Ashland in Jackson County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Ashland Lithia Water
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 25, 2012
1. Ashland Lithia Water Marker
The Lithia Fountain was installed on the Ashland Plaza in late 1927. In the 1900s, Lithia Water, which comes from the Pompadour Chief Spring, nearly four miles east of downtown, was the focus of a city-wide development plan that hoped to transform Ashland into a mineral spring-based resort. Under the slogan "Ashland Grows While Lithia Flows," Ashland's citizens passed a $175,000 bond in 1914 to develop Lithia Park and build a pump and distribution system for the highly mineralized water. Although the system was built, the plan largely fizzled, at least in part due to the use of wood stave piping which quickly became clogged by mineral build-up that restricted flow.
Interest in Lithia Water was revived in the 1920s when a local group sought permission to bottle the water for sale, a venture which had minimal success due to the water's pungent taste and aroma. In 1927 the Ashland Chamber of Commerce petitioned the City Council to make Lithia Water available on the Plaza. The Lithia Fountain, built of locally quarried Ashland Granite, was installed later that year.
Erected by City of Ashland.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources.
Location. 42° 11.822′ N, 122° 42.922′ W. Marker is in Ashland, Oregon, in Jackson County. Marker is on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ashland OR 97520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ashland Creek (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Whittle Garage (about 300 feet away); Citizens Banking and Trust Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Enders Building No. 1, 1914 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Applegate Trail - Ashland Creek (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ashland’s Golden Spike (approx. half a mile away); Ashland Cemetery War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Applegate Trail (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ashland.
Regarding Ashland Lithia Water. If you're brave enough to taste the lithia water that flows out of the fountain, you'll most likely give a great repulsive look afterwards since this water smells like sulfur and tastes bitter and pungent.
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 25, 2012
2. Ashland Lithia Water Marker
Lithia Fountain, a contributing structure as part of the Ashland Downtown Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, August 25, 2012
3. Ashland Lithia Water Marker
Lithia Fountain, a contributing structure as part of the Ashland Downtown Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 282 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 11, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
