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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, July 28, 2024, pg. 8 With the continuation of the "Swingin' at the Shell" concert series, Albion's Victory Park will be seeing hundreds of visitors this summer. One of the features visitors can enjoy is our flowing Victory Park spring. This spring is mentioned in early Albion history documents. For example, the 1863-64 State Gazetteer states, "Among the noticeable features of Albion is the artesian well on the premises of Jesse Crowell, Esq., the only well of its kind in the county." When Victory Park was constructed following World War I in 1919-20, an elevated water pipe was installed to allow visitors to drink from the spring. A tile for the drainage of the water back into the Kalamazoo River was also added. In the 1930s, Victory Park received upgrades as part of the Works Progress Administration programs. A small pond was constructed surrounding the spring, and a casing installed with a continually-flowing spigot. The casing was completed in 1941 and states "SPRING WATER" on the top. This spring as been a source of drinking water for Albionites for many years who come to fill their jugs whenever they are there. A 1939 Calhoun County Health Department report by George Fassnacht about Albion's sanitary conditions gave the following information about the spring: "The drinking water supply in Victory Park is the pet of the city fathers and the pet gripe of the Calhoun County Sanitarium. A flowing well on the river bank has been walled up with seven feet of 24-inch V. C. tile. It is entirely unprotected, but as usually it is the best water in the county. One either dips water with a bucket or drinks horse fashion with his face in the spring. It is much preferred to city water from a nearby spigot." Fassnacht continued, "The last time I saw the spring it was pretty well supplied with apple cores and a crop of filamentous green algae which undulated with the flow. Small bits of foreign matter were rising with the water to flow over the crest. It looked so bad that I felt safe in taking a water sample. But I had no luck. The sample came back sterile." In 1961 Battle Creek resident Frederick Rettinger added a concrete access platform to make it easier to kneel down and fill your jug, and that is still there today. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a picturesque postcard photo of the Victory Park spring, circa 1920 just after the park opened. Here we see a man and girl standing to obtain a refreshing drink. When is the last time you had a swig of real Albion water from this spring? Fill your jug up on Sunday evenings when you come to "Swingin' at the Shell" at the nearby band shell, or just come on down anytime to get your fill. The best part is, the spring water is still free!  The Victory Park Spring, circa 1920
All text copyright, 2024 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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