History of Poland Spring

The Poland Spring Preservation Society would like to give you a glimpse of the long history of Poland Spring

For over 200 years the spirit of the Riccar family has dominated Poland Spring. Although they have not owned Poland Spring for several decades, they are an integral part of our heritage. The Rickers were of ancient lineage, descending from the family of Riccar located in Saxony during the fourteenth century. Two brothers, George and Maturin Riccar, arrived separately in the middle of the seventeenth century and settled at Chocheco (Dover), New Hampshire. The two brothers were killed by Indians. Jabez, Maturin’s grandson moved to Alfred, Massachusetts (Maine) where he owned a home and a mill.

1793, Jabez Riccar and Eliphas Ring, a member of the Shaker sect, who lived in Bakerstown, later known as Poland, exchanged properties. Jabez Riccar had traded his Alfred land and mill for the 200 acres with one small log home that is now the site of the Poland Spring hotels and, incidentally, a spring. Jabez, his wife Mary, and their ten children traveled by oxcart for forty eight miles, a three day journey through almost virgin territory.

During their first week in their new home, a stage coach stopped near the Riccar’s small cabin. On these recommendations other stages came . . . enjoyed the Riccar hospitality and the cooling waters of the spring…. and passed the word on to others. In 1794, Jabez Ricker and his sons, Wentworth, Samuel, and Joseph, began construction of a large, two-story gable-roofed house. In the summer of 1797 the Inn was completed. At its door was hung the simple sign: WENTWORTH RICCAR 1797 The Montreal to Boston stage lines made the Inn a regular stop. Others followed and in a short time it became the best known Inn in Northern Massachusetts. Business thrived and there was talk almost immediately of adding rooms to the original structure.

In 1827, Jabez Riccar dies. Wentworth planned on building a better road through Poland that would connect Paris Maine with Portland, Maine. Everything was in readiness for construction when Wentworth became ill. Wentworth Riccar was suffering from a severe kidney ailment. The doctors declared him as incurable. One day in passing the spring he remembered what had happened to his brother Joseph some 27 years before, and drank from the spring. He had jugs of water at every meal and drank nothing but this water for several weeks. As suddenly as they had come, the excruciating pains disappeared. He continued drinking the spring water every day of his life and never had another pain. After his miraculous cure, he returned to the plan and constructed the road that is now Route 26. Wentworth lived ten more years.

Later, Hiram Riccar, Wentworth’s son, had the responsibility of the family business. In the early spring of 1844, in state of disrepair by the rapidly deteriorating financial situation and his own poor health, Hiram wandered out to the fields and lay down in a meadow. Although his sisters entreated him to return to the house he was so despondent that he shouted them away and lay in that meadow. The only thing that sustained his life was the water from the spring. Days later, he returned to the house with the heartiest appetite he had enjoyed in many years. So passed the “humors” of his stomach and his ruddy good health was returned to him.

He related his tale to the doctor of the miracle cure of the water. Seeing his patient in better health than ever before, he asked that a barrel of the wonderful “elixir” be sent to him on the next stage. One month later Doctor Clark sought out Hiram and told him that each patient to whom he had given this Poland Water had made remarkable recoveries. He wished to purchase the water for prescription purposes. Before long physicians in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia were demanding that water be sent to them for dispensing to their patients. Wagon masters heading westward heard of the unusual quality of Poland Water. They too bought hundreds of barrels for their long westward treks. For the same reasons there was hardly a clipper ship that left New England ports that did not carry Poland Water. It was not long before Hiram Riccar realized that there was more money in the water than in all his sheep and lumber. He turned his full attention to the sale and shipping of Poland Spring Water.

As the depression raged on, 1876, Hiram Riccar made the decision to build a newer and grander hotel. His original plan called for 100 rooms . . . enormous for its day. When he completed the first 100 rooms, they, as well as the Mansion House, were rented out for several years in advance. He kept building more rooms. Eventually there would be 300 rooms that included a dining room of 182 feet in length, a music room of almost the same size, and many card and recreation rooms. Even then people were making reservations the hotel could not possibly honor. They were sold out for years in advance, to the wealthiest of the world.

POLAND SPRING HOUSE HAD MANY FAMOUS VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR.

