours. [http://kyclim.wku.edu/factSheets/rec6hrRain.htm Retrieved 2008-05-28] Whole houses, cars and a Trailways bus floated through town. Surprisingly, only two small children lost their lives that night.

State and Federal grant money aided businesses, built watershed dams and help the townsfolk rebuild. By the late 1970s the town began to revisit its history in earnest with an eye to marketing it a tourist destination again, if only on a small scale. Two covered bridges were built, and park lands were developed. Later, the site of a former hotel was made into a library.

At the beginning of the 21st century, a large water bottling plant was built on the outskirts of town by Nestlé, where water is bottled from Bennet Hill Springs, a source of Freestone water. Ironically, the plant removes all the natural minerals from the water by reverse osmosis and later adds a specific mixture of minerals to give it a consistent taste.

In 2008, three of the historic hotels were in operation, with [http://www.armourshotel.com/ The Armour Hotel] still offering a full complement of steam treatment, mineral tub baths, and therapeutic massage. The old hand pumps that stood on public land have been removed because of liability issues that could occur. You can still see the hand pumps on private property around town and there are still those who swear by the curative powers of the mineral waters.

The town is home to several annual events. [http://thedonohohotel.com/ The Donoho Hotel] hosts the annual Red Boiling Spring Bluegrass Festival, first Friday and Saturday in June. This is an event for professional players and shade tree pickers alike.

One of the biggest annual festivals in Tennessee, The Summer Solstice, attracts around 2,000 people every year for 3 days of camping out on an organic farm listening to live music, and eating fresh organic food. Marked by the 1st day of summer and longest day of the year the celebration is usually put off until the following weekend. More information about the solstice can be found at the [http://www.tnsolstice.org/ official website] .

The Middle Tennessee chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America holds their antique car show in Red Boiling Springs each year. The event is always scheduled for the first Friday and Saturday after Labor Day and held on the lawn of [http://www.thomashousehotel.com/ The Thomas House Hotel] . This event has been held for over 50 years.

[http://www.grandpas-house.com/ "How'd Dey Do Dat? Day"] is held the second Saturday in October. It is a rural heritage celebration held on the Ritter Farm with demonstrations of "old time skills", i.e. blacksmith shop, grist mill, horse drawn equipment, quilting, candle making.

Red Boiling Springs is also home to Tennessee's only motorcycle museum, [http://www.cyclemos.com/ Cyclemos] , which holds an annual "Show and Old School Swap Meet" that draws thousands of visitors and bikes.

References

"The two little girls that lost there lives were sisters Rena and Jennifer Bilbrey. I am Grady (Butch)Bilbrey their brother who was also in that flood and almost lost my life along with our mother. A water shed (dam) named after my sisters.. was built many years later to prevent a flood from ever happening again. Also a small park named after them was built adjacent from several mineral springs that the flood destroyed." "Grady (Butch)Bilbrey"

External links

* http://www.tnsolstice.org
* [http://www.RedBoilingSpringsTN.com City website]