Webster Springs, West Virginia

Hall, along with a man whose first name is not known, who is only known as Mr. Skidmore, drilled the first salt sulfur well in the county, it was known as "Old Spring."[6] The well was later owned by Colonel John T. McGraw.[6] The salt sulfur well helped make Webster Springs a popular summer tourist location during the 19th and early 20th Century.[6]

According to Springs in West Virginia, Webster Springs had a total of four springs: the Addison McLaughlin Well, located to the west of Court Square on the present site of the Mineral Springs Motel; Old Fork Lick Spring, located in the bed of the Elk River; Tracy Well, located on the lot of its owner, W.B. Tracy, in Webster Springs; and the William Smith Well, located in Dorrtown.[10] The wells were popular because people believed that the water from the wells had medicinal qualities.[6] The water was used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and arthritis.[6]

In 1897, Senator Johnson Newlon Camden had built a 265-room hotel of Victorian style architecture,[11] which was larger than The Greenbrier Hotel built in 1913, which only has 250 rooms,[11] named the Webster Springs Hotel. The hotel contained a tennis court, horse stables, garden, bowling alley, power plant, and Russian and Turkish baths,[11] where visitors could enjoy the "medicinal" qualities of its salt sulfur waters. The hotel was also the largest wood frame hotel in West Virginia.[12]

When first built, the hotel was a three-story dark colored building. After it was completed, construction began on a new, much larger section of the hotel, adding more rooms, and a new exterior color, white. The new section of the hotel contained up-to-date Turkish bath equipment, where guests could have a sulfur water bath.[11] For many years, filled to capacity by guests and a greatly increased overflow which necessitated the building of smaller hotels in the town.[11] The hotel also raised its own cattle and provided some of its own food and milk.[11] The hotel's ice house, according to Elizah Hedding Gillespie, His Ancestors, Descendants and Their Families, was capable of holding 150 tons of ice.[11] The hotel was heated by steam.[11]

Webster Springs Hotel, circa 1909

In 1903, Colonel McGraw purchased the hotel and expanded it by 115 rooms, completed in the spring of 1904.[11] Of the 89 "non-guest" rooms in the new section, 40 were for salt sulfur baths, which took up the entire first floor of one wing.[11] The entire southern wing of the hotel was given to bath rooms, including; "the plunge," Turkish, Russian, Needle, Shower, and Steam baths. Of which they were offered in both fresh and salt-sulfur water.[11]

On the interior, it contained stuffed bears, elks, and other wildlife of the local county in realistic poses.[11]

At the height of its popularity, the hotel played host to such guests as Senators Thomas Kearns (Utah), Henry G. Davis (West Virginia), his son-in-law, Senator Stephen Benton Elkins (West Virginia), and Camden (West Virginia).

On the night of July 20, 1925, the hotel caught fire and was burned to the ground, being completely destroyed.[11] Flames could be seen as far as one mile away, as well, the sky was seen as a bright red color, up to 19 miles away, in Camden-on-Gauley.[11]

Main Street (West Virginia Route 15) in Webster Springs in 2007, from Court Square.

Front of the Webster County Courthouse in 2007

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Webster Springs has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[14]

As of the census of 2000, there were 808 people, 403 households, and 222 families living in the town. The population density was 1,729.9 inhabitants per square mile (663.8/km²). There were 463 housing units at an average density of 991.3 per square mile (380.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.75% White, 0.12% Native American, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 403 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,592, and the median income for a family was $27,434. Males had a median income of $27,386 versus $16,389 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,500. About 22.0% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 776 people, 363 households, and 211 families living in the town. The population density was 1,724.4 inhabitants per square mile (665.8/km²). There were 447 housing units at an average density of 993.3 per square mile (383.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.

There were 363 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the town was 45.3 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.