DAWSON SPRINGS, KENTUCKY

Become a Member

Add us to Your Favorites

E-Mail Us

IMAGES From Nostalgiaville
KENTUCKY- DAWSON SPRINGS, KY- 6/14/05

NOTE: A Click of your Mouse on most of the pictures will enlarge them for better viewing

Dawdling in Dawson Springs, Kentucky

HISTORY of DAWSON SPRINGS, KENTUCKY

DAWSON SPRINGS
From the late 1800's through the early 1830's, Dawson Springs was the best known health resort in the upper south. At its peak more than 40 hotels and boarding houses catered to the thousands who came to drink and bathe in its mineral waters and to enjoy its many social and recreational activities. The railroad was chiefly instrumental in the promotion and development of Dawson Springs as a health resort. In 1901, during the 12 week peak tourism season, there were 51,000 passenger train tickets sold to Dawson Springs. Before 1800, Native American tribes came here to "Big Bend of

Tradewater" to trade. Then white settlers came and established the first known settlement, Chalklevel. In 1872, the Elizabethtown and Paducah Railroad was completed and Tradewater Station was built. The station's name was later changed to Dawson in recognition of the family that donated the land. In 1874, Dawson Post Office was established; that date is considered as the founding date of the city. In 1881, W I Hamby discovered the first mineral well, Arcadia Chalybeate Well No. 1 "the well that made Dawson Springs famous". Two years later Hamby discovered another well, Hamby's Salts, Iron and Lithia well, whose water was shipped around the world. Those wells and others put Dawson on the map, and in 1898, "Springs" was added to the town's name to recognize mineral waters' role in the town's development. The 150 room New Century Hotel, "Queen of Western Kentucky's hotels", was built in 1902. The resort atmosphere attracted the Pittsburg Pirates baseball team who came (1915 - 1917) for spring training and to play other major league teams. Outwood Veterans Hospitals and coal mining became major economic and social forces in the 1920's. In the 1960's, an industrial park and foundation was established and the economic base began to shift to manufacturing and small business. Also, during the 1960's Lake Beshear was formed and the West Kentucky Parkway was located to the city's northern border. Today the 15,000 acre Pennyrile State Forest along with the Pennyrile Resort Park, Lake Beshear, Tradewater River, and the Jones Keeney, Trade Wildlife Reserves provide a tremendous opportunity for outdoor adventure and enjoyment, and Dawson Springs is one of the few health resort towns' in the state of Kentucky that continues to enjoy thriving commercial and residential districts.

DAWSON SPRINGS
In its heyday, from the start of the century until mid-1920's, this was one of best known spas, health resorts in the South. Thousands of the sick, the lame, the well came for curative waters and to enjoy the social activities. Six firms bottled and shipped the chalybeate water all over the U S. W I Hamby, resident of Hopkins County, discovered springs, 1881.

HISTORY OF DAWSON SPRINGS
Before 1800, North American tribes came to the "Big Bend in the Tradewater River" to trade along her banks. White settlers established "Chalklevel" the first known settlement in this spot. In 1872, the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroad was constructed here, with Chalklevel adopting the name "Tradewater Station", The name was later changed to "Dawson", in recognition of one of the original settlers. The discovery of mineral water wells in the late 1880's put Dawson Springs on the map as a health resort. In 1898 "Springs" was added to the city's name to recognize the water's role in the development of the town.

THE RAILROAD and DAWSON SPRINGS
From the late 1800's to the early 1930's Dawson Springs was the best known health resort area in the upper south. More than 40 hotels and boarding houses catered to the thousands that traveled here to drink and bathe in the mineral waters. The railroad (now highway 62) was instrumental in promoting Dawson Springs and her development as a resort town. In 1901, during one 12-week period over 51,000 tickets were sold to travelers to Dawson Springs.

BASEBALL IN DAWSON SPRINGS
Dawson Springs' resort atmosphere attracted both major and minor league teams in the early 1900's. Local citizens constructed a large indoor pavilion for spring training and exhibition games and an additional wing was built on the New Century Hotel to accommodate players from teams such as the Pittsburg Pirates (spring training 1915 - 1917), Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Toledo Mudhens, and St Paul Apostles. Hall of Fame players in Dawson Springs included Honus Wagner, "The Flying Dutchman" who organized a team of local young boys known as "Honus Wagners' Young Recruits." Today the Tradewater Pirates play on the same field when these legends of the past once played.

DOWN TOWN DAWSON SPRINGS, KENTUCKY As seen by camera on 6-14-2005