During Hughes Springs’ centennial in 1978, citizens buried a 100-year (1878-1978) time capsule. No one may know its contents, but it’s a likely bet that when opened in 2078 Reece Hughes’ picture and story will be there.
Hughes Springs City Manager Tim Lambert holds an example of Chalybeate Springs water. This is not real, however. The bottle is empty but was once a promotional idea by the chamber of commerce. Lambert tells he believes someone in the town has a real, full
During festivals such as the recent Wildflowers Trail Festival in Hughes Springs, citizens are comforted by the funning water that flows through and gives Hughes Springs its name.
The historical marker for Chalybeate Springs in Hughes Springs displayed in Spring Park.
One has to get down into the stream bed itself in order to appreciate this view of the flow of Chalybeate Springs water through Spring Park in Hughes Springs.
WHERE IS IT?
Citizens Journal-Sun
Very likely the oldest time capsule in Cass County is the one buried in Spring Park in Hughes Springs. The capsule there is now in its 47th year and is awaiting its 100th year for opening. That will be 2078. Do you know why? That is your Where Is It? mystery this week. Also, do you know the original name for this park which is central to Hughes Springs? Do you know why its bubbled-up water turns orange? Lots to know. Read on.
ANSWER
One of the prettiest and most historic parks in Cass County is Spring Park in Hughes Springs. Where else can one find a stream of water turned orange by oxidized iron and once thought to be good for health.
Hughes Springs, the town, has turned this park — which once was Chalybeate Springs —into Spring Park, a much easier name to remember and spell. This early name was so singular that the park’s history plaque tells the reader how to pronounce the word: It’s “Kallib-e-ate.”
It is here the 100-year capsule was buried in 1978, the town’s centennial year. A humorous fact about the capsule now is that probably no one knows what’s in it. And there are 53 more years to go.
Here’s a bit of its history. The spring waters were once camped along its sides by Indians, and then by homesteaders who walked, rode horses or sat in carts pulled by oxen to rest here. And so did the brothers Reece and Robert Hughes from Alabama. About this time, 1838, someone said gold was buried along that path, so the treasure hunters came, too.
The stream was first called Chalybeate Park. That is not an Indian word. It’s Greek and Latin. It means spring waters containing salts of iron. The Latin word for steel is
“chalybs.” The Greek word is a similar “khalups.”
Chalybes were people living on Mt. Ida in North Asia Minor who were experts at iron making.
History tells there were once seven springs flowing in the park. That number is down now to three, and sometimes in the drought of summer the flow is just a trickle. In its day, however, the Chalybeate Springs had hotels and state-wide if not national advertising. A magazine tells that in 1890 the springs were a well-known summer resort, and its waters were still considered medicinal.
Here’s how things were then, according to a news article.
“There will be a slow train picnic in Chalybeate City July 4, 1887. Old people are especially invited.
“The train will consist of ox wagons. Drivers will carry a large horn and cowbells. He must blow his horn when in sight of a crossroads or fork and ring the bell until he passes. Must blow and ring coming into the city.
“When all trains are in, the oldest men will tell something of ‘ye olden times.’ A basket dinner will be held on the ground. Everyone must be very polite to the old people.”
The Chalybeate Springs Hotel and Bathhouse would have been full. Some people lived here the entire summer. It was reported three tubs used for bathing were still at the site in 1970.
Today, in the park, one finds a number of interesting historical plaques. Spring Park is the center of town. It also has a special emphasis and sincerity about veterans and war heroes. It’s fun just to walk around and recall a bit of history, On the town’s first centennial, 1878 to 1978, townspeople buried a time capsule. In 1984, the Hughes Springs Lions Club made extensive repairs at the park. A new roof for the Spring House, new grass, repaired the restrooms, made a play area for children and a sprinkler system for watering. Two years ago, the town’s economic development committee put in a restroom building.
Today the park is a more individual experience, but still the town celebrates. In 1970, the town led in the establishment of the Texas Wildflower Trails festival. In 1973, the town received the Governor’s Community Achievement Award for enhancing quality of life and preserving an attractive environment.
The Spring Park waters aren’t thought to be particularly healthy any longer and so aren’t cherished. But coming to the park to learn something about history is refreshing. It will be refreshing to know what’s inside that capsule, too.