HYGEIA, THE SPRING OF CONTROVERSY
In 1872 Albert Carver sold half of a spring located on his lot to an Englishman named Edward Flannery. By 1873, Flannery became the sole owner and began to improve the area around the spring. A Freeman article in 1880 noted that the masonry surrounding the spring was the most massive and costly in Waukesha. By this time a small office and spring house with a tower had been built. As with many of the springs, reports started coming in about how people had been cured of all sorts of aliments. One notable report came from George Lusk. So grateful was Lusk, that he sent an ebony walking stick with a gold head to Flannery in gratitude of his cure.
Over the years, Hygeia was sold and purchased a number of times. In 1891 James E. McElroy filed incorporation papers for the Waukesha Hygeia Mineral Spring Company, with signer Wm. Morris, John Harper, F.A. Geiger and others. McElroy had big plans for Hygeia. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago would need healthy water for the expected millions of visitors, and McElroy planned on supplying it with Hygeia water.
ONE STUBBORN MAN
Initially, the town council approved the pipeline plan and McElroy started to lay the groundwork for piping water to the city of Chicago. But when residents heard of the plan, they started to bring up concerns about the possibility of such an undertaking depleting the water table. A second meeting was held and the proposal was tabled. McElroy tried to convince the council that there was plenty of water to supply the Exposition and keep the area springs flowing but the village board tabled the ordinance a second time, after a large crowd showed up at the meeting and presented a petition opposing the ordinance. It became clear that the residents also felt that by piping water to Chicago, they would be denied the chance to have tourists come to Waukesha for its healing waters.
McElroy was a stubborn man, and was not about to loose his chance to make millions. He again asked for permission to lay pipes in February of 1892 and once again was denied.
CONFRONTATION
In March rumors began to spread, that McElroy was going to lay the pipeline anyway. A watch was set up with a plan for action. In May of 1892 around 11:30 pm, a train full of 300 workers pulled into the St Paul Depot. The fire bell rang out and residents ran into the streets with rifles and pistols! McElroy didn't seem to be around, but was later noticed with the crowd of workers.
After quite some time, the workers boarded the train, McElroy retreated to his room at Spring City Hotel, and the citizens went home to bed.
HOWEVER, after traveling only to nearby Brookfield, the train was turned around and brought the workers back to Waukesha. The whole scene was repeated! Finally "Long" Jones of Bethesda Springs told the foreman that he and the workers were not welcome, and if they continued, he could not be responsible for their safety. With that, the work force left and McElroy was arrested for disturbing the peace. But the controversy hadn't yet ended.
In 1872 Albert Carver sold half of a spring located on his lot to an Englishman named Edward Flannery. By 1873, Flannery became the sole owner and began to improve the area around the spring. A Freeman article in 1880 noted that the masonry surrounding the spring was the most massive and costly in Waukesha. By this time a small office and spring house with a tower had been built. As with many of the springs, reports started coming in about how people had been cured of all sorts of aliments. One notable report came from George Lusk. So grateful was Lusk, that he sent an ebony walking stick with a gold head to Flannery in gratitude of his cure.
Over the years, Hygeia was sold and purchased a number of times. In 1891 James E. McElroy filed incorporation papers for the Waukesha Hygeia Mineral Spring Company, with signer Wm. Morris, John Harper, F.A. Geiger and others. McElroy had big plans for Hygeia. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago would need healthy water for the expected millions of visitors, and McElroy planned on supplying it with Hygeia water.
ONE STUBBORN MAN
Initially, the town council approved the pipeline plan and McElroy started to lay the groundwork for piping water to the city of Chicago. But when residents heard of the plan, they started to bring up concerns about the possibility of such an undertaking depleting the water table. A second meeting was held and the proposal was tabled. McElroy tried to convince the council that there was plenty of water to supply the Exposition and keep the area springs flowing but the village board tabled the ordinance a second time, after a large crowd showed up at the meeting and presented a petition opposing the ordinance. It became clear that the residents also felt that by piping water to Chicago, they would be denied the chance to have tourists come to Waukesha for its healing waters.
McElroy was a stubborn man, and was not about to loose his chance to make millions. He again asked for permission to lay pipes in February of 1892 and once again was denied.
CONFRONTATION
In March rumors began to spread, that McElroy was going to lay the pipeline anyway. A watch was set up with a plan for action. In May of 1892 around 11:30 pm, a train full of 300 workers pulled into the St Paul Depot. The fire bell rang out and residents ran into the streets with rifles and pistols! McElroy didn't seem to be around, but was later noticed with the crowd of workers.
After quite some time, the workers boarded the train, McElroy retreated to his room at Spring City Hotel, and the citizens went home to bed.
HOWEVER, after traveling only to nearby Brookfield, the train was turned around and brought the workers back to Waukesha. The whole scene was repeated! Finally "Long" Jones of Bethesda Springs told the foreman that he and the workers were not welcome, and if they continued, he could not be responsible for their safety. With that, the work force left and McElroy was arrested for disturbing the peace. But the controversy hadn't yet ended.