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  Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
 Decade: 1890-1899
Arthur Howard

Arthur Howard

Date: 1898
Creator: unknown
Description: Photo taken 1898 of Arthur Howard. The cap he is wearing identifies him as "ASST CHIEF." (He is believed to have been assistantt fire chief of Mineral Wells at that time.)
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
Crazy Well, Mineral Wells, Texas

Crazy Well, Mineral Wells, Texas

Date: c. 1890
Creator: unknown
Description: A picture of the first Crazy Well drinking pavilion, the first such service facility in the city. When Mr. Wiggins dug the third well in town, it was frequented by a "crazy woman" who was eventually cured of her dementia. Because of the word of mouth publicity, people came from miles around to drink the health-giving water. A house was built around the well for the convenience of the customers. The highly successful business attracted competition, and the most popular health spa in the nation grew from these beginnings.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[First Presbyterian Church in 1896]

[First Presbyterian Church in 1896]

Date: 1896
Creator: unknown
Description: The original photograph was used in a newspaper article which was included on the back of the picture: "FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 1896 -- Crowd attends dedication of the wooden church as it nears completion in the summer of 1896, when the edifice was dedicated to the Lord and mankind. On July 4, 1914, the church was destroyed by one of the most disastrous fires in the history of Mineral Wells, when 34 residences and hotels, for two blocks east and west and four blocks north -- from Hubbard St. to N. W. 4th Street, burned --- every place from Hubbard north to 4th St. except the Tygrett home. The present church was constructed some two years after the wooden church burned, on the same site, corner Northwest 2nd Street and Northwest 4th Avenue. Perhaps some of the youngsters in the picture are still living in the community today. Picture made available by M. J. Graham from his file of papers and pictures on the history of Presbyterianism in this community. Until the present dome brick church was completed, the Presbyterians held Sunday School and church on the lower floor of the Odd Fellows building in the 200 block of ...
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[The Hexagon Hotel]

[The Hexagon Hotel]

Date: 1897-1959
Creator: unknown
Description: The Hexagon House (Hotel) at 701 N. Oak Ave., in Mineral Wells, Texas, opened in December 1897. The brick building to the right was the Convention Hall, built in 1925 on the foundation of the Hotel's electric plant for the West Texas Chamber of Commerce Convention. The Hexagon House was demolished in 1959 as was the Convention Center in 1977.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[Hexagon Hotel]

[Hexagon Hotel]

Date: 1897-1959
Creator: unknown
Description: The Hexagon Hotel, at approximately the time of its completion. This photo is a cleaned-up version by A.F. Weaver. (site is cleaned up and trash is removed.) The original photo, included in the A.F. Weaver collection, shows evidence of construction-related activity and debris along NW Holland St. (now NW 6th St.) Construction of the Hexagon House started in 1895, and it opened for business in December 1897. More than sixty years before air-conditioning became available, the building's design allowed maximum air circulation to ameliorate Mineral Wells' torrid summertime heat. A DC generating plant furnished power to an electric light in each room. It was the first electrically lighted hotel in Mineral Wells. The builder/owner, Mr. David G. Galbraith was the inventor of a paper clip, and, with five other men of the century, invented acetate.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[Hexagon Hotel]

[Hexagon Hotel]

Date: 1897 - 1924
Creator: unknown
Description: Hexagon Hotel. Large group of people, out front, most are sitting on donkeys. Donkeys were used to transport visitors to the top of East Mountain for an overview of the City of Mineral Wells. It appears the party in this picture is preparing for a trip up the mountain. (Note: It is not known why the sign hanging from the second floor balcony reads "The Caldwell"). Building behind the Hexagon is the electrical (DC) building.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[The Hexagon Hotel]

[The Hexagon Hotel]

Date: 1897-1924
Creator: unknown
Description: The Hexagon House (Hotel), built in 1895 by David G. Galbraith the inventor of the Paper Clip and co-developer of acetate synthetic fiber. The well ventilated "honeycomb" structure opened in December 1897 and had a bath between every two rooms. The stone building behind and left of the Hotel held a generator (DC) for the first electric lights in every room in a hotel.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
[Hexagon Hotel]

[Hexagon Hotel]

Date: 1897-1959
Creator: unknown
Description: Color photograph of the Hexagon Hotel. Note the Convention Hall to the right (north) of the Hotel. The Convention Hall was built in 1925 to accommodate the West Texas Chamber of Commerce Convention, and was built over a portion of the foundation of the electric power plant of the hotel. The Hexagon House was torn down in 1959, and the Convention Center was demolished in 1977.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
Star Well

Star Well

Date: c. 1899
Creator: unknown
Description: "Winter Scene - Shipping Star Well Water - From Min Wells Texas" The Star Well was located at the NE corner of the intersection of NE 1st St. and NE 1st. Ave. The location is across the street north of the Baker Hotel where the telephone building is currently located. There appears to be a possible "date" handwritten on the bottom right corner of image that reads possibly "1899".
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
Texas Carlsbad Water

Texas Carlsbad Water

Date: c. 1895
Creator: unknown
Description: Group outside Texas Carlsbad Water. The Carlsbad was one of the earliest, and more popular drinking pavilions in Mineral Wells. Located on N.W. 1st. Ave., at N.W. 4th St., directly across the street west of the Crazy Well, its slogan was: Makes a man love HIS wife, Makes a woman love HER husband, Robs the divorce court of its business, Takes the temper out of red-headed people, Puts ginger into ginks and pepper into plodders. Note the electric lines and unpaved street.
Holding Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library
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