Adeline

This well came into existence the year 1868 when Lote E Grey, one of Ottumwa's most prominent citizens in his time, place men at work to dig a well at his home, corner, of Court and Fifth Streets. After going considerable distance, the men struck rock and told Mr Grey it was useless to go farther. Mr Grey told the men to bore thru the rock,- which proved about two feet in thickness, - the drill went thru after some labor, when withdrawn a stream of water came forth and its flow could not be stopped with any kind of device. The only thing to do was to wall it up and this Mr Grey did without further delay. Where the water came from and where it is coming from now, in 1919, is unknown. The present owner prized it highly and states the water is always pure and cool. We carried our drinking water from there for years, going for it three or four times a day as Mr Grey insisted all his neighbors must enjoy this wonderful spring water. I have never forgotten this dear old well and when ever I am thirsty my thoughts fly back to the cool invigorating water, I drank from, the old Court Hill well. I wonder if these are not the hallowed spots the peasants of Europe build their shrines over, they are just dear old love spots of our childhood days. The cool spring where we slaked our thirst after a happy days romp. I can quite see how they could weave a wonderful tale about the water bursting forths so high it could not be stopped, rescless and angery with a shrine was built to confine it and of a wonderful healing property, can't you? -February Third, 1919

1.12 AWS