Greenville Springs

Greenville Springs - 1806

(Photo and info copyright James Harrod Trust)

The Rev. Jesse Head, a Methodist clergyman, discovered Greenville Springs in 1806, the year he solemnized the union of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, parents of Abraham Lincoln. Just south of the Harrodsburg city limits lay the community known as Greenville and it was on the property of Captain Lucas VanArsdel that Head first tasted the iron and saline tinctures that were soon to bring fame and the wealthy to Harrodsburg to “take the waters”.

Felix Grundy partnered with VanArsdel to develop the Springs as a tourist attraction and center for therapeutic baths and ebolutions. Many physicians of the day swore as to the efficacy of the springs and the “resort” soon gained a national reputation with many distinguished guests including Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and James Monroe. Aside from the purported medicinal gains offered by the Springs an incredible social life developed around the hotel and cabins on the grounds. Billiards, alcohol, games of chance, orchestras, balls and an occasional duel were a part of the entertainment venue.

Grundy, because of legal appointment in Tennessee, sold his portion of the Springs to Daniel Jennings who later sold his investment to Montgomery Bell of Tennessee. Thomas Eastland, who had purchased the VanArsdel portion of the Springs, and Bell developed a hemp bagging company and “rope walk” on the property for added income.

Nearby, David Sutton, the owner of a hat factory, discovered more medicinal springs and began to exploit their financial potential under the name of Harrodsburg Springs. His son-in-law, Dr. Christopher Graham, realized the full potential of the spas and capitalized on every opportunity, soon turning Harrodsburg into the “Saratoga of the West”. Graham eventually purchased Greenville Springs and permanently discontinued the commercial operation of the springs, eliminating all competition. In redeeding the property he specifies that the springs will never again be used in any commercial manner. He was very generous in the resale, helping to establish Greenville Institute, a Christian Church college. When the main building of the Institute, the old Greenville Springs Hotel, burned in 1851, Graham helped to raise the funds for a new three story Greek Revival building (now operated as Beaumont Inn).

The Springs brought the wealthy from both North and South and great wealth to the central Bluegrass area. The Southerners came to Harrodsburg for the “Season” (summer) to escape the plagues of malaria and yellow fever that riddled the deep South. To this day one can see the Natchez influence in some of the local architecture.

In 1853, Graham suddenly changed the course of his life and sold the Springs to the U.S. Government, ending a venture that had brought great financial success and prestige to the town.

Two local families generously donated the spring owned by the James Harrod Trust. It is one of the last three running springs. The others have been built over or totally destroyed. The old foundation for the springhouse is evident and we know the exact dimensions and appearance of the structure, as all of the springhouses at both Greenville and Harrodsburg Springs were identical. It is the plan of the Trust to rebuild the springhouse and create a bird sanctuary-park for the local residents, to celebrate the quietude and ambiance associated with the enormous parkland that once surrounded the commercial venture.