Webster Springs is a town in Webster County, West Virginia, United States. Although it was incorporated as Addison in 1892, it is more frequently referred to as Webster Springs, the name of the town's post office. It was named as such for Addison McLaughlin, upon whose land the town was originally laid out. The population was 776 at the 2010 census.
The town was famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for its numerous salt sulfur water wells. People believed that the water from the wells had medicinal qualities. The town also hosts the annual Webster County Wood Chopping Festival, a weekend-long competition in which lumberjacks from all over the world compete. The festival lasts from mid-week the week leading up to Memorial Day until the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, when the festival ends with a fireworks display. Additional events and festivals include Webster Wildwater Weekend, which is held the first weekend in April. Canoe and kayak racers from West Virginia and surrounding states participate in the annual event. Another annual event is the Burgoo Cook-off which recognizes the best wild game stew and apple pie. $500 first place award for the best stew. The Burgoo-Cook-off also boasts an annual best scarecrow competition and pumpkin painting for the children. This event is held over the Columbus Day weekend in October. Webster Springs is also known for the great trout fishing on the Elk and Back Fork of the Elk rivers. Both native and stock trout are found in the waters and their tributaries.
The town of Webster Springs sets at the confluence of the Elk and Back Fork of the Elk Rivers. The town is the county seat of Webster county and has one hospital and a bank. The town has numerous shops, retail stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, a motel, and several restaurants. Government offices for the municipality, county, and state are available in the town. The town is served by the Addison Public Library and fire service is provided by the Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
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Etymology
The name of the town is officially Addison, West Virginia. However, it is most commonly referred to as Webster Springs (the name of the town's post office, since 1902). It also labeled on some maps as Addison, and some as Webster Springs. The unofficial name has gone so far that the county commission's letterhead reads "Webster Springs," rather than Addison, which it had previously.
The town has also been known as; Elk Lick, Fork Lick, Addison (officially 1892-present), and Webster Springs (unofficially 1861-present).
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History
The town's first permanent settlers were named William and Polly, (maiden name, "Friend"), Arthur, who arrived in 1860. The first post office established in Webster County was Fort Lick, present-day Webster Springs. The postmaster at the time was a man by the name of John Hall.
The Morton House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Salt Sulfur wells
Hall, along with a man whose first name is not known, who is only known as Mr. Skidmore, drilled the first salt sulfur well in the county, it was known as "Old Spring." The well was later owned by Colonel John T. McGraw. The salt sulfur well helped make Webster Springs a popular summer tourist location during the 19th and early 20th Century.
According to Springs in West Virginia, the town of Webster Springs had four total springs, they included: the Addison McLaughlin Well, located to the west of Court Square on the present site of the Mineral Springs Motel, Old Fork Lick Spring, located in the bed of the Elk River, Tracy Well, located on the lot of its owner, W.B. Tracy, in Webster Springs, and the Wm. Smith Well, located in Dorrtown. The wells were popular because people believed that the water from the wells had medicinal qualities. The water was used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and arthritis.
Webster Springs Hotel
In 1897, Senator Johnson Newlon Camden had built a 265-room hotel of Victorian style architecture, which was larger than The Greenbrier Hotel built in 1913, which only has 250 rooms, named the Webster Springs Hotel. The hotel contained a tennis court, horse stables, garden, bowling alley, power plant, and Russian and Turkish baths, where visitors could enjoy the "medicinal" qualities of its salt sulfur waters. The hotel was also the largest wood frame hotel in West Virginia.
When first built, the hotel was a three-story dark colored building. After it was completed, construction began on a new, much larger section of the hotel, adding more rooms, and a new exterior color, white. The new section of the hotel contained up-to-date Turkish bath equipment, where guests could have a sulfur water bath. For many years, filled to capacity by guests and a greatly increased overflow which necessitated the building of smaller hotels in the town. The hotel also raised its own cattle and provided some of its own food and milk. The hotel's ice house, according to Elizah Hedding Gillespie, His Ancestors, Descendants and Their Families, was capable of holding 150 tons of ice. The hotel was heated by steam.
