OLD GRIFFIN SPRING IN "THE GAY NINETIES" by Bertie Krider Benson, 1951 *************************************************** Submitted by: Date: 10/31/97 Copyright: All rights reserved. USGENWEB ARCHIVES DISCLAIMER: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ***************************************************** In 1882 my uncle & father purchased a tract of land 4 miles north of Searcy, the county seat of White County. On this tract was a caledeate spring which we called Griffin for the old people from whom we bought the land. The hotel was built a block east of the spring. Expecting to take only summer boarders the house was built of rough timber. It was a long, low rambling building, 17 rooms all in a row with a dog trot between the 6 th & 7 th rooms. At the end of these rooms was a porch, then a large dining room, another porch & then the kitchen. To the front & back of these bedrooms was a porch 8 feet wide. My parents occupied the 2 rooms just off the hall, a sitting room & a bedroom. My uncle & his family used the 2 rooms nearer the front of the building. There were a parlor & small library between these rooms & the hall. From the front steps to the spring was a board walk. Back of the hotel were 3 cottages, one with 4 rooms & the other 2 with 2 rooms which the guests used. In the front yard was a formal garden in which was planted jonquils, iris & roses. There were also a pink crepe myrtle & several arbor vistas. In the back yard was built a rock house in which were kept many pot plants. On the front & back porches between the posts were shelves on which these plants were set. By the front steps in front of our sitting room, my father planted wisteria which extended to the end of the porch. When we first moved there, the land around looked like a wilderness but by the 2nd year, it was a beautiful place. There were 3 hills close by. We would sit on the back porch & look at the hills, thinking of the Bible quotation, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help." When we lived at Griffin Springs, there was a weeping willow tree under which I would love to sit & think of my happy childhood; and wish that all children could be as fortunate as I had been. In my story, which I shall entitle "The Gay Nineties", I'll write a few excerps, give a description of life at Griffin & mention the names of some of the families who were guests there. In their effort to get away from the miasmic atmosphere of the newly opened bottom land in lower Woodruff County my father, Dr. T. A. Krider & my uncle by affinity (a relationship peculiar to the South) Col. V. A. Henderson, a planter, bought jointly the tract of land with the mineral spring, its cool & tinkling patter flowing from a mass of rocks situated in the Ozarks of White County. This natural deposit was to serve as an attraction to health seekers as well as those seeking relief from the heat & grind spring, becoming an inviting spot for summer vacationers. The informality & freedom from restraint which prevailed among the guests lent an atmosphere of friendliness & good fellowship. The guests were there principally for recreation & to borrow from modern phraseology "They all vibrated in the same key." We made friends among those who came to spend their vacations with us, some of them being in high positions. One of the governors, Simon P. Hughes, was a regular visitor as was Opia Read, the writer & humorist. Their families were with them. Clifton R. Brackenridge, who was minister to Russia & Congressman P. D. McCullough became our life-long friends as did Dr. Ross Kennedy, brother-in-law of Woodrow Wilson. Dr. Kennedy was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Augusta. Dr. Issac J. Long of Arkansas College in Batesville with his family was also a frequent guest. Miss Irene Long, the only daughter of Dr. Long, served as governess of the children of our respective families in the early 1880s. District Judge W. R. Campbell & Judge Joseph Martin became endeared friends. For diversion the guests spent much of their time drinking the health-giving water, playing croquet or at the bowling alley. Within a short distance of the hotel ran Little Red River whose shoals provided an ideal place for swimming. Courting couples came from Searcy & other nearby towns passed away many happy hours at the resort in dancing, a pastime very popular at the time. The dances were given in the dining room which afforded ample space for the old fashioned square dance & ever popular waltz. Another happy event of the day for the young people was the arrival of the "hack" & bus (not the bus of today). These vehicles were the prevailing mode of travel over the county roads of the time. Anticipating these arrivals our alerted ears detected the rumbling sound made by the iron-tired wheels far up the road & we raced our companions over the rocky road to be the first to greet the driver & his passangers. Mr. Burnham secretary to Opie Road, went with us through the country side, our trek often ending at Bee Rock farther down the river. This interesting spot was about a mile & a half from the hotel. It was an immense rock divided into 3 sections by narrow but deep fissures, its craggy fastness projecting into the river. Naturally this was a favorite spot for picnics because of its picturesque & unusual appearance. The name was derived for a swarm of bees which at one time built their hives in the crevasses. Nearby was another rocky peak called "Devil's Pulpit" because of its striking likeness to a pulpit. In this same vicinity was a cave with 3 compartments running far back into the hills. This was called Slidders Cave from the family who made their home there for several years. These spots held a distinct charm for sightseers & their disappearance, when the government took the rock over for a quarry, was lamented by nature lovers. Later Griffin Spring, as we knew it, was abandoned but for years it continued to be a favorite spot for picnickers & hikers.