In Winchester Springs the South Dundas Mural depicting the Winchester Springs Health Sanitorium stands on the north side of Oak Valley Road a short distance west of County Road 31.
Winchester Springs, Ontario located at the conjunction of Winchester Springs Road and Oak Valley Road at County Road 31 in Dundas county, originated due to the discovery of the springs on lot 5, concession 1, in Winchester Township during a survey done in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, supervised by a man named Frazer. Years later Thomas Armstrong, who ran a lumber business, used them to help himself and his team of men deal successfully with the outbreaks of scurvy as a result of eating too much salted meat and too little in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables.
As news of the springs spread, people arrived there in summer in increasing numbers, staying in tents and taking the waters. As a health resort Winchester Springs gained popularity. Dr. William John Anderson, 1839-1901, purchased the Winchester Springs Sanitarium property around 1870.He had a large three story brick sanitarium erected by Jason West. It incorporated a hospital staffed with doctors, nurses and other medical workers. It opened in 1876
WINCHESTER SPRINGS
HEALTH
SANITORIUM
1870's – 1904
The resort depended on two springs a few yards apart. An analysis of the water showed that they contained iodine, bromine, iron, potassium, sodium carbonate, and sulphur. Dr. Anderson promoted that These would aid in the “certain cure of Rheumatism, Dyspepsia, Scrofula, Bilious Derangements, Urinary Obstructions, Skin Diseases of all kinds, and General Debility”. He further promised that “Medical men will be in daily attendance during the season for the accommodation of those who may require their advice. The waters of these Springs are unsurpassed in all of North America, and from the wide reputation they now have, it will be needless to extol them further."
With railway lines through Morrisburg to the south and Winchester to the north made the sanatorium more accessible. A daily horse drawn stage brought guests from the railway stations to the sanatorium. Dr. Anderson continued operating the Sanatorium until his death in 1901.
LINDA HOLMES
2002
Thermal springs began to lose their attraction around 1904. Attendance at the Winchester Springs Sanatorium declined. The building became a hotel and eventually closed and soon after was demolished.
Sources:
Winchester Springs in Hot Water by Dr. David Shanahan, The North Dundas Times, November 29, 2020
Historical Glimpse of North Dundas Township by Murray A. Inch
The Story of Dundas: being a history of the county of Dundas from 1784 to 1904 by J. Smyth Carter
