The Journal
Miraculous Mineral Springs of
Independence Visitors to Independence are curious why the city is
nearly three miles from the Missouri River. Do you know why?
The opportunity for good, fresh water often dictated where early
settlers put down roots.
European-Americans settled Independence because of the wealth of
springs the area provided. Out
of around 20 various springs that were long noted by early settlers, three
springs were found to be “lithium springs” and held in great esteem for their
medicinal properties. The Autumn 2001 JOURNAL of the Jackson County Historical
Society features Pure Water Springs
Gave Local Flavor to Independence adapted from a more complete history
prepared by Bill Bundschu titled, “The Spring at Polly’s Pop Park.”
Mr. Bundschu has donated a copy of “The Spring at Polly’s Pop
Park” to the Historical Society’s Archives and Research Library, where it is
available to researchers. This “well” documented article refers to the importance
of area springs with particular focus on one Independence watering
hole—Forbis Spring—the site of a prominent soda pop bottling company between
1923 and 1967, and the present-day site of Polly’s Pop Park.
Among other structures on the original Vaile estate
in Independence, Missouri, was the spring-fed Vaile Spring Lake. This was the Vaile Spring
House. Click
here for an oral history transcript of Bundschu’s October 2001 dialogue
with George Chrisman, who worked at Independence Bottling Company from
1941-1956. Click
here for an oral history transcript of Bundschu’s October 2001 dialogue
Chris Christman, who worked at Independence Bottling Company from 1947-1963. William B. Bundschu, a lifelong resident of
Independence, Missouri, is a retired practicing attorney. He became interested in early
American history from bicycling the Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, Nathcez
Trace, and other historic trails.
This is his first published article in a historical journal, but he
previously authored two published law journal articles and several local
historical papers and booklets.
He is an enrolled graduate student in the Department of History at
University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is currently working on a local
history story which revolves around the first legal hanging in Jackson
County. Here is a partial bibliography of sources used in the
preparation of the feature story, which researchers may consult at the
Jackson County Historical Society’s Archives and Research Library. Also, below are a couple of World Wide Web links that help to
complement and expand what Bundschu has offered in the print version of the
JOURNAL. Bibliography: Howard, Richard P. The
Church Through the Years, Volume 1, RLDS Beginnings to 1860. (Independence, Mo.: Herald Publishing
House). Sanborn Map Company, Inc. The Insurance Maps
from the Sanborn Map Company Archives. Revised to 1962. (New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1926),
Plate 14, Temple Place. Union Historical Company. History of Jackson
County, Missouri, Indexed Edition.
Reprint, 1966. (Kansas City, Mo.: Birdsall, Williams and Co., 1881). Wilcox, Pearl.
Jackson County Pioneers
(Independence, Mo.: Jackson County Historical Society, 1990). Websites: More on Polly’s Pop
and Independence Bottling Works Springs
in Independence, Missouri To order this JOURNAL edition, subscribe or join JCHS click
here. |
