By Nancy Floyd
This incredible fall season reminds me of coming to Sedan as a bride in October of 1959 and my mother-in-law, Louise Floyd Wall, taking me on tours around the countryside.

I was fascinated and saddened by abandoned farm houses. At some of the houses Louise could tell me who lived there and what happened to the family, while others I would create my own scenarios and almost feel their presence, children playing tag, clothes being hung on the clothesline, cows being milked in the barn, and more.

What Louise and I loved the most, however, was going to and wandering around the old Chautauqua Springs Resort area in Chautauqua. Ghosts of the past could definitely be felt, even I gather, President Teddy Roosevelt who came twice for the healing mineral waters. There were once three hotels plus log cabins at the Springs. Louise and I found a ruin of a log cabin. The Eagle Hotel was considered the finest in Chautauqua County.

Pauline Green, the mother of Sheriff Frank Green, bought the original spring house and 13 acres of Chautauqua Springs in 1968 and he started mowing there when he was 15. He lives in the spring house now and if you are lucky you can catch him mowing the grounds and he’ll fill you in with great stories of the past.

Nita Jones and I met Frank at Chautauqua Springs on Columbus Day. Frank showed us the sculpture of Chief Black Dog, and sculpted bear by Dinh Nguyen. We visited the bath area of the springs which produces 1.5 million gallons of water a year. Apparently the Indians were the first to come bathe to cure their ailments.

To see the springs turn east on Chautauqua street off south Highway 99 and drive until you see the tree sculptures and the springs. Park your car, have a picnic, wander around and feel the Ghosts of the Past.