JOAN CRAWFORD, MARTIN MILNER & GLEN CORBETT (ROUTE 66), JUDY GARLAND, JACK PARR, BETTY GRABLE, RUDY VALLEE, ROBERT GOULET, LAMONT CRANSTON, CHARLES LINDBERGH, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, PRES. CALVIN COOLIDGE, PRES. WILLIAM H. TAFT, PRES. WARREN G. HARDING, GOV. BERT FERNALD OF MAINE, GOV. JOHN CABOT LODGE OF CONN., ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, ADMIRAL BYRD, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, LEONARD SEPELLA, ROSE & JOE KENNEDY, JACK, ROBERT, TED, JOE JR. KENNEDY, BOB COUSEY BABE RUTH, LOUIS FRANCIS SOCKALEXIS, JERSEY JOE WALCOTT, SONNY LISTON, JOE LOUIS, MAHARISHI YOGI, BOBBY JONES, WALTER HAGAN, HARRY VARDIN, DONALD ROSS, ARTHUR FENN, BESSIE FENN TO NAME A FEW.

In 1891, the Ricker's were given a special award to be given at the Columbia Exposition in Chicago. The Columbian Exposition of 1893 commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America and was a notable event. It was lighted by the new wonder, electricity, and featured most of the innovations of the 19th century. The Maine State Building was built to display Maine products including Poland Spring Water. The Riccar's bought the building for $30,000.00. Arrangements were made for the dismantling of the building and shipping by freight train back to Maine. And took 16 freight cars! Please read all about the fascinating history of the Maine State Building.

Hiram’s son, Edward Payson Riccar, following his father’s dream would have the good fortune to meet ARTHUR H. FENN and that is how golf would come to Poland Spring. Arthur Fenn was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1858. Before the turn of the century Fenn would distinguish himself in two fields of golf, as a player and a course architect. At a time when American golf was dominated by Scottish professionals, Fenn was hailed as one of America’s first home bred golfers. As an amateur he would win many championships including the Lenox Cup (from Lenox C. C. in Massachusetts where Donald Ross was the pro). When invited to establish golf on the vast grounds of the Poland Spring House, Fenn quickly accepted. A six-hole course was opened for play in August of 1896. Later Donald Ross (Of Pinehurst Fame) would redesign the course to an 18 hole Championship course.

A major overhaul of the process for packaging Poland Water took place in 1906 and 1907 when the firm erected a new springhouse and bottling plant. The springhouse, of Spanish design, featured interior walls and columns in Italian Pavonazzo marble and mosaic floors. The company encased the original spring itself in Carrara marble and plate glass with a solid bronze grille. Silver and glass pipes carried the water from the spring into highly polished granite tanks sealed with plate glass.

In 1962, an astute hotel man from Boston, Saul Feldman, saw the potential that lay here and bought the property. He built the 86 roomed Executive House (now called the Maine Inn). . It was a great hit from the beginning. He still operated the Mansion House and the Poland Spring House for the hardier of his guests, and the Executive House for those that wanted the frills.

For five years Mr. Feldman played host to such notables as Jack Paar (who ended up buying and subsequently selling the TV station Channel 8 housed in the Ricker Inn), Joan Crawford, Robert Goulet, Jimmy Durante, Marty Milner and scores of other show business people who came to love Maine and Poland Spring. In the mid-sixties the Mohammed Ali-Sonny Listen fight came to Lewiston, Maine, 20 miles away, and the entire Sonny Listen camp moved in. Maine's Governors made this their headquarters too.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson laid plans in Washington that were to forever effect the course of history at Poland Spring. He developed an idea for training people in many fields in which they could earn a decent living. in things like hairdressing, barbering, tailoring, carpentry, etc. He called his project the Job Corps. For the women’s training center he chose Poland Spring. The Job Corps was to take over every building on the property. They were to bring in and train over 2,000 girls from all over the United States. It was suggested that Mr. Feldman get rid of the antiques and books from the hotels and Maine State Building. Many were sold at auction.

They left Poland Spring in a shambles. The federal government had installed an expensive waste disposal system, storm windows, winterized many buildings, and had in general; poured millions of dollars into the property . . . but this was far outweighed by the damage done in moving in and out, and the day to day living of over 2,000 people.

1972 Mel Robbins heard the rustle of petticoats and the turning of carriage wheels echoing from a distant past, and thought “how exciting it would be to bring back the good old days”. He was determined to bring it all back. During the summer of 1972, he found that it could not be brought back, and that if the Poland Spring Inns expected to survive, he must bring Poland Spring into the 20th century. You can read more about the Inns and Golf Course at their web site, www.polandspringresort.com

July 3, 1975 Poland Spring House is destroyed by fire. Fire investigated but as there was no insurance on the building and determined of unknown origin. The Poland Spring Preservation Society is formed. Please read more about our organization, our chapel, our concerts, our weddings, our volunteer opportunities, our history and more...