Pelham Once Had a "Fountain of Youth" That Was Believed to Cure Illnesses Including Polio

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During the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century, Pelham had a fabled "Fountain of Youth" believed to have miraculous powers to cure all ailments.  News accounts noted that "thousands" journeyed "by auto and on foot to drink the waters."  Pelhamites collected bottles of the magical water to maintain youthfulness and to cure all ailments and diseases.  

Where was this magical fountain of youth?  

The elixir of youth bubbled from a spring beneath the fabled Split Rock that stood adjacent to Split Rock Road.  For many years, the crystal clear and cool water seemingly bubbled from sands at the bottom of the giant cleft that gave Split Rock is name -- and fame -- as Pelham's best-known landmark.

According to one account:

"If Willie cut his finger, it would soon heal it washed with water from Split Rock spring; if Mary got a bad cold, or some member of the family was stricken with some disease, Split Rock spring water was used in the sickroom.  In the infantile paralysis epidemic it was believed that the water would cure the illness.  Much of the water was used at that time."

So many people traveled to Split Rock to drink its fabled waters and collect some to take home that during the teens, well after the area had become part of Pelham Bay Park annexed by New York City, the City Parks Department "placed a pipe through one of the rocks" so that the water would flow "in such a way that it is easy to fill a glass or bottle."

The cool spring waters nourished and refreshed the entire area surrounding Split Rock.  One "product of the spring" during summer months was a luxuriant carpet of water cress.  Pelham Manor residents often enjoyed walks in the cool of the evening to Split Rock where they collected water cress and drank what they believed were healthful waters of Pelham's Fountain of Youth.

The waters, however, turned out to be not so healthful.  With so many Pelham Manor residents drinking from the fabled fountain, in 1922 the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees asked the Village Health Officer, Dr. Augustine C. McGuire, to look into whether the waters of the Fountain of Youth were safe to drink.

McGuire collected water and submitted it for laboratory analysis.  When the results came back, he was shocked.  The water was profoundly contaminated with bacteria and was absolutely unfit for human consumption.  He promptly issued the following announcement:

"'The residents of Pelham Manor should be warned against drinking any of the water from the Split Rock Spring.  It is contaminated.  Many Manor residents are in the habit of drinking the water, because it is noted to be the coolest in the district, it also is supposed to have medicinal properties, but at present the water is not in fit condition for drinking.  Boy scouts have in the past, on hikes, gone to the spring for water.  I have notified Commissioner of Health Royal S. Copeland, of New York City.  Within which territory the spring is, of the condition and facts.  It is hoped that action will be taken to purify the water of the spring."

Dr. McGuire notified the New York City Health Officer, Dr. Royal B. Copeland, of the findings.  Dr. Copeland promptly "promised to see that the spring is closed to the public."

Clearly, however, the spring was not closed permanently.  Indeed, for years thereafter Pelham Manor residents were still able to drink and collect waters from their beloved Fountain of Youth at Split Rock.  One report, for example, indicates that five years later in late August, 1927, "Pelham Manor residents who favor a drink of the cool water which flows from the spring near the Split Rock in Pelham Bay were disappointed Saturday to find that the spring had been blocked off.  The New York City Park department men cleaned the spring trough on Wednesday and the clear water is again flowing."

Detail from Undated Post Card Showing Split Rock in

About 1915.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"'Fountain of Youth' Will Be Analyzed
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Split Rock Spring, Guaranteed By Many to Cure All Known and Unknown Diseases
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Pelham Manor's 'fountain of youth' is to be analyzed.  The Split Rock spring, for many years the standby of the older settlers in case of illness or ailment, is to be tested by Health Officer McGuire.  Some of the older residents of the Manor guarantee the spring to cure all diseases or ailments.  If Willie cut his finger, it would soon heal it washed with water from Split Rock spring; if Mary got a bad cold, or some member of the family was stricken with some disease, Split Rock spring water was used in the sickroom.  In the infantile paralysis epidemic it was believed that the water would cure the illness.  Much of the water was used at that time.

