"Fountain of Youth - Punta Gorda, FL" Waymark

Long Description:
For centuries people had told the history of explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and his expedition to find the Fountain of Youth, delightfully retelling the lore that such a mythical fountain could be found in Florida.

In 1908, A.P. Jordan bought the Punta Gorda Herald and seeking to stir interest in both the city and the paper, wrote that the artesian well drilled on the corner of Marion and Taylor was the famed Fountain of Youth, performing such impossible feats as "growing new hair on the head of a previously bald man!"

The news spread quickly and fiction became fact. A sign was placed on the fountain, telling of its ability to cure numerous internal ailments and relieve chronic pain. Popularity for the well grew and, pleased by the positive response of his imaginative journalism, Jordan continued to write on the well's healing properties, quoting prominent community members like the former Florida Governor Gilchrist and Punta Gorda pioneer Edward Wotitzky on their health improvements being attributed to the well water.

Such stories during tourist season were well received and people consumed the sulphuric water with its high mineral and radioactive content with the greatest of expectations.

Despite no laboratory tests ever giving any credit to the claims that the artesian well was the Fountain of Youth and a miracle cure for all ailments, residents and tourists continued to line up for blocks to fill their jugs full of this water well into the 1980's.

After the original sign was replaced with one that firmly stated its dangerous radioactive level, the lines became shorter and, finally, ended.

The Fountain of Youth is still fully operational and located at the corner of Marion and Taylor. Cheers!

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• Include a photo of the Artesian Well.

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