Bottles on the Border: The History and Bottles of the Soft Drink ...

spring had healing properties and began to draw attention locally (Stafford Mineral Springs Hotel
Co. 1906:7; Wilkerson 2010).
Figure 40 Figure 5-39 – Postcard of Stafford
Springs Hotel, front view (Wilkerson)
Figure 5-40 – Postcard of Stafford Springs Hotel,
side view (Wilkerson)
As testimony to the curative qualities spread, a group of capitalists formed the Stafford
Mineral Springs Company, Limited, and incorporated in Louisiana on May 19, 1892. On March
7, 1893, the group formed the Stafford Mineral Springs and Hotel Company, Limited and soon
built a bottling works that could produce two railroad carloads per day (Stafford Mineral Springs
Hotel Co. 1906:4-6). The Stafford Inn, described as “a large and comfortable hotel, with wide
porches, airy rooms, comfortable office, bath rooms and all modern conveniences,” opened in
1899 (Figures 5-39 & 5-40). The owners promised that “rates are reasonable” (Stafford Mineral
Springs Hotel Co. 1906:7; Wilkerson 2010).
Although the springs and hotel were originally considered a part of Vossburg, the area
eventually became known as Stafford Springs, Mississippi. Faith in the curative powers of the
th
water declined in the 20 century, and the resort deteriorated. The hotel was razed in 1956. John
L. and Dorothy Blanks bought the property in 1961 rebuilt the resort into a motor lodge with a
dude ranch theme. However, business was sluggish, and the facility was short lived. Several
owners attempted to make the business profitable, including William “Little Bill” Martin, who
built a gas station in the remains of the old water building. Before the end of the 1980s, even the
most optimistic of the investors had given up, and only a few abandoned motel buildings remain
(Wilkerson 2010).
According to Keith Wilkerson (personal communication, 2003), bottling of the spring
water continued until sometime between 1950 and 1958. Wilkerson’s information is worth
quoting:
100