Chemung Spring Water
Never Failing Spring
It is a sad time for the residents of Chemung as we lose yet another iconic landmark; this time to the corporate greed of county and city government in our nearby City of Elmira. Do you think the county and city officials know what the iconic Chemung Spring Water, (Never Failing Spring) means to the local residents of our fine town of Chemung? Do you think they know the history of "our" legendary Spring Water? More importantly, do you think they have taken into account the history of this iconic spring? Before European settlers set foot in this area, native american's made use of this constant and pure spring. Nearly 240 years as recorded by the settlers and how many hundreds/thousands of years before that; only to have the name lost forever, in the name of progress. It truly is a sad demise for this wonderful enterprise. Why didn't they broker a deal with the Town of Chemung to build a new facility on our soil? We have lost another local asset to our community, one we associate with hometown pride, Chemung Spring Water. The loss of Chemung Spring Water is a great loss for our Town.
- Mary Ellen Kunst December 13, 2017
Please read the letter posted below.
- Mary Ellen Kunst December 13, 2017
Please read the letter posted below.
History of Never Failing Spring and Chemung Spring Water, Chemung, N.Y.
Natural springs known early on as Never Failing Springs became a business in the year 1880 when developer John H. Holbert founded the company, Chemung Spring Water Co. A glass of water sold for 10 cents, horses drank at the trough for free. Water was shipped to New York City prior to W.W. 1 by railroad tank cars. 1922, Stanley Roberts and Floyd Beers purchased the business. Floyd's son's: Franklin and Carlton purchased Stanley Roberts partnership in 1938.
Looking Back: Chemung Spring Water
In the early 1900s, John Holbert shipped the water from Chemung Spring by railroad tank cars to New York City. A plant was erected at the east end of Chemung and bottling equipment installed in 1910. World War I interrupted the shipment of water to metropolitan areas and Holbert continued the business by building up the local trade.
The 1926 Industrial Edition of the Sayre Evening Times gave the following account: "The Chemung Spring Water Company, supplying a wide territory with spring water and beverages under the trade mark of "Zest," was organized four years ago (1922) by Floyd J. Beers and Stanley E. Roberts. The company acquired a three-story building of concrete and wood covered with steel in the town of Chemung and a spring of exceptional volume and properties a short distance away.
This spring is one of the most unusual natural phenomena ever discovered in this section. Its product is one of the lightest waters in the United States, the mineral content being exceptionally low and what minerals it contains, of a beneficial nature when taken into the human system. The origin of the spring is a mystery. Located in the middle of a field, the composition of its water is entirely unlike that of any other source of water supply adjacent to it or at any other place in this section. The supply is seemingly inexhaustible, flowing a five-inch stream day and night and never subject to the fluctuations that influence ordinary sources of supply.
To protect the spring an ornate marble pavilion has been erected over it and may be plainly seen from the road about three miles north of Waverly. The pool is also of marble, 5 by 9 feet in dimensions, and glass covered. This insures full protection to the water, for should the adjacent fields become filled and overflow into the basin of the spring, no impurities could penetrate it.
Pipes have been laid from this spring to the plant of the Chemung Spring Water Company.
Chemung Spring Water is known in 5,000 homes, officials of the company stated. It is bottled at night at the plant, after passing through a filter and is prepared for distribution in five gallon carboys and in cases of bottles with glass stoppers. These containers before receiving the water, are steam sterilized and are absolutely pure. The water is sold in its natural state, extremely sanitary precautions being taken to insure the highest purity. It is distributed from house to house in Waverly, Sayre, Athens, Elmira and Corning.
Only Chemung Spring Water is employed in the preparation of the soft drink retailed under the name "Zest Beverages" and distinguished by the red and white signs. To this is added the best extracts obtainable and granulated sugar only is used in their preparation. The beverages include grape, orange, lemon, birch beer, root beer, sarsaparilla, ginger ale, cherry, strawberry, cream soda, and chocolate. As a special inducement to boys and girls with whom the beverages have become a favorite, premiums are offered by the company.
