White Sulphur Springs (California)

White Sulphur Springs was considered the oldest warm mineral springs resort facility in Northern California. It was founded in 1852 in the town of St. Helena in the Napa Valley.[2][3] Most of the structures at the site were destroyed in 2020 in the Glass Fire.[4]

White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs hotel, c. 1865
Locationtwo miles west of St. Helena, Napa County, California[1]
Coordinates38°29′4″N 122°29′9″W
Typegeothermal
Temperaturebetween 18°C (64.4°F) and 36.25°C (97.25°F) depending on source

History

Local Indigenous people historically used the warm mineral springs.[5] Later, it became part of a Mexican Land Grant as a Rancho of California. The springs were later discovered by Dr. Edward Bale in 1848 who then opened a resort in 1852,[6] although another account by the St. Helena Historical Society states that the springs were discovered by John York.[7] In the 19th century well-to-do San Franciscans would travel by steamer ship across the San Francisco Bay to Soscol Landing near the town of Napa. They would then board a train and transfer to a stage coach to reach the resort. During the height of operations, the grand hotel could accommodate up to 1000 visitors.[6] Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the facilities were used to house refugees. Over the years, the property has had 30 different owners. Among its visitors were Clark Gable and Mark Twain.[8] In the late nineteenth century into the early 20th century, the springs were used for their alleged balneotheraputic properties.[9]

In 1968, the site was registered with the California State Office of Historic Preservation.[10] A historical marker is at the site.[11]

Water profile

There are nine warm spring sources at the site that vary in temperature. An 1873 report by the California Department of Public Health report that the mineral content of the water consists of carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesium, sulphate of soda, chloride of sodium, chloride of calcium, carbonate of magnesia, and suphides of calcium and sodium. The report recorded the temperature range of the springs to be between 18°C (64.4°F) and 36.25°C (97.25°F).[1] In 1915, the temperature of the various spring sources were reported as between 21°C (69°F) to 32°C (90°F).[12]

Fires

Over the years, the facilities burned during wildfires, and three grand hotels were lost in various fires. By 2017, the property had been converted into a retreat center for the Hoffman Institute.[6] The conference center can hold up to 200 people.[3] In 2020 most of the facilities were destroyed in the Glass Fire; 17 of 20 buildings were ruined.[4][13][14] [8]

References
  1. Biennial Report of the State Board of Health of California. California Department of Public Health. 1873. pp. 125–127. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. Gersh-Young, Marjorie (2011). Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest. Santa Cruz, California: Aqua Thermal Access. ISBN 978-1-890880-09-5.
  3. Kaysing, Bill; Kaysing, Ruth (1993). Great Hot Springs of the West. Santa Barbara, California: Capra Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-88496-382-9.
  4. "Glass Fire destroys historic St. Helena's White Sulphur Springs". San Francisco Chronicle. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  5. "Rebirth: Rising from the Ashes". Hoffman Institute. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. "Napa County Points of Interest: White Sulphur Springs". NoeHill. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  7. "Early Napa Valley Settlement (1846-1880)". St. Helena Historical Society. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  8. Graff, Amy (8 October 2020). "Glass Fire devours California's oldest resort". SFGate. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  9. Cohen, Solomon Solis; Winternitz, Wilhelm; Kisch, Henrich (1902). A System of physiologic therapeutics v.9, 1902; Volume 9: Hydrotherapy, Thermotherapy, Heliotherapy, and Phototherapy, Balneology and Crounotherapy. P. Blackison and Son, Co. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  10. "White Sulphur Springs". California State Office of Historic Preservation. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  11. "White Sulphur Springs". The Historical Marker Database.
  12. Waring, Gerald Ashley (1915). Springs of California. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 253–254. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  13. Colorado, Melissa (2 October 2020). "Glass Fire Nearly Destroys White Sulphur Springs, California's Oldest Resort". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. "In St. Helena, Glass Fire Destroys California's Oldest Resort". The Napa Valley Register. 2 October 2020.
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