On South Broadway, across the street from the National Dance Museum, (which is adjacent to the Lincoln Bath House), sits the Lincoln Spring. The property used to be owned by The Lincoln Gas Company, and the Natural Carbonic Gas Company. They discovered the spring in March, 1896, after drilling down 425 feet.
*info and photos from 1902 Saratoga Visitor's Guide
This is the property where the companies that, between 1896 and 1910, were responsible for the deliberate drilling of close to 100 wells, all used to extract the carbonic gas. Ironically, which then, the gas was then introduced to another liquid, a bit more popular at the time, a drink called soda pop.
Once the State took over, in 1912, they capped the wells, leaving a few to supply the Lincoln Bath House, which at that time, was a converted building from the gas company. The bath house burned down in 1928, and in 1930, NY State opened the largest bath house in the world, the Lincoln Bath House. Lincoln contains 252 bathrooms.
The Lincoln Spring fed the baths, and from 1920 to 1960, the Lincoln Spring was also piped all the way down to a drinking fountain in front of the Canfield Casino, and the Saratoga Bath House on Phila St. ( I thank Swanner and her book 'Queen of Spas' for the info)
It is highly carbonated, and highly mineralized, making it perfect for mineral baths.
I think it looks pretty gross too, I can't think of a murkier spring in Saratoga.
The Lincoln Spring is located on the west side of South Broadway, here's a look at the Lincoln Baths from the spring.
I would also like to add that, people say, "Oh, they use(d) tap water and mix it with the Lincoln Spring. Well, yes, the springs here are cold springs, which unlike other springs in the USA, it is pushed to the surface due to gas pressure. Hot springs are pushed by geothermal pressure, and heat makes for comfortable bath water. The average temperature of the Spa City's springs is about 43 degrees, so the bath houses here add warm tap water. If you were to heat it up, you would compromise it's effervescence. The special thing about our springs, is that it is highly mineralized, even more than it's hot spring counterparts, yet it's cold water. Now, one of the first lessons in science you learn as a kid, while mixing your hot chocolate, it that solubility is relative to temperature. How these springs are so mineralized is unanswered part of the magic current that flows through our town.
Here's my springwatercolor of the Lincoln Baths, I painted it listening to Phish's soundcheck echoing through the Avenue of Pines. I even had my friends that are Phish heads stumble upon me painting, trippy bro... yo, man, I hope you dig it!
Almost all these pieces posted to this blog, will available to purchase this Saturday, at Art in the Park, Congress Park, JULY 9th, I hope to see ya there!
You can volunteer to help with the event, here, thanks! http://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Capital-District-Volunteers/events/231595748/
