John Barker Springhouse, Canton, OH  4/5 (1)

Directions:

Description:

It is a springhouse with stainless steel sinks and faucets that is maintained by the city. It is along the roadside at the edge of the park and has a small area to park.

Additional info: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM39HV

Nearest Address

Monument Rd at the intersection of 17th St NW

Directions from Nearest Address

From 77 South turn right onto Fulton Ave (from 77 North turn right on Fulton) follow Fulton Ave to Monument Rd (Woody’s Rootbeer stand is on the corner. ) Turn right on Monument. The spring will be a short ways on the right hand side.

Vital Information

  • Fee: No Fee
  • Access: Public
  • Flow: N/A
  • TDS: 720
  • