Another Road, Another Story
I indulged in another side trip down the road less travelled a few days ago. I love searching out little hamlets with unique myths or claims to fame. My most recent journey led me to Blackville, South Carolina.
Blackville is a little, and I do mean little, town southwest of Columbia. It was established in 1837 and now includes a small community of Mennonites as part of its 3000+ population. But the most interesting thing a
bout Blackville is “God’s Acre Healing Waters”, an artisan spring said to contain healing powers.
Local Native Americans considered the waters to be sacred. According to legend (mixed with a few dubious facts), the springs got it's name from an incident during the American Revolution. British commander, General Banastre Tarleton, abandoned four critically injured soldiers in the woods near the springs. Two men were left to care for the wounded with orders to bury them when they died and then return to their troops. The group was discovered by a kindly band of Indians who took them to their sacred healing springs. Six months later the soldiers rejoined their ranks, all strong and healthy.
Eventually the Indians passed ownership to a trader named Nathaniel Walker who bought the property rights with corn. The land hosted several more owners until coming into the hands of Lute Boylston. In 1944, Boylston deeded the land to “God” so that all people could have the freedom to partake of the waters without fees or taxation. The local property records still list “God” as the land’s owner.
By analysis, the water is pure and contains healthful minerals. By taste, it's excellent.
Comments from various web pages allude to the miraculous powers of the water. One person wrote that he had a case of poison ivy. When he poured water from the healing springs on it, it boiled like hydrogen peroxide and cleansed the area of his rash. Another attributed the water to healing his brother’s prostrate cancer. The only thing I can personally attest to is a small fever blister on the inside of my lip that disappeared hours after I started drinking the water. Maybe it was already in the process of healing. Maybe not.
I like the taste of the water and actually feel peppier since I started drinking it. Is the "spring" in my step a result of the spring’s healing properties? (Pardon the pun.) Or am I psychologically susceptible to suggestion? I really can’t say. All I know is if I’m more energetic and can sit at the keyboard for longer periods of time while writing, then it’s all good.
What interesting, out of the way places have you visited lately?
Deb
Blackville is a little, and I do mean little, town southwest of Columbia. It was established in 1837 and now includes a small community of Mennonites as part of its 3000+ population. But the most interesting thing a
bout Blackville is “God’s Acre Healing Waters”, an artisan spring said to contain healing powers.
Local Native Americans considered the waters to be sacred. According to legend (mixed with a few dubious facts), the springs got it's name from an incident during the American Revolution. British commander, General Banastre Tarleton, abandoned four critically injured soldiers in the woods near the springs. Two men were left to care for the wounded with orders to bury them when they died and then return to their troops. The group was discovered by a kindly band of Indians who took them to their sacred healing springs. Six months later the soldiers rejoined their ranks, all strong and healthy.
Eventually the Indians passed ownership to a trader named Nathaniel Walker who bought the property rights with corn. The land hosted several more owners until coming into the hands of Lute Boylston. In 1944, Boylston deeded the land to “God” so that all people could have the freedom to partake of the waters without fees or taxation. The local property records still list “God” as the land’s owner.
By analysis, the water is pure and contains healthful minerals. By taste, it's excellent.
Comments from various web pages allude to the miraculous powers of the water. One person wrote that he had a case of poison ivy. When he poured water from the healing springs on it, it boiled like hydrogen peroxide and cleansed the area of his rash. Another attributed the water to healing his brother’s prostrate cancer. The only thing I can personally attest to is a small fever blister on the inside of my lip that disappeared hours after I started drinking the water. Maybe it was already in the process of healing. Maybe not.
I like the taste of the water and actually feel peppier since I started drinking it. Is the "spring" in my step a result of the spring’s healing properties? (Pardon the pun.) Or am I psychologically susceptible to suggestion? I really can’t say. All I know is if I’m more energetic and can sit at the keyboard for longer periods of time while writing, then it’s all good.
What interesting, out of the way places have you visited lately?
Deb
4 comments:
Please help me for Christ sake
Haven't been anywhere as interesting as that lately! Glad you're feeling peppier, whatever the reason. :)
How fascinating, particularly that you actually feel a little better. I was once commissioned to shoot a documentary on artesian water in Australia. I don't know that I gained any pep from the water, but it was wonderful to learn about the ancient law held by the various Aboriginal tribes around the natural springs.
Naomi, and others...it has been proven that our minds are capable of initiating extraordinary phenomena. "Positive thinking" has been touted since before Socrates. A more modern rendition hails from Dr. Wayne Dyer - "When you believe it, you'll see it." Do God's Acre Healing Waters really have mystical powers? What do YOU believe?
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