In 1903, Colonel McGraw purchased the hotel and expanded it by 115 rooms, completed in the spring of 1904. Of the 89 "non-guest" rooms in the new section, 40 were for salt sulfur baths, which took up the entire first floor of one wing. The entire southern wing of the hotel was given to bath rooms, including; "the plunge," Turkish, Russian, Needle, Shower, and Steam baths. Of which they were offered in both fresh and salt-sulfur water.
On the interior, it contained stuffed bears, elks, and other wildlife of the local county in realistic poses.
At the height of its popularity, the hotel played host to such guests as Senators Thomas Kearns (Utah), Henry G. Davis (West Virginia), his son-in-law, Senator Stephen Benton Elkins (West Virginia), and Camden (West Virginia).
On the night of July 20, 1925, the hotel caught fire and was burned to the ground, being completely destroyed. Flames could be seen as far as one mile away, as well, the sky was seen as a bright red color, up to 19 miles away, in Camden-on-Gauley.
Geography
Webster Springs is located at 38°28?34?N 80°24?36?W (38.476192, -80.410025), along the Elk River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.47 square miles (1.22 km2), of which, 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water. It is at an elevation of 1,460 ft. (445m). It is close to Buffalo Bull Knob, elevation 2,799 ft.
Climate
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Webster Springs has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 808 people, 403 households, and 222 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,729.9 inhabitants per square mile (663.8/km²). There were 463 housing units at an average density of 991.3 per square mile (380.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.8% White, 0.12% Native American, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 403 households of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them. While 165, or 40.9% were married couples living together, 51, or 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 180 or 44.7% were non-families. Also, 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.70.
The age of residents range as follows: 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 10.5% from 25 to 34, 17.0% from 45 to 54, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age of the population was 43.9 years. Of the total population, 55.3% where female, while the remaining 44.7% where male. For the total population 45.3% where females 18 and over, while 34.8% where males 18 and over., also, 12.7% where females 65 and older, and 7.8% males 65 and older.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,592, and the median income for a family was $27,434. Males, full-time and year-round, had a median income of $27,386 as opposed to $16,389 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,500. About 22.0% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under the age of 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 776 people, 363 households, and 211 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,724.4 inhabitants per square mile (665.8/km2). There were 447 housing units at an average density of 993.3 per square mile (383.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 363 households of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the town was 45.3 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
Notable residents
- Joe Talbott (January 23, 1933 - January 5, 2014) United States Marine and Politician. He was a Democratic member of the House of Delegates representing the 36th District.
- Philip D. Curtin (May 22, 1922 - June 4, 2009) a former professor at Johns Hopkins University and historian on the Africa and Atlantic slave trade, though born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up in Webster Springs.
- Arden Cogar Sr. (born c. 1942) is a multiple time world champion lumberjack. He also holds multiple world records.
- Jamie Cogar (also called Arden Cogar Jr., born in 1972), the son of Arden Cogar Sr., is a Civil defense trial attorney as well as a champion lumberjack. Some of his accomplishments are; multiple time Champion, multiple medal winner in the Men's Endurance event at ESPN's Great Outdoor Games and multiple Stihl Timbersports Series finalist; 2006 Standing Block World Champion; Winner of 40 Individual World Titles including the All Around World Title at the 2007 Webster County Woodchopping Festival; Captain of STIHL's United States National Lumberjack Team.
- Eli C. ''Rimfire'' Hamrick (March 28, 1868-April 1, 1945) was the Mountain State's prototypical mountaineer. Born in Bergoo, Webster County, Hamrick was one of the best woodsmen of his time and was friend and guide to the coal and lumber barons who used the mountains for hunting expeditions. Originally thought to be the model for the ''Mountaineer'' statue on the grounds of the state capitol, he later revealed that his younger brother, Ellis, had also posed.
- Forest Dewey Dodrill (1902-1997) was a surgeon who helped develop the Dodrill-GMR and performed the first successful open heart surgery using a mechanical heart.
- Walt Helmick (March 25, 1944) West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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