Near Peebles in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Adams County Mineral Springs

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 16, 2019

1. Adams County Mineral Springs Marker

Inscription. Medicinal value of springs promoted by Charles Matheny, 1840. First hotel built 1864 and resort named Sodaville. Under ownership of General Benjamin Coates, 1888–91, Smith Grimes 1891–08, and J. W. Rogers 1908–20. Mineral Springs Health Resort nationally known for its large hotel complex and recreational facilities. This hotel destroyed by fire 1924. Smaller hotel built 1904 quarter mile north continued operation through 1940.

Erected 1980 by Adams County Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 1-5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 38° 52.79′ N, 83° 19.686′ W. Marker is near Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. It is on Mineral Springs Road (County Route 18) north of Garnet Shiveley Road, on the right when traveling south. It is across from the springs. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6323 Mineral Springs Rd, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cairn of Peace (approx. 6.4 miles away); Welcome To Peebles (approx. 6.4 miles away); Peebles (approx. 6.4 miles away); Wickerham Inn

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(approx. 7.2 miles away); The Otway Covered Bridge (approx. 7½ miles away); Otway Bridge / Timber Covered Bridges (approx. 7½ miles away); Locust Grove (approx. 8 miles away); Zane Trace (approx. 8.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peebles.

More about this marker. Per the Ohio Historical Connection, this marker was inadvertently given a non-Adams County number, 1-5. There is another 1-5 in Athens County, 'Hocking Valley Railway.

Also see . . . Once bustling community of Mineral Springs lost to time. The People's Defender website entry (Submitted on September 17, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 16, 2019

2. Adams County Mineral Springs Marker

The spring is out of frame across the road on the left.

View of the Spring from the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 16, 2019

3. View of the Spring from the Marker

Ruins of the Mineral Spring image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 16, 2019

4. Ruins of the Mineral Spring

Inscription just above the two indented stones reads, “Take a Drink on Wm. Bruckmann.” William Bruckmann owned the Bruckmann Brewing Company in Cincinnati, the nearest metropolis to the resort, and was never an owner of this property. The low stone pedestal on the floor of the structure was the basin from which the spring flowed. Old photographs show the name “Smith Grimes” now hidden under the lichen. He was the proprietor who built this stonework. Click on image, then again on oversize image to enlarge.

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

5. Adams County Mineral Springs Marker

The marker had undergone some repairs at some point.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,261 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 28, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on March 17, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.