In 1930, Cason Callaway, Sr., bought Blue
Springs and the surrounding 1,000 acre watershed from Allen
Nevius of New York. Mr. Nevius had envisioned supplying
the city of Columbus with water from two springs in this area
until the Depression put an end to his plan.
In 1937, President Franklin
D. Roosevelt had studies done of native springs in this area
including Warm Springs and Blue Springs and found that the vein
of quartzite rock that encloses Blue Springs originates in
Hollis, Alabama and runs about 100 miles through the spring beds
of this area.
The flow rate of Blue Springs
at that time was measured at approximately 350gallons per
minute. Since then, it has been measured as high as 500
gallons per minute. President Roosevelt visited Blue
Springs several times and this beautiful place has hosted many
other famous dignitaries and horticultural groups since.
The area surrounding the
spring is home to several varieties of native azaleas as well as
abundant mature Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron Minus, ferns of
many species and mature timber such as sycamore, white oak,
poplar and longleaf pine. This secluded garden area is now
protected by the Cason Callaway, Jr. family, who will keep the
pristine nature of the spring's environment as it has been for
so many years.
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