Hotel at Mercer Healing Springs is Burned Down
Princeton Evening Press, May 12, 1922
At an early hour Thursday morning, a phone message was received by Dr. Wallingford here that Mercer Healing Springs Hotel was on fire. Dr. Wallingford hurriedly notified Sr. S. A. Lynch, who is part owner in the Springs property with him, and they made all speed possible by motor to the Springs, reaching there about 6:15 a. m., to find the flames entirely beyond the combatable stage with the meager fire fighting equipment at hand. The building, which was an all frame one, burned to the ground very quickly
The hotel had not been opened this season, but at the solicitation of some of the young people of the city the owners had given a dance at the hotel Wednesday night. The dance concluded about two o’clock, but before Dr. Lynch left the premises, he and several others carefully inspected the lobby and halls to see that no lighted cigarette stub or match was left to do damage. The condition of the premises appearing all right, he locked up the premises, and with his party of friends returned to Princeton.
Some young men who were out in the early hours yesterday morning drove by the Springs about 3:30 and discovering the fire, phoned the alarm into Princeton. The fire is presumed to have caught on the third floor, though from what source is not known, or could scarcely be theorized upon, since there was no fire in the building the night of the dance.
Mercer Healing Springs was built in 1912 by R. G. Meador, of Athens. It was a three story frame building, nicely finished and elegantly furnished, being designed and equipped for a summer resort. It cost, with its furnishings, in the neighborhood of $75,000. In the latter part of the 1920 season the property was purchased by Dr. W. H. Wallingford and Dr. Samuel A. Lynch of this city. They finished out the remaining part of the 1920 season, and managed the hotel last season. For this season they had just closed a contract leasing the property to Mrs. W. B. Crawford, of Bluefield. Mrs. Crawford came to Princeton yesterday morning for the purpose of taking over the property, only to find out that the building was in ashes. The property was insured for $40, 000.
Source:The Princeton Evening Press, Friday Evening, May 12, 1922, p. 1
