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Scarce Postcard
The Southport
Times Acquires Scarce
Boiling Spring Lakes Postcard
May 11, 2011 -
Southport, NC - The Southport Times has acquired a
scarce 1963 postcard of the actual boiling spring in
Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina, the namesake of
the small city in Southeastern North Carolina.
Boiling Spring
Lakes was originally developed by Reeves Telecom in the
early 1960s. In the early stages of development a spring
was discovered hidden in a wooded ravine. It was later
determined that this spring produced an astonishing
43,000,000 gallons of water per day. The rate at which
the water spewed from the spring gave the appearance of
a "boiling" effect. This spring later became a main
source for the centerpiece lake, in the aptly named
city of Boiling Spring Lakes.
After naming the
city, the developers decided to showcase the city's
namesake by encompassing the spring with a low brick
wall. Legend has it, that almost before the bricklayers
laid the last brick, the spring stopped flowing, only to
reappear a short time later outside of the brick wall.
If you look closely at this postcard, you will notice
the photograph used for this postcard was taken at a
time when the spring was clearly outside of the brick
wall.
Eventually, the
spring returned to its original spot within the wall,
where it still exists to this day. You can view this
spring on the Eastern side of the city, just off of
Tuscarora Drive (Map), but unfortunately, the spring and the
surrounding area are unkempt and are in a sad state of
disrepair.
While this
postcard glorifies the spring and the attention it was
given in the early days of the city's history, it
is important to note that many people, including
residents of the city, have never seen the spring, nor
even know where it is. This can be attributed to the
fact that the spring resides on private property and
lacks public access. Many efforts have been made over the years,
without success, to
restore this landmark to its former glory.
The Southport
Times is happy to have acquired this postcard view of
the spring and it will be preserved and showcased on our
website for all to enjoy!
View Postcard of The Boiling Spring
View Other
Postcards
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