Exploring Alabama’s Stagecoach Stop at Blount Springs

DeBandi · 03-20-2011, 04:45 PM

The place I call home is little more than a ghost town from the early 1800s.

The people of that era had a very difficult life. Especially when you compare how they had to live off the land and travel in ways that we would think practically impossible today. They had no cars, no trains, no cell phones and very primitive maps. The stagecoach route was how this nation traveled in 1826.

A neighbor of mine tells me he believes he has found the old Blount Springs stagecoach stop.

Needless to say, I wanted to learn more.

With little more to go on than a general area of proximity, I set out to see if I could locate the mysterious stagecoach stop at Blount Springs.

mcc66 · 03-20-2011, 08:33 PM

DeBandi,
always enjoy your ride reports. Look forward to reading and seeing your photos.
Thanks

mcc66
Michael

DeBandi · 03-21-2011, 04:55 AM

With Hunstville situated 74 miles to the north, the stagecoach patrons would pay $5.50 each way to get to Blount Springs.

That's serious money in 1826.

This is the old stagecoach route.

Let's go look around.

beatnck · 03-21-2011, 03:47 PM

lookin forward to this

NoNo · 03-21-2011, 04:22 PM

Ooooooooo I'm on board.

brunstei · 03-21-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeBandi

That's serious money in 1826.[/B]

OUCH!!!! You're not kidding...

Waiting for more!

DeBandi · 03-21-2011, 06:25 PM

Why did the stagecoach stop at Blount Springs?

This area is blessed with bubbling mineral springs.

It was known as the “Alabama Fountain of Youth.”

The wealthy and healthy would come to escape the heat and bathe in the mineral baths to stay young.

The sick would come in search of cures for scrofula, rheumatism, dyspepsia, sore eyes, gout, pimples, blotches, lost appetites, paralysis, and many other ailments.

This is how the area of the springs looks today.

I can only imagine what it looked like back in the early to mid 1800s.

The population would reach 3,000 people in the summer months.

The elite had summer cottages here.

This was circa 185 years ago.

More later......

gremor · 03-22-2011, 12:09 PM

Sooooo in!!

DeBandi · 03-22-2011, 06:27 PM

I’m having trouble finding what I’m looking for.

All along the old stagecoach route is very dangerous. You have to pay close attention when you explore in these woods.

There are cisterns and wells everywhere from the old building sites / homesteads.

Old cistern.

Old well.

More in the next few days…

RandyG · 03-22-2011, 08:20 PM

more please!

WaywardSon · 03-23-2011, 01:24 AM

Subscribed..............again. Really enjoy your reports. Thanks for taking the time!

Kenbike · 03-23-2011, 01:48 AM

Great report! Is this area public land that anyone can explore?

chainslap · 03-23-2011, 06:26 AM

Always enjoy your ride reports. Love the historical aspects and great photos. Thanks for sharing.

toolguy1 · 03-23-2011, 07:25 AM

LOVE the reports!! Keep 'em comin'.

DeBandi · 03-23-2011, 07:55 AM

This is all private property today.

-Churches
-Bottling factory
-General stores
-Hotels
-Post office
-Boarding houses
-Livery stables
-Train station (after 1872)
-Cottages
-Cabins
-Homes
-Horseracing track

It was all here. Everything a resort community needed.

Some of the original homes still stand today.

Most have long since been consumed back to the earth due to the ravages of time.

I did find a remaining fireplace still in use today.

The original log cabin is gone. The current property owners did a great job saving the original fireplace. Super people!

I can only imagine what this cabin looked like back in the day.

Yes, that is the same fireplace.

I’m off on vacation.

We’ll continue to explore when I get back.

03-20-2011, 04:45 PM	#1
DeBandi ^OP Exploring Alabama Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Blount Springs, AL Oddometer: 3,098	Exploring Alabama’s Stagecoach Stop at Blount Springs The place I call home is little more than a ghost town from the early 1800s. The people of that era had a very difficult life. Especially when you compare how they had to live off the land and travel in ways that we would think practically impossible today. They had no cars, no trains, no cell phones and very primitive maps. The stagecoach route was how this nation traveled in 1826. A neighbor of mine tells me he believes he has found the old Blount Springs stagecoach stop. Needless to say, I wanted to learn more. With little more to go on than a general area of proximity, I set out to see if I could locate the mysterious stagecoach stop at Blount Springs. __________________ Explore / Dream / Discover DeBandi Visit ExploringAlabama.net State Oval Decals Available

