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Hot Springs History
Year ago, century
before last, Lewis and Clark identified the Indians that they were
visiting with as "Flatheads". The winter camp of the Salish Indians
was on the banks of the large, Flathead Lake. In truth, the tribe
of the Flathead is Salish, Kootenai and Pend D'Orielle. And, many,
many years ago, the Flathead Indians pitched their camp of teepees
close to the many bubbling springs that came up, through the earth.
They recognized the water as soothing, and curative. They called it
"Good Medicine".
And so, when the
Homestead Act took place in 1910; the tribes chose their allotments
of lands first, and then the homesteaders were allowed to choose
their plots of 80, or more acres. From Niarada to Lonepine to Camas
and Hot Springs, Homesteaders and Tribesmen alike, ranched and
farmed and developed this area of the Western Flathead Reservation.
By 1910, Hot
Springs (once called Pineville, due to the wide variety of pine
trees in the region), had its own Post Office, and was developing
into a healthy community in large part due to the many hot springs
that promised health and healing. The 28 day cure promised life
changing events, and brought commerce to the area, as many
"housekeeping cabins" were built, along with several grand hotels
(The Symes and Alamedas are still thriving today), that promised
deluxe accommodations along with the physical improvements they
would benefit from, via the hot springs.
The town of Camas
was at one time more developed than Hot Springs. By the 1920's
most commerce had moved to Hot Springs, in part because the majority
of the beneficial “springs" existed in Hot Springs. In the 1930's
the town boasted several car dealerships, hair dressers,
restaurants, several grocery stores, a movie house, a men's
clothing store, a government funded/constructed bath house, with
eight tubs, two steam rooms and rooms for massage.
Homesteader Days
began in 1949, at the time that the largest bathhouse was erected
and dedicated by the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead
Reservation. It remained active and maintained by the Tribes until
the 1980's, when it fell Into disrepair and was determined safe to
use. To bridge this gap between the closed bathhouse, many areas
with naturally occurring hot springs improved upon their sites. "Big
Medicine" is the spot where tribal member, Leroy O'Bennick maintains
the well known mud baths and hot mineral baths. There is Rose's
Plunge (Rose is a Tribal Member), Alameda's and The Symes Hotel with
outdoor AND indoor soaking available.
Join us as we
celebrate the beauty of the reservation, (some people call it the
town that time forgot... , the naturally occurring Hot Springs and
all of the PEOPLE, Indian and White, that have treasured this land
and maintained it alive as a wonderful tribute to our pioneering
spirits.
Norah Potts
May 5, 2012
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