Markham Springs -- A
Peaceful Place to Relax
Nestled along the banks of Black River, Markham Springs Recreational
Area is a quiet place to camp or picnic. Markham Springs is located
on Highway 49, three miles east of Williamsville. The park, owned
by the U.S. Forest Service, is operated by Jeffrey and Valerie
Weinhaus.
The park is a popular place for picnics and hiking. Visitors can
walk around the springs, walk by the old mill, and climb steps
to the top of a bluff where, on a clear day Clark's Mountain
can be seen to the north.
The park has 11 electrical campsites. They are available on a
first-come, first-serve basis. There are also about 35 riverside
campsites.
The park adjoins Black River and is a popular place for swimming,
fishing, and boating. Float fishermen and canoeists are able to
access the river at a boat ramp within the park.
Four restrooms are located throughout the park area. Three of
those have warm-water showers.
Markham Springs has long been a popular place for picnics and
family reunions. The facilities include 20 single tables and two
group tables. All picnic facilities have raised charcoal grills.
Drinking fountains are located near the picnic area. There are
horseshoe pits in the picnic area.
Want to get a little exercise? Markham Springs has three different
trails to explore. The River trail is three-quarters of a mile
long and meanders along the babbling Black River. Canebrake Trail
is a half mile long. Eagle Bluff trail is three-quarters of a
mile long and winds its way to the bluffs high above the park.
A unique feature at Markham Springs is the bubbling spring. This
is a smaller outlet of Markham Spring. The water rises and brings
air with it. While standing along a trail, visitors can watch
air bubbles form in the water covering soft sand.
The park and its amenities are named for people who impacted the
land throughout history. Markham Springs was named for Jefferson
Markham, who purchased the land in 1901 from the DeHavens estate.
Eagle Bluff, which can be reached by a hike up a trail, was named
for Indian Chief White Eagle, who camped there with his tribe.
The focal point of Markham Springs is a large rock house that
overlooks a mill pond. In the mid-1800s, the original mill pond
was converted to a water-powered sawmill. According to the 1860
census, four people were employed at the mill and produced products
valued at $3,000. Two-thirds of the income was generated from
lumber. The grist mill, with a 30-foot wooden wheel, was built
later and operated until 1907.
While Markham operated the grist mill at the turn of the 20th
century, it is said people would come from miles to camp along
the river bank while waiting for the grained to be processed.
In addition to operating the mill, Markham was a timber man, as
well as a farmer, and he had a distillery at the site. Buffalo
Cody once visited the springs.
In 1934, the property was purchased by Rudolph Fuchs for $37,000.
He built the large stone house for which the property is noted
for; construction of the two-story eight- room structure was $22,000.
The house has eight-inch concrete walls. The rock on the exterior
was taken from Eagle Bluff. The stone masons cut the stone by
using stone chisels, some of which were made from automobile springs.
Fuchs also built the present wheelhouse to generate electricity
for his house. Power was obtained by building a dam in a semi-circle
below a large spring forming what is now known as the mill pond.
It is three acres in size and 20 feet deep. Six springs flow into
the pond producing five million gallons of water a day. Electricity
came to Markham Springs a few years after Fuchs built his wheelhouse.
The Fuchs family lived in the house until 1966. At that time,
they sold the property to the U.S. Forest Service. The house was
used by the Forest Service for housing until high energy costs
made it impractical. The house is open to the public during special
events.