Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, August 21, 2024

In 1918, a wildcat oil rigger testing in the area for oil struck a gushing well of hot water at

approximately 3,100 feet. Gas also flowed from the well so drilling was abandoned. Over time

water bubbled out from around the old casing and formed a pool. Elbert Davison, a Saco rancher on

the Great Falls Ranch had a son stricken with polio. He built a box out of planks around the hot

mineral well and would bring his son there to soak in the hot flowing water. Other people soon

began bathing in the water so a larger box was built out of railroad ties.

In 1926, a group of Saco people tore out the old tie box and built a larger pool made out of

planks. This pool was used by area residents for several years. In 1930, the Saco American Legion

got permission from Congress, with the help of congressman Scott Leavitt, to use the water for

“curative and recreational purposes”. The government hired a drilling company to case off the

escaping gas.

At that time Saco people went up and down the hi-line raising money for a cement

pool. Work was donated by area people and in 1931, a grand opening was held to celebrate the new

pool. Mr. and Mrs. William Jaynes were hired as caretakers and a building from Bowdoin was moved

in as a caretakers’ residence and store.

At that point the Saco Legion Post voted to ask for help from area posts. A Phillips County

Post was organized to take over the area and it became known as the Legion Health Resort or

Plunge.

In 1936, County Agent H.L. Lantz was instrumental in getting Works Progress Administration

(WPA) money to employ people to work in projects of a recreational nature. Crews were soon

constructing buildings of native rock under the leadership of stone mason Bruno Partzsch. Some of

that stone work is still visible today.

Through the years, the area has undergone many changes including the drilling of new wells,

new buildings, different ownerships, and name changes but the mineral water has stayed the same.

Stop by the Phillips County Museum to read information in our community files. We are open

Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.