Advertisement for Springbank Hotel and Mineral Spa

Advertisement for Springbank Hotel in Vernon’s City Directory, St. Catharines and Thorold (1877) Archives & Special Collections-10th Floor-Stacks ; FC 3155.2 V47

This image shows an 1877 ad found in Niagara’s City Directory located at the Brock Archives and Special Collections. It is for the Springbank Hotel, which happened to be home to one of the few luxurious spas found in Niagara during the nineteenth century. The image of the hotel displays the grand exterior, with a garden leading down into the waters. The text reads “Spring Bank Hotel and Bathing Establishment” followed by further captions regarding having world renowned mineral waters that are open to permanent and transient guests. Wealthy people came from all over the world to use the spas throughout the summer and enjoy the many experiences they had to offer, most popular being the mineral spas.

These spas and hotels were part of the flourishing tourism industry in Niagara during the 19th century, drawing locals and travelers to the affluent resort. The production of mineral spas became popular due to the discovery of salt water in the Niagara Region, allowing for the experience of saltwater baths to become a growing industry in resort hotels. It was also believed that both soaking in and drinking the mineral water could cure a wide range of diseases. This meant a booming business for places like Springbank. [1]

The therapeutic waters found at places like Springbank included many minerals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium chloride, which together have a variety of healing properties. [2] Many came to seek treatment for skin diseases, gout, neural disorders and rheumatism. [3] The Springbank hotel introduced cold, warm and hot baths to aid in these various medical issues and allowed the mineral spas to also be referred to as medicinal spas. People would travel from all over the world to use therapeutic healing waters, attracting visitors to the region, ultimately aiding in the growth and development of the City of St. Catharines during the 19th century.

-Text by Laura Greenaway (VISA 2P90)

*This image is part of the “Women, Water, and Words” exhibition that students in VISA 2P90 curated in the Winter 2024 semester.

Notes

[1] Lynne Prunskus, The Last Resort: Spa Therapy and the Docile Body in Victorian St. Catharines. MA Thesis, Dept. of Communications, Popular Culture and Film, Brock University, 2007.
[2] D. H. McCarriagher and L. B. Spencer, Welland House and Mineral Springs, St. Catharines, Ont., Canada. D.H. St. Catharines, Ont., 1920.
[3] George E. Walton, Mineral Springs of the United States and Canada: With Analyses and Notes on the Prominent Spas… of Europe, and a List of Sea-Side Resorts (Broadway, New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1873).

Further Reading

McCarriagher, D. H., and L. B. Spencer. Welland House and Mineral Springs, St. Catharines, Ont., Canada. St. Catharines, Ont., 1920.

Prunskus, Lynne. The Last Resort: Spa therapy and the Docile Body in Victorian St. Catharines. MA Thesis, Dept. of Communications, Popular Culture and Film, Brock University, 2007.

Walton, George E. Mineral Springs of the United States and Canada: With analyses and notes on the prominent spas… of Europe, and a List of Sea-Side Resorts. Broadway, New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1873.