Hampton Springs

[ spring, community, school site (June 3, 1913) & post office (established 22 Dec 1904 - discontinued 15 Jan 1941 moved to Perry) ]

The story goes that Joe Hamilton, an early Taylor County settler whose wife suffered from rheumatism, was directed by an Indian to these springs. When the water eased her pain and stiffness, Hampton obtained a government grant to the spring area for $10. A descendant built a hotel here in 1904 to accomidate visitors to the spring. However Louise Childers determined the the real story is as follows: Benjamin W. and Joseph L. Hampton did purchase 40 acres known as Rocky Creek Mineral Springs with 40 or more acres for the sum of $400 from John Carlton and Ana Carlton, his wife, of Madison County. If you would like to read more about Hampton Springs, Louise Childers articles are available in the Taylor County Library or the Taylor County Historical Society.

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Rocky Creek Lumber Company was located here.

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Hampton Springs Hotel

1908 – 1954

The land was purchased by Benjamin W. and Joseph L. Hampton for $400 from John and Ana Carlton of Madison in 1879. The Hamptons eventually formed the Hampton Springs Hotel and Mineral Company with $20,000 of working capital. The family decided to capitalize off the investment around the turn of the century and the first part of the hotel was built in 1908. It was a two story structure with about 70 rooms. A nearby boarding house, also two story structure, helped house the overflow during the busy season. It wasn’t until wealthy Georgia railroad businessman J. W. Oglesby took an interest in the area that things started to expand. When the hotel was expanded in 1915, it had all the trappings of a luxury resort, including wicker furniture, steam heat throughout the building and a magnificent water fountain that would be lit up at night. This beautiful resort hotel was constructed 5 miles west of Perry. It was built on the site of a sumptuous spring. The hotel had its own power and water plant.

For reasons unknown, Oglesby leased his interest in the hotel in 1927 to Arnold Joerns for 99 years. Joerns then formed what became known as the Hampton Springs Club, an exclusive membership only spa. Real estate surrounding the hotel at that time was valued at $1 million.

The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1954.