McBee S. C. April 3, 1914
Big Springs Resort Co.,
Bethune, S. C.—
Gentlemen:
I can heartily recommend Big Springs water for rheumatism, chronic indigestion, Bright’s disease and other kidney and bladder troubles, as I have seen it tried in a good many instances and have noted beneficial results. I believe if this water is used for a reasonable length of time it will produce a permanent cure in such
cases.
I can heartily recommend Big Springs water for rheumatism, chronic indigestion, Bright’s disease and other kidney and bladder troubles, as I have seen it tried in a good many instances and have noted beneficial results. I believe if this water is used for a reasonable length of time it will produce a permanent cure in such
cases.
Yours truly, J. D. Ingram, M. D.
In addition, the former proprietor of Big Springs explains some more of its benefits: Big Springs water should be used to bathe the affected parts (external) as well as drank [sic].Recognizing the inability to do this successfully at the home, there (are) now large swimming pools for the pleasure-seekers, where the sick or well can have any kind of a bath needed or wanted. This is something that but few health resorts have, but this Spring, as the name implies, flows over 300 gallons per minute ample for all needs, with a temperature of 57 degrees. You don’t need ice in this water. Indeed, more recent measurements reportedly showed
the spring to flow at least 300 gallons per minute, if not more. It was enough to easily fill a 100,000-gallon swimming pool that was enjoyed not only at the turn of the century but even into the early 1960’s. In the late 1940’s, then-governor Strom Thurmond and his wife Jean visited and enjoyed the pool fed by Big Springs. The high rate of flow for this spring is unusual, however, as most of the springs in the State average less than 10 gallons per minute. While most springs flowat a constant rate and have been flowing for centuries, if not longer, many springs have decreased their output during dry times, and some have dried up entirely. On the other hand, there are still many springs that are seemingly unaffected by drought.
my grandparents ej elbert jacjson snipes and irene kelly snipes held our family reunion every year at the cabin about one tnousand yards from the swinging bridge across lynches river to the swimming pool. grandmas family owned the cabin and all the kin would surely be there evin if travel was neccessary.there would be at leastleast a hundred people to attend all bringing food for the biggest feast i have ever seen then or now. there were two twenty five foot tables in the yard under huge old shade trees that was unbeleavable to me as a kid.every dish you ever heard of would be there.the parents would make us kids wait one hour before swimming not to get cramps from the cold cold water. all the kids would be running around the pool trying to warm up enough to dive back in. my and their lips would be blue from the cold water and they would have their arms drown to their chest it was so cold this was in august at about nintyfive to onehundred degrees weather.the pool had a diving board at the river facing end and straight down when you jumped in was a say ten foot square well with water coming out so fast it would blow you to the surface. this was the ultimate experience i remember.i live in hartsville now and always have and i still today go once a week or so and fill my fifteen gallon jugs with water from a well just down the river a short distance. i have drank,made tea,made ice in my ice trays for fortyfive or so years. my daughter and her children next door to me walk over several times a day to get a cup of my ice for their drink no matter if its tea or coke or just ice water. i think of big springs a lot and tell them the stries and memories i have of this uniqe place. i have tried to get to the pool area several times by trying to cross the river but too dangerous thus far. i surely would love to see if the cement heavy built pool is still there and take a picture of it.one thing i want to mention is my uncle gerald beckum of which his folks own mr b's resturant in lydia sc are my kin and would be at the f. reunion every every year. he has a serious infant illness and was left just barely able to walk could not speak only make noises trying to speak and would you beleive he would hobble onto the diving board hit the water and swim that cold water better than anyone there i mean like a pro swimmer or something. if you dont beleive it was very strange and to me as a kid like a mracle or something then ask people who went there in the late fifties early sixties and they can tell you about it. he would hit the water and swim non stop for an hour or so.well i could go on but my final thought is i shall find a way to get to that pool soon probably float from hwy 1 bridge down to where the old swinging bridge was to the pool and climb up the bank and hope to see that pool. mike snipes hartsville sc 843 639 9022 cell. all of this is the absolute truth and boy do i miss this place.
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