West Baden Springs in Orange County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Apollo: Spring No. 3
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2021
1. Apollo: Spring No. 3 Marker
The mineral springs at West Baden Springs Hotel drew the people to the area and made it famous. During those early years, the springs were identified by numbers. Lee W. Sinclair had Spring No. 3 covered with a wooden structure, which housed the J.C. Stewart Photography Studio, along with the other springs at the hotel.
Lillian Sinclair Rexford renamed the spring Apollo after the Greek god of the sun, prophecy, music, medicine and poetry. She also added the impressive gazebo, that resembles the dome itself, during the 1917 renovation.
In their attempt to simplify the hotel and its surroundings, the Jesuits filled in the spring with rock and cement so that the spring would not function. After the spring was capped, it was converted into a shrine for saints. Today, the floor of the Apollo Spring is a smooth concrete slab.
Erected by French Lick Resort Historical Walking Tour. (Marker Number 7.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sunken Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Army Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); The Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Sprudel: Spring No. 7 (within shouting distance of this marker); Seal Fountain (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Ignatius Cemetery (about 500 feet away); Golf Courses (about 600 feet away); Brick Drive (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Baden Springs.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. West Baden Springs Hotel
Also see . . . West Baden Springs Hotel History.
Lee Wiley Sinclair presided over the West Baden Springs Hotel until 1916, when his daughter, Lillian Rexford, and his son-in-law, Charles, assumed ownership rights. Under their watch, the resort underwent another round of renovations. Lillian(Submitted on April 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)later sold the resort to Edward Ballard, who had helped the couple finance their construction work. Struggling to keep the destination afloat during the early years of the Great Depression, he closed West Baden Springs Hotel in 1932. When no new suitors appeared to buy the hotel, he decided to donate the entire facility to a Jesuit organization called the “Society of Jesus.” The Jesuits used West Baden Springs Hotel as a seminary for many years.
2. Marker detail: Apollo Spring, circa 1917
3. Marker detail: Original Apollo Spring
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2021
4. Apollo: Spring No. 3 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 120 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
