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Sour Springs II ~
circa 1870
An area located on the
West Fork of Plum Creek in the Ringo and Reaville leagues was first known as
Cardwell and Smith Springs, later as Rogers Spring, and was finally called Sour
Springs once the “other Sour Springs” was renamed Soda Springs. William Cardwell
had purchased 260 acres encompassing the springs in 1870 and, believing that
opportunities for development similar to that taking place at the springs of
Burditt’s Well, built a large hotel, family home, several bath houses, barn and
stable. The mineral spring was walled in for guests to bathe in the warm mineral
waters and the location soon became a popular summer resort with as many as
thirty boarders in its hotel at any time.
The John and Byrd
Rogers families had come to Texas from Virginia in 1872, purchasing land in
Gonzales County. In 1877, the Cardwell family exchanged their Caldwell County
property with the Rogers families for their property in Gonzales County. The
Caldwell County resort became known as Rogers Spring. In 1879 John Rogers
applied for a post office; the application was approved, and Mr. Rogers became
postmaster. However, the office lasted only seven months.
By 1887 the property
had fallen into disrepair and the spa closed its doors. For some years
afterward, though, Mr. Rogers attempted to evaporate the mineral water into
crystals for commercial use as a cure-all medicine. The salts were harsh and had
an unpleasant taste, and that venture also failed. No traces of the resort are
visible today.
Sources –
1. Caldwell County Kin: The First 150 Years published by the Genealogical and
Historical Society of Caldwell County. November 2000, C-42
2. Caldwell County, Texas Deed Book P, pages 254-255
3. Taking the Waters in Texas: springs, spas, and fountains of youth, by Janet
Dalenza, p. 99
4. Texas Supreme Court, Galveston Term, 1889, Wm. Cardwell vs. Ann M. Rogers
5. The Southwestern Reporter, Volume 12, page 1006
The Plum Creek Almanac is a project of
The Genealogical and Historical Society of Caldwell County.
 The Genealogical and Historical Society
of Caldwell County Copyright
© 1963
Updated
10/15/2019
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