The Oxford Historical Society recently acquired a water jug, stamped “Oxford Spring Water, Gen’l Depot, 165 State Street, New Haven, CT.”
The jug was manufactured in the mid-1800s, when Oxford was famous for the longevity of its residents and its healthy waters. The two-gallon stoneware jug probably was manufactured between 1860 and 1880 from wheel-thrown pottery, with a tan, glossy salt glaze that is irregular and attractive.
There are olive green highlights and a cobalt blue glaze decoration, especially over the incised makers mark on the shoulder. A darker amber-olive glaze accent is minimal and found mostly on the top of the pulled, applied handle.
The jug and the spring are an interesting part of Oxford’s 19th and early 20th Century history. In 1836, John Warner Barber published his Connecticut Historical Collections, an early book which features sketches of all the towns in Connecticut. Under the Oxford listing, Barber wrote, “About one mile south of the central part of the town is a remarkable mineral spring; called ‘the Pool,’ from the circumstance of its waters being efficacious, and much used for the cure of the salt rheum and other complaints. Once in a month a yellowish scum will collect upon the surface of the water, which in a few days will run off, and leave the pool perfectly clear. In the coldest weather this spring never freezes; in the dryest season it is as full as at other times.”
The spring, located off Route 67, near the Olde Sawmill Mini Golf Course, was also listed in the John Hayward’s New England Gazetteer in 1938.
Norman Litchfield and Sabrina Hoyt write in their 1960 History of the Town of Oxford, Connecticut: “In 1870 the country was still ignorant of medical matters and quack doctors flourished. Claims were common in advertisements of extraordinary curative powers of certain spring waters. So in the first number of “Seymour Record” published May 1st, 1871, “the pool” near Little River is advertised in the following glowing terms:
‘The Oxford Chalybeate Spring Water (formerly known as the Pool) cures Salt Rheum, Scrofula, Erysipelas, Scaldhead, Cancers, Sore or Inflamed Eyes, Chapped Hands, all Eruptions of the Skin, Kidney Diseases of all kinds, and has been very beneficial in cases of Female Weakness and irregularity. The Spring has been owned for the past fifty years by a gentleman who would not advertise its virtues and who would not sell or lease the property to others. Meanwhile the public eye and ear has been filled with patent medicine phrases and many have flung away their money in that direction. We give away the Elixir of Life to all who will go to the spring for it. Those who cannot come for it we will supply with it, put up in packages of one dozen quart bottles in a package, marked to any address and delivered to the Seymour Depot upon receipt of price ($2.00 per package) or C.O.D. Suitable Bathing Accommodations are soon to be erected at the Spring. We are in possession of numerous testimonials from Physicians and others as to the efficacy of this water in the cure of the above mentioned diseases which we will send to any address upon the receipt of a stamp. ‘Address: Theodore F. Warner, Geo. N. Candee, Proprietors’”
The local spring became well-known throughout Connecticut, and was included among Connecticut’s commercial springs in the U.S. government’s publication, Mineral Springs of the United States, published in 1883 and 1884. The book described the water as Chalybeate. The book included the chemical analysis of only two Connecticut springs, including the Oxford spring. The analysis done by George F. Barker, in 1873 lists the following:
Oxford Spring Constituents in Grams per gallon
Iron carbonate , 0.91
Sodium sulphate, 0.49
Potassium sulphate, trace
Lithium sulphate, trace
Magnesium sulphate, 0.62
Calcium sulphate, 1.16
Sodium chloride, 0.34
Silica and insoluble matter, 1.33
Organic matter, 1.27
Loss, 0.10
TOTAL = 6.22
The book compared it to S.W. Johnson’s analysis in 1880 of water from the Stark Mineral Spring, in Bozrah, which had a total of 3.37. (At the time of the publication, the Oxford and Bozrah springs were the only Connecticut springs listed as commercially significant. Stafford Springs was listed for use as a resort, making it the most important spring in the state.)
Again in 1910 the federal government published a Water Supply Paper. Speaking of Connecticut, it said, “Fifteen springs report sales of table water for 1908 and there are known to be many others which have more or less local use. About nine-tenths of the production is sold for table purposes. One spring is the site of a resort with accommodations for about 80 people. During 1908 the output of water increased about one-third and the value decreased one-seventh as compared to the record for 1907. The sale of water from 15 springs for 1908 was 424,826 gallons, at an average price of 9 cents a gallon.”
Among the springs selling water was the Oxford Mineral Spring. The book notes that S. P. Sanford was the current owner of the spring. The book lists the main components of the water as iron and sulphur and says the water was sold for its medicinal qualities.
Today the property is owned by the Oxford Land Trust. Known as Chalybeate Hill, the nine-acre property is located on the west side of Oxford Rd. (RT 67), south of the Old Sawmill miniature golf/snack bar, across from Route Sixty Seven Professional Center. An open space map on the Town of Oxford website lists the property as Property 161.
The jug was acquired from Aspetuck Antiques in Monroe. The Society is collecting donations to defray the cost of the artifact. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Oxford Historical Society, PO Box 582, Oxford, CT 06478. Donations may also be made at the opening of the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead, Oxford’s first museum, on May 5th and 6th, when the jug will be display. The Oxford Historical Society has planned a variety of events to celebrate the opening of the 250-year old farmhouse, which was moved in 2006 to avoid demolition of the historic building. The Society has worked over the years to restore the building and upgrade the facility to meet modern building codes.