03-21-2011, 04:55 AM	#3
DeBandi ^OP Exploring Alabama Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Blount Springs, AL Oddometer: 3,098	With Hunstville situated 74 miles to the north, the stagecoach patrons would pay $5.50 each way to get to Blount Springs. That's serious money in 1826. This is the old stagecoach route. Let's go look around. __________________ Explore / Dream / Discover DeBandi Visit ExploringAlabama.net State Oval Decals Available

03-21-2011, 06:25 PM	#7
DeBandi ^OP Exploring Alabama Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Blount Springs, AL Oddometer: 3,098	Why did the stagecoach stop at Blount Springs? This area is blessed with bubbling mineral springs. It was known as the “Alabama Fountain of Youth.” The wealthy and healthy would come to escape the heat and bathe in the mineral baths to stay young. The sick would come in search of cures for scrofula, rheumatism, dyspepsia, sore eyes, gout, pimples, blotches, lost appetites, paralysis, and many other ailments. This is how the area of the springs looks today. I can only imagine what it looked like back in the early to mid 1800s. The population would reach 3,000 people in the summer months. The elite had summer cottages here. This was circa 185 years ago. More later...... __________________ Explore / Dream / Discover DeBandi Visit ExploringAlabama.net State Oval Decals Available

03-22-2011, 12:09 PM	#8
gremor RS'er Joined: Jan 2004 Location: NE Ohio Oddometer: 787	Sooooo in!! __________________ "As a teen I would have fucked a snake if someone would hold it's head, drunk or not. But I've matured. Now I'd make sure I was drunk before I tried to fuck a snake"..........Bueller

03-22-2011, 06:27 PM	#9
DeBandi ^OP Exploring Alabama Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Blount Springs, AL Oddometer: 3,098	I’m having trouble finding what I’m looking for. All along the old stagecoach route is very dangerous. You have to pay close attention when you explore in these woods. There are cisterns and wells everywhere from the old building sites / homesteads. Old cistern. Old well. More in the next few days… __________________ Explore / Dream / Discover DeBandi Visit ExploringAlabama.net State Oval Decals Available

03-20-2011, 08:33 PM	#2
mcc66 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: forrestfield, western australia Oddometer: 196	DeBandi, always enjoy your ride reports. Look forward to reading and seeing your photos. Thanks mcc66 Michael

03-21-2011, 03:47 PM	#4
beatnck Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Worcs, uk Oddometer: 19	lookin forward to this

03-21-2011, 04:22 PM	#5
NoNo Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Moore Haven, FL Oddometer: 21	Ooooooooo I'm on board.

03-22-2011, 08:20 PM	#10
RandyG Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: 30 min from the overlook (Deals Gap) Oddometer: 93	more please!

03-23-2011, 01:24 AM	#11
WaywardSon Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Paducah, Kentucky Oddometer: 1,141	Subscribed..............again. Really enjoy your reports. Thanks for taking the time! __________________ '99 K1200 LT '96 R1100 RT- Gone '95 K1100 LT- Gone '83 Yamaha Venture- Gone '78 Suzuki GS 750- Gone

03-23-2011, 01:48 AM	#12
Kenbike Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: South of the big lake Oddometer: 491	Great report! Is this area public land that anyone can explore?

03-23-2011, 06:26 AM	#13
chainslap BlessedarethesicK Joined: Apr 2009 Location: The Dirty South Oddometer: 637	Always enjoy your ride reports. Love the historical aspects and great photos. Thanks for sharing.

03-23-2011, 07:25 AM	#14
toolguy1 Adventurer Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Cuthbert, Ga Oddometer: 25	LOVE the reports!! Keep 'em comin'.

03-23-2011, 07:55 AM	#15
DeBandi ^OP Exploring Alabama Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Blount Springs, AL Oddometer: 3,098	This is all private property today. -Churches -Bottling factory -General stores -Hotels -Post office -Boarding houses -Livery stables -Train station (after 1872) -Cottages -Cabins -Homes -Horseracing track It was all here. Everything a resort community needed. Some of the original homes still stand today. Most have long since been consumed back to the earth due to the ravages of time. I did find a remaining fireplace still in use today. The original log cabin is gone. The current property owners did a great job saving the original fireplace. Super people! I can only imagine what this cabin looked like back in the day. Yes, that is the same fireplace. I’m off on vacation. We’ll continue to explore when I get back. __________________ Explore / Dream / Discover DeBandi Visit ExploringAlabama.net State Oval Decals Available DeBandi screwed with this post 03-24-2011 at 06:22 AM

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