Leeds Historical Society members were treated to a lively presentation about the former Cook Springs Hotel, and the surrounding area, by Anita Smith during the group’s Sunday, April 13, meeting.Smith wrote a book, “The Village and its Neighbors: A History of the Village at Cook Springs and its Surroundings,” to celebrate not only the history of Cook Springs, but to celebrate the mineral springs throughout the history of the entire Southeast.
Smith said she was excited to talk to the Leeds Historical Society because she could tell the group does what it can to preserve the history of Leeds, which is preserving St. Clair County, Alabama and Southeastern history as well.
She said it is important for groups like the one in Leeds to teach people the importance of preserving historical buildings, structures and property.
“When you own a piece of historical property or a historical building, it is your opportunity and your responsibility to preserve the history of that property,” she said. “You have been entrusted with something that belongs to the people. Those properties allow the owner to spread pride and interest in an area’s history and genealogy.”
The 1,600 acres of land containing what was once a grand hotel has helped keep Cook Springs prosperous in many different ways for more than 100 years.
The land began with the Cooke family. Smith mentioned the “e” had been removed from the name of the springs, but was not certain of the reasoning behind it.
The owner had built cottages in the hills on the property and allowed people to stay in them even before the railroad system came through the area in the 1880s. His son took that idea and applied it to the growth of the mineral springs business in the area.
It has housed a mineral springs resort that grew into the hotel by the 1880s with a band playing songs to welcome visitors and a restaurant worthy of riding a train just to eat there.
It has also been a religious campground where young adults could enjoy the natural beauty of the area, including mountains, woods and railroads, while having Bible study. The hotel was given to a group called the American School of Evangelism to help expand the religious campground.
The most lasting use of the land, however, has been as a senior living campus that started as a small nursing home and has become an independent living center.
The nursing home is also what drew Smith’s attention to doing a history of the area. She was once the medical editor for The Birmingham News and she worked with Noland Health Services, the company operating the campus near the location of the old hotel, to publish the book.
While the days of Leeds residents taking a train to the hotel for a day, a weekend or a full out vacation ended sometime in the 1950s, Smith said she was so glad the depot Leeds people used to take that trip was still standing.
Smith seemed excited to be giving the history of a building while she was standing inside the building in question.
She also expressed a fascination with the way Leeds has its “feet in three counties,” meaning St. Clair, Jefferson and Shelby counties.
During a meeting after Smith spoke, the Historical Society:
O Heard a report that the Bass House is looking for anyone willing to make repairs at the museum and possibly help with lawn maintenance. The museum is also looking for new items for its rotating archives.
O Approved the minutes and financial report for March.
O Heard a report that the Rowan House needs a business co-host for the Thursday, May 15, Chamber After Hours coming up.
O Society President Frank Little also reported that the historical marker sign at the new welcome center is in the works and the sign for Shiloh Cemetery is up.
O Passed motions to discuss allowing Little to have an office in the depot and find an appraiser to look at the Fuller’s Mill property.
O Discussed its 10-year anniversary party coming up and addressed moving back its May and June meetings for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
O Heard that the amount owed on the Bass House is down to about $23,500.
O Heard Little say he is waiting on good weather to finish restoring the caboose next to the depot.
