Spring House

Over 500 million years ago the North American Midwest was covered by a great inland sea that laid down virgin white Cambrian sandstone. As the sea filled in, most of this sandstone became buried thousands of feet below the surface. The rim of this sea, however, remained exposed for thousands of years. Little by little, the rim was scraped away by glaciers until a single outcropping remained. This outcropping is the source of the Chippewa Spring....a hillside pouring forth crystal clear, naturally pure spring water, "Earth's Perfect Water".

In 1700 a French explorer, Pierre LeSueur, discovered the Spring and recorded in his journal how it was here that he heard the legend of Hiawatha. American poet Ezra Pound later used this fact as the basis of a poem romanticizing Chippewa Spring water as the love potion with which Hiawatha wooed the beautiful Minnehaha.

In 1887, Wisconsin Governor Thaddeus Pound became convinced it was Chippewa Spring Water that had restored his health. He bought the surrounding land and turned it into a model farm, complete with vineyards, gardens, and walking paths. He founded the Chippewa Springs Health Club in 1889. In 1890 the Spring House was built to protect the Spring. Chippewa Spring water was shipped to the coasts on the railroad dining cars and was the official water in Chicago hospitals.

From 1936 to 1957, the Pillsburys of Minneapolis owned the Chippewa Spring in addition to their famous flour mills. The next three decades, ownership belonged to two generations of the Williams family of Chippewa Falls. In 1992, the Spring was acquired by two brothers-in-law, Todd Peterson and Red Burwell.

In 1993 a "Save the Spring House" restoration project was undertaken jointly by the company and community to preserve this historic landmark. Complete with glass floor, underground lighting, and trillium pathway, the project was rededicated by Governor Tommy Thompson during Pure Water Days, 100 years to the day of its original dedication. The carvings on the gazebo railings were made by the town people in 1893.

Three modern stainless steel bunkers in the hillside provide most of the flowage today, but visitors can view the original spring cavern through the glass floor within the spring house. Water rushes into the cavern along its lower rim and rises nearly 10 feet before gushing into the stainless steel catchment basin for its passage into the plant. Without fail, was has entered the world here at the constant 6 degrees Celsius for over a million years - a chilly, though refreshing birth for "Earth's Perfect Water".