Hot, Steamy History Returns – Mineral Spas Make Mt Clemens Comeback
MT. CLEMENS – Julie Bogogvski left the Hot Tub, in a terrycloth robe white on the pages of the local mining history of Bath.
Bogogvski was the inaugural customer of mineral bath in quiet center of life, the first Commercial Spa will open its doors in downtown Mt. Clemens in nearly a century,
"Ooh, I like it," owner of a bakery Bogogvski said after soaking for 25 minutes in water, mineral-laden hot on Friday. "I'll be a regular customer."
The Life Center mineral bath officially opens its doors today, possibly signaling a new era for an old company. Mt Clemens boosters once called "Bath City USA" because of its busy spas.
Eleven hotels dating from the late 1800s once operated in the mineral baths seat Macomb County, attracting millions of visitors each year who seek the comfort of arthritis, rheumatism and skin diseases. Notables who came included Babe Ruth, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, Mae West, Jack Dempsey and Helena Rubenstein.
In the mid-1970s, modern medicine has taken the life of the company mineral bath and the last of the hotels are closed.
Now, there is a minor resurgence. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital renewed the mineral baths year and expected to last more than 1,000 customers this year, said Scott Adler, a vice-president. Hospital of North Avenue will add six mineral baths next year.
Both sites offer Massages after plunges of 20 minutes in 103-degree water. Quiet Life plays soothing music and uses an iridescent, bubbling fountain to enhance Relaxation.
"I would like to see Mt Clemens be the Mecca of health there at the turn of the century, "said Jane Buiting, which owns the center with Ed Meerscheart. The health center also offers the alternative Yoga, Acupuncture and herbal medicine.
"What you see now is people to return to Holistic medicine," she said. "After we opened our business, so many people asked if we had mineral baths."
Buiting said that modern bathroom use no black mud, as in the past, or the "rotten egg" smell of sulfur hung in Mt Clemens for decades.
"The bathrooms are old horrible, "Buiting said." They were tar-looking, gunky and they stunk.
These drawbacks were eliminated through a refining process, said Susan Gans, owner of Geologix, a local company that makes purified mineral bath crystals under the brand Ache Away. The product is used by two million tonnes. Clemens spas.
Gans uses water from the city does well, which taps into an aquifer below the city. Some hospital officials hope the 102-year operating a well under its site to draw water deemed therapeutic.
Gans said mineral bath spas arise in other parts of Michigan, such as Margot Spa in Birmingham.
Quinn Cody, a former mayor Mt Clemens admits he was skeptical about the value of the bath "until he got a gift certificate for treatment at St. Joseph.
"I can assure you that it has tremendous power," said Cody. "It relieves pain. I thought some people were in hypnosis, but I'll tell you it is really good. "
Singer Eddie Cantor also endorsed the mineral soaks in an article in the Daily Monitor 1949 Leader.
"You have something here that is unparalleled anywhere in the world," Cantor was quoted as saying. " It is the obligation your community to humanity to tell the world about it. "
Cody, who came to Mt. Clemens in the 1940s, recalled The streets were crowded every day thousands of health seekers. "You can not come downtown because of all the people here for baths, "the former mayor.
Julie Bogogvski left the steamy bathtub, in a white terrycloth robe and on the pages of the history of mining bath room.
"I would like to see Mt Clemens be the health mecca it at the turn of the century. "
Jane Butting, co-owner of Tranquil Life Center
"Bath City" Heritage
• 1865: George Steffens hits brackish mineral water under Mont. Clemens at drilling for oil.
• 1873: first City facilities, the original, opened its doors at Jones and Water streets.
• 1880: Avery House is built the first hotel for customers mineral bath. It could accommodate 400 people.
• 1897: The Park Hotel and Bath House opens on East Street the largest and most famous spas in the city. Celebrities stayed at the hotel, razed 1940.
• 1899: The St. Joseph Sanitarium and bathroom is built on North Avenue. He later became a hospital.
• 1910: The Arethusa, last of the public baths, was built on Gratiot (now South Main), south of Cass.
• 1976: The Hotel Colonial closed its mineral baths.
• 1999: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital renews mineral baths, when it was built 100 years on the Avenue North as a centennial gimmick.
• 2000: Mineral baths are so popular,
St. Joseph decides to bring them back permanently.
• 2001: St. Joseph plans to expand its activities in 2002 to six baths, hoping to draw mineral water from an aquifer below the hospital.
• 2001: Tranquil Life Center becomes the first commercial private mineral bath to open downtown in nearly a century.
• Source: "Mount Clemens Bath City USA" by Marie Ling McDougal, and Detroit News archives.
About the Author
Geologix Inc. manufactures products using a proprietary formula featuring 34 natural minerals contained in the ancient sea water from the famous Michigan Basin — a concentration of minerals higher than that found in any known body of water in the world. Mineral Essentials focuses on spa, skin care, and massage products to moisturize and provide anti-aging protection for great skin.
Mineral Essentials
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