A collection of postcard images documenting the golden age of flowing artesian wells across the United States and the world, generally from the early 1900s and with a bias toward Texas. Also included, from time to time, are other water-related postcards.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Hydrokesma Spring, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; F. Schultz, bottler and dealer in Mineral Waters

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Mineral Wells, Texas

Dan's Venetian Club, Mineral Wells, Texas

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Illinois

Artesian wells and deep springs of Illinois

Friday, August 28, 2015

Latham Springs, Texas

Dining Hall, Latham Springs Baptist Encampment, Texas

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Spring Creek, Texas

Head of Spring Creek, Irion County, Texas

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

San Marcos, Texas

Spring Lake Park Hotel and Swimming Pool, San Marcos, Texas

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien Sanitarium, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin


Monday, August 24, 2015

Greensboro, Alabama

Pickens Well, near Greensboro, Hale County, Alabama

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Mineral Wells, Texas

Dan's Venetian Club, Mineral Wells, Texas

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

wellhead tour: Dallas, Texas!


If you look in the lower left-hand corner of the above photo, one of Dallas' first artesian wells can be seen. Below is a closeup (I took these photos of a photo in the hotel I was staying in...). There's actually a remnant of the wellhead still in place at the site, called by the locals "Big Red", once the courthouse for Dallas County (and now a museum). 

I learned about this well from here, which gave me a big smile since I've been searching for photographic evidence of early artesian wells in Dallas for a long time (the artesian wells in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Waco preceded the golden age of postcard documentation of artesian wells). 




Monday, August 17, 2015

wellhead tour: Bell's Hill in Waco, Texas!


The fellow that told me stories about the well in Marlin, Texas, also told me that he thought the first artesian well drilled in Waco still exists. I think he's right! This is either the original well or one of the wells Mr. Bell drilled back in the day.


The well must have had bad casing that leaked, because the first school on the property collapsed:










Sunday, August 16, 2015

wellhead tour: Marlin, Texas!


I've stopped in at Marlin before, but this time I was able to soak my feet and chat with a lady at the Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center next door. She confirmed my suspicion that all of the bathhouses and associated hotels have been tore down (sad...) and that there were other wells in town with this one being the only one left.

I was at a water meeting earlier in the day where a fellow described a story from his folks that people used to set out glassware in the water and let it soak for a week or so, turning it over from time to time. I asked the Chamber lady about this, and she confirmed. Turns out they sell shot glasses with wellhead on it, and she soaks a few in the water to stain them with the water. And I got one!

Next time, I need to bring a towel to dry my feet...






Saturday, August 15, 2015

Indonesia

Water well somewhere in Indonesia

Friday, August 14, 2015

Thursday, August 13, 2015

San Antonio, Texas

San Pedro Springs, San Antonio, Texas

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Marlin, Texas

Torbett Sanatorium, Majestic Hotel and Bath House, Marlin, Texas

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Turkish, Russian, and mineral water baths at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Monday, August 10, 2015

Willfords, Alabama

Artesian well at Willfords, Alabama

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Mineral Wells, Texas

Bird's eye view of Mineral Wells, Texas

Saturday, August 8, 2015

mystery

mystery artesian well blow-out

Friday, August 7, 2015

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Fowler, Kansas

One of the largest artesian wells and lake, Fowler, Kansas

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Artesian well at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Monday, August 3, 2015

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Mineral Wells, Texas

Swimming pool at the Baker Hotel, Mineral Wells, Texas

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Denver, Colorado

The Ideal Laundry in Denver, Colorado: "We use artesian water"