Revival on emphasis on water has been attempted several times, notably about 1925. Then, the Chamber of Commerce inflected an active organization that finally succeeded in raising a strictly local fund of about $14,000. Several advertising agencies were consulted.
The volunteer promoters were divided into two groups: one favoring summer promotions and advertising at the high tide of the annual immigration, and the other arguing for the development of winter sports to make resort trade the year around. The winter sports contingent won the vote in the steering committee. But as everybody knows now, the movement was ten years ahead of its time, and discouragement and a measure of failure resulted. Today, with winter sports enthusiasts by the thousands in the larger cities, the plan might have succeeded wildly.
The peak health institution of today at Cambridge Springs was developed from the Highland Hotel property by the Sister of Divine Providence, an order of nurses who have been privileged to perform great service in some large centers, notably Pittsburgh. San Rosario was dedicated on December 18, 1934, and is enjoying a growing patronage. It occupies a full block in the South part of the spa and has extensive facilities.
It is located on the main line of the Erie Railroad and receives attention from the management of that transportation system. With a fully developed retail district, large payrolls from the college, a milk plant, the concrete mixer works, and other lesser industrials, paving on all principal streets, a school with college entrance recognition, fine churches, splendid homes, low taxes, and a large volume of farmer trade, it is attractive to a deserting public.
In 1916, the Mohawk Milk Company built a large evaporation milk plant at Cambridge Springs and started a dairying development on nearby farms, which has grown into a tremendous industry. The Mohawk Company sold its interest some years ago to the Carnation Company, which has twice extended the capacity of the plant. Having finally doubled it in the past summer of 1937.
The plant is now handling an average milk intake of well over two hundred thousand pounds daily, but it is equipped to handle four hundred pounds. Payment is made to the farmer every month, adding greatly to the flow of money in the community. A dairy man's league is now strongly organized here, shipping at Union City, and its patrons enjoy monthly checks.
Cambridge Springs imagined itself with an oil boom on its hands in 1937. With an intense interest in Harry Favor Right. He leased large areas and drilled to the depth of about 5000 feet on the present John Chapins farm east of town. This was notable for two reasons. Oil experts believe that significant quantities of oil would be found by deep drilling in the Cambridge Springs vicinity. Also, this was the first drilling into anything like depth. Although encouraging showings of both oil and gas have often been found at Cambridge Springs.
With a few homes in the borough and a few farms drawing their own supplies of gas from wells, the deep well on the Chapin farm turned out to be a duster.