The Chemung plant is probably the largest and among the most sanitary bottling establishments in this section, Its products are generally distributed over an area of 50 miles radius, going into Bradford County, Pa., and to several counties in New York state.
A fleet of seven trucks care for the distribution of Chemung Spring and "Zest" Beverages. The plant works both day and night, bottling the beverages during the day and the spring water at night."
In 1926 there were 15 employees.
The beverages sold under the Zest Beverage label were discontinued after World War II.
The plant constructed in 1910 serves today as the main structure of the Chemung Plant. According to the Chemung Spring Water website, the company employees 19 people, utilizing 10 vehicles for delivery purposes distributing product to homes, business and offices in a 60-plus mile radius.
------
Henry Farley is a founding member and past president of the Sayre Historical Society. He is currently president of the Bradford County Historical Society.
- By Henry G. Farley
- May 5, 2016
In the early 1900s, John Holbert shipped the water from Chemung Spring by railroad tank cars to New York City. A plant was erected at the east end of Chemung and bottling equipment installed in 1910. World War I interrupted the shipment of water to metropolitan areas and Holbert continued the business by building up the local trade.
The 1926 Industrial Edition of the Sayre Evening Times gave the following account: "The Chemung Spring Water Company, supplying a wide territory with spring water and beverages under the trade mark of "Zest," was organized four years ago (1922) by Floyd J. Beers and Stanley E. Roberts. The company acquired a three-story building of concrete and wood covered with steel in the town of Chemung and a spring of exceptional volume and properties a short distance away.
This spring is one of the most unusual natural phenomena ever discovered in this section. Its product is one of the lightest waters in the United States, the mineral content being exceptionally low and what minerals it contains, of a beneficial nature when taken into the human system. The origin of the spring is a mystery. Located in the middle of a field, the composition of its water is entirely unlike that of any other source of water supply adjacent to it or at any other place in this section. The supply is seemingly inexhaustible, flowing a five-inch stream day and night and never subject to the fluctuations that influence ordinary sources of supply.
To protect the spring an ornate marble pavilion has been erected over it and may be plainly seen from the road about three miles north of Waverly. The pool is also of marble, 5 by 9 feet in dimensions, and glass covered. This insures full protection to the water, for should the adjacent fields become filled and overflow into the basin of the spring, no impurities could penetrate it.
Pipes have been laid from this spring to the plant of the Chemung Spring Water Company.
Chemung Spring Water is known in 5,000 homes, officials of the company stated. It is bottled at night at the plant, after passing through a filter and is prepared for distribution in five gallon carboys and in cases of bottles with glass stoppers. These containers before receiving the water, are steam sterilized and are absolutely pure. The water is sold in its natural state, extremely sanitary precautions being taken to insure the highest purity. It is distributed from house to house in Waverly, Sayre, Athens, Elmira and Corning.
Only Chemung Spring Water is employed in the preparation of the soft drink retailed under the name "Zest Beverages" and distinguished by the red and white signs. To this is added the best extracts obtainable and granulated sugar only is used in their preparation. The beverages include grape, orange, lemon, birch beer, root beer, sarsaparilla, ginger ale, cherry, strawberry, cream soda, and chocolate. As a special inducement to boys and girls with whom the beverages have become a favorite, premiums are offered by the company.
The Chemung plant is probably the largest and among the most sanitary bottling establishments in this section, Its products are generally distributed over an area of 50 miles radius, going into Bradford County, Pa., and to several counties in New York state.
A fleet of seven trucks care for the distribution of Chemung Spring and "Zest" Beverages. The plant works both day and night, bottling the beverages during the day and the spring water at night."
In 1926 there were 15 employees.
The beverages sold under the Zest Beverage label were discontinued after World War II.
The plant constructed in 1910 serves today as the main structure of the Chemung Plant. According to the Chemung Spring Water website, the company employees 19 people, utilizing 10 vehicles for delivery purposes distributing product to homes, business and offices in a 60-plus mile radius.
------
Henry Farley is a founding member and past president of the Sayre Historical Society. He is currently president of the Bradford County Historical Society.
Click on the photographs to enlarge
Contributor - Mike Tuccinardi
Contributor - Mike & Susan Aumick