March H, 1936
THE STATE
Page Nine
A view of the south wing,
Seven Springs Hotel, at
Seven Springs.
Seven Springs
OMl of the most h<»aiiliful and
healthful spots in North Carolina
about which very little is known
to the average citizen of the
state.
By MRS. ALEX. C.
».
NOE
IF Ponce dc Leon, in his «-arch for
healing waters and the Fountain of
Perpetual Youth, had rambled down
into eastern North Carolina, he might
have found the object of his quest in
Wayne County, and incidentally, have
changed the whole history of the North
American Continent.
In the midst of the Saponia Hills,
on the hanks of the Neuse River, mid¬
way between Goldsboro and Kinston,
and easily reached by highways from
Mount Olive and LaGrange, is located
another "Wonder of the World” — seven
bubbling springs, each producing a dif¬
ferent kind of water, all within u spec*
fifteen by eighteen feet. Each has a dif¬
ferent mineral content, suitable for the
relief of certain maladies, such as.
stomach, liver, kidney and heart trouble,
rheumatism and other diseases.
Were Known to the Indians
Tradition says «lint these waters were
well known to the Indians more than
three hundred years before America
was settled, and that they were so much
benefited by their use that they named
them "The All-Healing Springs."
The first real knowledge of the springs
dates back to 1815 when Jim Parker
was on a fox hunt, and accidentally
came upon them. He was much im¬
pressed with the clearness of the water
and with the number of springs, and
began telling his friends about them.
Soon concrete curbs were placed around
them and the water was being used by
numbers of people.
In 1805 Confederate Soldiers wore
looking for suitable picnic grounds, and
at the suggestion of Henry Shaw, who
lived on the Seven Springs farm, a
clearing was made and the place was
used for that purpose. Not only for that
one occasion, but right on through the
years. A number of familiar names of
families now living in the community,
such as the Holmes, Cobbs, Whitfields,
Suttons, Barwicks, Shews, ami Hines,
were instrumental in the development.
In 1S7S I)r. V. N. Sea well gave the
first newspaper account of the springs
to the Duplin County Record . As a re¬
sult so many people began to write for
accommodations that Dr. Sea well and
Mr. Whitfield opened up in 1881, what
was known as “The Sea well House." A
few months later "The Seven Springs
Hotel,” which is now in use, was opened,
being enlarged from time to time t"
accommodate the increased number of
visitors, until now they can care for
more than a hundred guests. A modern
plumbing and lighting system has been
installed.
The hotel is located at the top of a
beautiful hill surrounded by virgin for¬
est, draped in Spanish moss, with a
road winding down about four or five
hundred yards to the clearing of three
or four acres near the river where the
springs are located. It is an ideal place
for.quiet and rest.
Other buildings on the shore side of
the campus are a few cottages, and a
pavilion with comfortable seats and
tables, where guests may relax and vis¬
itors may go for picnics and parties.
The property is owned and operated
by G. M. Max\volI, and if its health
values were widely known it would
doubtless become as popular as Hot
Springs. Arkansas, or other nationally
advertised recuperative centers.
Quantities of water are shipped out
from the Springs in five gallon contain¬
ers, each day, for those unable to go
there and stay. Perhaps it is not quite
as palatable, hut has the same medicinal
qualities.
In addition to being a health resort
it is noted for its lieauty, especially in
the spring of the year when the dog¬
wood trees are in bloom.
A short distance from the springs is
the little village of White Hull, with
many lovely homes, good schools and
several ('hurdles, s„ the physical, in¬
tellectual and spiritual needs are pro¬
vided for. The whole is in the center
of the richest agricultural section in the
United States.
