West Virginia Books and Videos
Tamarack offers one of the most selective and extensive West Virginia book sections in the Mountain State.
Historic Springs of the Virginias
Take a historic tour through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, when a fashionable summer meant, "taking the waters" at the springs, spas, and resorts of the two states. Author Stan Cohen chronicles 75 historic retreats, complete with descriptions, drawings, and photographs. The springs became popular in the late 1700s largely because of their medicinal properties and peaked around the mid 1800s when prosperous Southern planters spent time and money summering at the various resorts. Historic Springs describes the daily life of a spa vacation, which included billiards, pistol galleries, dancing, and much eating and drinking, as well as the requisite three trips to the springhouse for a tumbler of water. While the majority of these resorts have disappeared, author Stan Cohen has re-created the layout and buildings comprising them through research and historical illustrations. Historic Springs also looks at the impact of cultural and economic developments on the spas. The westward expansion of the railroad aided in their growth and popularity; war and the rise of the automobile led to their decline. Historic Springs of the Virginias is a fascinating look at a charming part of our nation's history. 218 pages.