Even to this day the spring is a favorite with many.  It is located at the Split Rock, on Split Rock Road, about a quarter mile south of the Pelham Summer Home.  The water used to seep through the sand in the split in the rocks, but a few years ago the Department of Parks of the City of New York placed a pipe through one of the rocks, and now the water flows in such a way that it is easy to fill a glass or bottle.  Even now, daily, a steady stream of motorists fill large bottles with the water.  Water cress is another product of the spring.  In summer the spring is covered with the greens and many Manor residents enjoy a walk in the cool of the evening for water and water cress."

Source:  "Fountain of Youth" Will Be Analyzed -- Split Rock Spring, Guaranteed By Many to Cure All Known and Unknown Diseases, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 28, 1922, p. 7, col. 2.  

"Water At Split Rock Spring Unfit To Drink
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Health Officer Finds That 'Fountain of Youth' In Pelham Manor Is Contaminated

The 'Fountain of Youth' is not.  Moreover, the water is contaminated and unfit for drinking purposes.  This is the decree of Health Officer McGuire of Pelham Manor, in regards to Split Rock Spring, long famed as a remedy for all ailments and diseases.  The village board ordered the water tested and the reply was unfavorable.

Dr. McGuire said, 'The residents of Pelham Manor should be warned against drinking any of the water from the Split Rock Spring.  It is contaminated.  Many Manor residents are in the habit of drinking the water, because it is noted to be the coolest in the district, it also is supposed to have medicinal properties, but at present the water is not in fit condition for drinking.  Boy scouts have in the past, on hikes, gone to the spring for water.  I have notified Commissioner of Health Royal S. Copeland, of New York City.  Within which territory the spring is, of the condition and facts.  It is hoped that action will be taken to purify the water of the spring."

Source:  Water At Split Rock Spring Unfit To Drink -- Health Officer Finds That 'Fountain of Youth' In Pelham Manor Is Contaminated, The Pelham Sun, May 5, 1922, p. 5, col. 4.  

"Water Condemned.

The thousands who have journeyed by auto and on foot to drink the waters from the spring on Split Rock road, known as the Split Rock spring, and take a bottle or more away to drink, will be disappointed to hear that the waters are condemned as polluted.  Dr. McGuire, the health officer, was asked by the village board to have the waters analyzed to ascertain the truth of the claim that the water had certain medicinal properties.  Dr. McGuire did so and reports the water polluted.  He has gone still further and notified the health department of the Bronx and asked that action be taken to prevent its use for drinking purposes.  It was near this spring that Anne Hutchinson was murdered by the Indians."

Source:  Water Condemned, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 9, 1922, p. 10, col. 3.  

"Medical Officer of Health McGuire has received a reply from Dr. Royal B. Copeland health officer of New York City, to the notification sent last week regarding the Split Rock Spring, which on investigation by Dr. McGuire, was found to contain poisonous bacilli.

The spring is located in New York territory, but many Pelham Manor residents have been drinking water from the spring in the belief that it had peculiar medicinal properties.

Dr. Copeland will take steps to prevent any further use of the Split Rock Spring."

Source:  [Untitled - Headline Cut Off], The Pelham Sun, May 12, 1922, Vol. 13, No. 11, p. 10, col. 2.  

"Will Close Spring.

Dr. Royal B. Copeland of the New York Department of Health has acknowledged receipt of the complaint sent by health officer Augustine C. McGuire of this village to the effect that the waters of the Split Rock spring are contaminated and has promised to see that the spring is closed to the public."

Source:  Will Close Spring, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May 15, 1922, p. 8, col. 4.  

"Split Rock Spring Blocked Off For Cleaning
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Pelham Manor residents who favor a drink of the cool water which flows from the spring near the Split Rock in Pelham Bay were disappointed Saturday to find that the spring had been blocked off.  The New York City Park department men cleaned the spring trough on Wednesday and the clear water is again flowing."

Source:  Split Rock Spring Blocked Off For Cleaning, The Pelham Sun, Sep. 2, 1927, p. 14, col. 2.  

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