Last week’s article about W.W. “Bill” Bailey told of the odd, if not improbable establishment of the town of Ravenden Springs, which gives little hint today of the once-thriving health resort it was in the mid to late 1800’s. The discovery of the spring and its supposedly healing powers led to what once was a sought-after resort area that boasted a population of around 1500, in its heyday. When news of Rev. Bailey’s dream and cure became widely known, people were eager to capitalize on the healing waters of the springs. Capt. R.D. Welch, passenger conductor on the Iron Mountain Railroad from St. Louis to Little Rock, visited the spring and was so impressed that he resigned his position from the railroad, formed a stock company, laid out a town, and built a hotel and health spa just above the spring. But where did the name come from? Tradition says below the spring was a perpendicular cliff about 150 feet high, where ravens built their nests in a hole about 2/3 the way up. Hence, the name Ravenden Springs. The ravens have since left and never returned, just like most of the residents. In its prime, Ravenden Springs had 2 hotels, the J.A. Atkins Hotel on Main Street and The Southern Hotel, a magnificent 40 room hotel built above the spring, motor car service for transportation from the train depot, a jail, and the Lone Rock Bank, which survived until the depression of the 1930’s, when it ceased operations. Big name bands and dances were common at the hotels and around town in those days. A stage line was established from Walnut Ridge, the nearest railroad town, to Ravenden Springs, some 35 miles. But, in 1883, the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railway (later, the Frisco) was built through Lawrence County up the Spring River valley and missed Ravenden Springs by 6 miles. The nearest depot was named Ravenden. The stage line from Walnut Ridge to Ravenden Springs was abandoned, marking the beginning of the end for Ravenden Springs. In order to get to Ravenden Springs at that time, one went to Hoxie, took the train to Ravenden, then hired a horse drawn carriage to complete the trip to the health resort. The first school in Arkansas was held in a cave at Ravenden Springs, sometime prior to 1820, and the teacher was Caleb Lindsey. Just getting to school was an adventure for these students as the trek down the canyon was a feat in itself. The cave was 20 to 25 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and about 10 to 15 feet high and was on the banks of Hall’s Creek. Other schools have come and gone since this primitive beginning, and many early Randolph County teachers attended occasions such as teacher’s exams, known as “Randolph County Normal” and a Teacher’s Institute held near the springs, taking advantage of the resort area. The last Ravenden Springs School was consolidated with the Dalton School in the early 1970’s and an end to a community as it was known was eminent. Today, only remnants of a once-thriving resort town remain. Some of the old rock buildings, a main street with some of the original landmarks, the lonesome remains of a popular hotel, the silence of a school building, and the memory of the rise and fall of a resort area of bygone days have been faded by time. There is so much important history in this small Randolph County community and some efforts to restore bits and pieces of a remarkable area have been taken. But what a disservice we do, when these landmarks that are so important to not only Randolph County history, but to Arkansas history, as well, are not taken advantage of. The potential for a tourist attraction in this area is as real today as it was in the days of W.W. Bailey and the foresight of many who took advantage of what the area held and its natural beauty. What an opportunity is being missed! Maybe, this will peak an interest in the area and a faded past can be restored. Next week, the life and times of Joseph Hufstedler and another popular resort area, Birdell. “Til then…
