Iuka Mineral Springs Park

Hundreds of years ago, before the advent of «Big Pharma», people often died from simple ailments, many learned to heal with various herbs, plants, roots, bark, and even water.
A Chickasaw Indian chief, by the name of Iuka, became sickened and was unable to be helped by his tribe’s healers. He heard of the curative powers of the natural spring waters found at a location in what is now northeast Mississippi, not far from the Tennessee River. Eager for a cure, he had his people carry him there. Drinking deeply, he was relieved of his suffering. I can’t find much history about Chief Iuka and what his particular ailment was. He recognized the powers in these waters and chose to make his home there, where he stayed until the end of his days.
Chief Iuka hasn’t been the only benefactor of the springs over the years. White settlers followed Chief Iuka’s lead and a town grew around the six springs. It would be named Iuka (eye-​you-​ka) after the chief. The town became prosperous and the Memphis and Charleston Railroad came through because of the springs.
Following the Civil War, Yellow Fever spread through the people, but the town of Iuka was spared and it became a place of refuge. Mineral Springs Park was donated to the town of Iuka by David Hubbard in the early 1840’s. The exemption from the disease was credited to the springs and the fame of the waters spread. Less than two decades later Iuka was a fashionable spa, a mecca for the wealthy from places like Washington, D.C. and New York City. In 1872 pavilions were erected over the springs and visitors strolled under the shade of the oaks and elms of Mineral Springs Park and gathered around the park’s bandstand for various concerts.
At the St. Louis World’s Fair (1904), a panel of judges deemed Iuka’s mineral water «best in the United States» for purity and mineral content. Iuka stood to gain immensely from the bottling of water, but WWI came about and put an end to the chance of prosperity for the town. Visitors, devotees, and the trains from the East petered out, and due to neglect so did the springs, from a build up of the minerals. During the Depression years, the bandstand and pavilion fell into disrepair.
In the 1960s, a group of Iuka businessmen started a campaign to restore the springs and the park to their original condition and give the community a boost, but it died out in the making. A decade later George Page led a civic-​wide project to improve the park for the enjoyment of the town’s children. With money raised by the local Lions Club, and matching state and federal funds, new playground equipment and benches were installed. A new bandstand was built, and an authentic log cabin was located and moved to the park. The breeze blowing across the porch of the cabin is several degrees cooler than other areas of the park because of the shade trees.
The three remaining flowing springs are situated in a circular area about fifty feet. The taste is very similar to my tap water at home. I expected a distinct taste, but only one spring did have a strong taste. The taste was more of «old pipe» than minerals. There aren’t any placards posted to detail what minerals are in the water. I have read elsewhere, Cindy Nelson with the Tishomingo County Archives and History Museum stated, «Scientists profess surprise that in such a small space so many different streams should be found, so different yet so vital, sulphur, iron, magnesia, carbonic acid gas, alum, and many other chemicals, good for so many ailments…»
There is also a memorial area with etched stones and flags on the side of the park closest to the main street. These memorials range from 9 – 11 to WWI and the POWs. There are two tall water fountains in this area and they are usually the ones that kids (and some adults) like to play in and splash each other.
Across the way from the cabin is a covered bridge, but there is no information about it posted anywhere, so the age or date it was built is unknown. The activity center, a large brick building with open floor space, is available for various gatherings and uses.
This is a very quiet and serene park. There were children playing basketball and some were scattered throughout the park laughing and playing, yet it was very quiet.