HomeMy WebLinkAboutSulphur SpringsSulphur Springs, also known as Boiling Springs, was located east of
College Station on the Navasota River. These springs were near the
mouth of Carter Creek and Lick Creek. The spring water was highly
charged with sulphurated hydrogen and was considered medicinal. Sulphur
Springs long served as a popular meeting and camping area.
In 1841, a book described these springs in this way: °Near the
mouth of the Navasoto is a spring which affords a large stream of water
highly impregnated with sulphur." (Kennedy, William, Texas: The Rise,
Progress, and Prospects of the Republic of Texas, London, 1841, page
119)
We have received a specimen of a mineral found near the residence of
the Hon. Millican, on the Navisoto, which so closely resembles chalk,
that it would readily be mistaken for that mineral. It makes a plain,
even mark like chalk, and is so soft that it soils the fingers. Large
beds of it are found on the Navisoto. We mentioned some weeks since
that a large bed of this mineral had been found near the sulphur spring
on that stream. We understand that thousands of tons of it can be
procured. It can be readily levigated so as to form a fine white powder
like Spanish whiting, and like that article would probably answer to
form putty or a coarse paint. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register
(Houston), 20 September 1849, page 2
In 1874, Sulphur Springs on the Navasota River was the proposed
terminus of a road from Millican. (Brazos County Commissioners Minutes,
Book B, page 79).
Bryan ... A farmers camp meeting is to begin at the Sulphur Springs,
near Millican, this county, on the 26th inst., to continue a month.
Exercises will consist of lectures by prominent visitors from different
portions of the state on the subject of agriculture and other
interesting topics, with appropriate entertainment. The committee on
arrangements have done everything to insure a good programme. Galveston
Daily News, 8 July 1880, page 1
Navasota ... Miss Terry, one of a party of visitors at the sulphur
springs, four miles from Millican, was yesterday about daylight,
attacked by a rabid polecat. It fastened its teeth in her cheek and
could not be made to turn loose its hold until its throat was cut.
Doubts are entertained about her recovery. Galveston Daily News, 18
July 1880, page 1
Sulphur Springs at Millican, Brazos County - 8 springs, resort.
[Lists and Analysis of the Mineral Springs of the United States (1886),
U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin no.32, page 126].
Millican, Tex., Aug. 12 -News reached here to-day of a killing that
occurred near Sulphur Springs yesterday. The name of only one of the
parties has as yet been learned. It seems one Jones, from near
Navasota, was visiting his brother-in-law near Sulphur Springs. Only a
few hours after Jones arrival at his relative's house their children
commenced fighting, their parents taking their parts, ending in Jones
killing the other. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, 13 August 1887, page 5
Brazos County ... Only two mineral springs or wells are known to exist.
Manganic wells are a series of shallow wells about three miles
northwest of Bryan, and the other, Boiling or Sulphur spring, occurs on
the west bank of the Navasota River on the J. Gray headright. This last
is a sulphur water, highly charged with sulphuretted hydrogen. Both of
these localities are used as pleasure or health resorts, and have local
reputations. (From: Kennedy, W., °Report on Grimes, Brazos and
Robertson Counties," page 59, in Fourth Annual Report of the
Geological Survey of Texas, 1892]
Rock Prairie ... A good many old and young people enjoyed a picnic at
Sulphur Springs last Friday. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 4 July 1898, page 3
Rock Prairie ... A grand time was spent at Sulphur Springs last
Thursday by a number of young people from this place. Bryan Weekly
Eagle, 21 July 1898, page 3
In a book published in 1899, Sulphur Springs, at Millican, Brazos
County, was said to be °somewhat used" as a resort. (Crook, James
King, The Mineral Waters of the United States and Their Therapeutic
Uses, 1899, page 456).
Green Prairie ... Mr. J.D. Combest and family spent the day at Sulphur
Springs last Sunday. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 5 July 1900, page 3
Bryan, Tex., Aug. 13 -Congressman Rufus Hardy of Corsicana and
Messrs. Campball and Quicksall, experts from the Department of
Agriculture, addressed the farmers of Brazos County on diversified and
improved farming methods today. Congressman Hardy made an address at a
barbecue at the Sulphur Springs on the Navasota River, and the latter
gentlemen spoke at the courthouse in this city at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. Both meetings were well attended and the farmers were well
pleased with the addresses of the speakers. They will all speak at a
barbecue at Edge, in the northern end of the county, tomorrow.
Galveston Daily News, 14 August 1909, page 6
We took a trip the other day down to Sulphur Springs and got all the
fish and squirrel we could eat for once at least. These fish fries have
a strange effect on a fellow. He gets a hankering after another one for
some reason or other not explained in psychology. There were several
families camped down there enjoying the good things that nature has
provided, among whom were Mr. Turner Crenshaw and family, Uncle Steve
Greer and family, Mr. George and Avery Greer and family, and others
whose names we did not learn. Everybody felt as wild and free as
Gypsies and had such a good time that they forgot all about crops, high
taxation, low taxation, the coming election, toe corns or family fusses.
While some of the boys were in the river bathing and cooling off they
got to fooling with a big log on the bottom that was in the way. They
lifted one end up and some fellow on the bank roped it and with much
puffing by those who had their clothes on, and pushing by those who had
their clothes off it was finally walloped over to the Brazos County side
and one of the gentlemen who had an enquiring turn of mind found out
that the log was hollow, and to his amazement, discovered a large
catfish all hunkered up in it. Then the question arose who would be
bold enough to tackle the monster, and it seemed there was only one, Mr.
Avery Greer, who dared to risk the experience that Jonah had. So,
taking the rope he went after it and got a fierce bite, but the rest of
the mighty hunters and fishermen came to the rescue with the result that
old Mr. Catfish bid farewell to his river home and his elegant den in
the hollow log. He was taken to the camp, where he was hacked and hewn
into big chunks and devoured by the enemies he had so long eluded. One
of them. Bryan Daily Eagle, 1 July 1910, page 3.
The following party of Brazos County people were camped last week at
Sulphur Springs on the Navasota River and report a most delightful time:
Mr. and Mrs. I.B. Todd and children, Mr. and Mrs. Amon Williams and
children; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cargill ... (illegible) ... and Luther Johnson.
Every moment of the encampment was enjoyed and the men of the party
provided plenty of fish and squirrels. It was reported to the Eagle
that 160 pounds of fish were caught, and all the squirrels killed that
the whole party could use. A regular feast was enjoyed every day.
(weekly) Bryan Eagle, 18 July 1912, page 1
On Wednesday, August 6th, an old fashioned camp meeting will begin at
Sulphur Springs, ten miles east of College, and on the Navasota River.
The services of the meeting will be conducted by Rev. J.J. Pipkin,
associational missionary, and Rev. R.L. Cole, one of the Baptist state
evangelists, who is in Brazos County at this time assisting Rev. Pipkin.
The Sulphur Springs camping ground is well known to the people of this
county, and it is hoped that great crowds will camp and enjoy the
meeting. The ice cold spring water, for which the place is famous, has
been recently cleared and cleaned, and walled with cement, which will
make it splendid and the supply of water adequate. It is the hope of
Rev. Pipkin and Rev. Cole that a large section of the surrounding
territory will be represented at this camp meeting, and that great
spiritual power and blessing may come upon the services. There will be
ice cream and cold drinks on the ground for all who may care to buy.
Bryan Daily Eagle, 25 July 1924, page 1, col.2