Owned by James K. Anderson (also the owner of Arcadian Springs and Resthaven Hotel), Lithia Spring was not improved until 1891. The spring fronted Hartwell and was north of Arcadian with a grove of oak trees providing a cool and beautiful atmosphere. In 1892 half the interest in the company was sold to Eliphalat Remington (grandson of the founder of Remington Firearms) and Joseph Leiter, and others. By June of 1892, improvements were begun, and the success of the business was measured by the carloads of product being shipped.
By 1899 the original owners separated and the corporation was dissolved. Leiter and Remington remained owners of the spring and continued bottling for a few years. In 1905, Resthaven was built on the top of the hill. It was an extravagant resort hotel, featuring Tiffany murals, painting by European artist, its own dairy farm and tennis court. In 1911 the pavilion was damaged by fire, destroying the roof. By then Ernest Trakel had been managing the spring for 10 years and could be seen resting on the grass in one of the photographs of the spring.
In April of 1920, Leiter sold the bottling plant lots to the Modern Woodworking Company and likely sold the spring and reception house property to the Veteran's Administration at the same time. In January 1921, the Waukesha Lithia Spring Company was dissolved and soon the springhouse, reception house, and bottling plant were torn down. The land was filled in and leveled off and a small building was built on the bottling plant property. The reception house site had an apartment building built on it which burned down in 1998. The Resthaven Hotel became a Veteran's hospital for veterans, then in 1944 an a-tuberculosis hospital. In 1958 the government finally closed Resthaven due to the decreased need. In 1963 the building was sold to New Tribes Bible Institute and was designated a local landmark in 1980.
By 1899 the original owners separated and the corporation was dissolved. Leiter and Remington remained owners of the spring and continued bottling for a few years. In 1905, Resthaven was built on the top of the hill. It was an extravagant resort hotel, featuring Tiffany murals, painting by European artist, its own dairy farm and tennis court. In 1911 the pavilion was damaged by fire, destroying the roof. By then Ernest Trakel had been managing the spring for 10 years and could be seen resting on the grass in one of the photographs of the spring.
In April of 1920, Leiter sold the bottling plant lots to the Modern Woodworking Company and likely sold the spring and reception house property to the Veteran's Administration at the same time. In January 1921, the Waukesha Lithia Spring Company was dissolved and soon the springhouse, reception house, and bottling plant were torn down. The land was filled in and leveled off and a small building was built on the bottling plant property. The reception house site had an apartment building built on it which burned down in 1998. The Resthaven Hotel became a Veteran's hospital for veterans, then in 1944 an a-tuberculosis hospital. In 1958 the government finally closed Resthaven due to the decreased need. In 1963 the building was sold to New Tribes Bible Institute and was designated a local landmark in 1980.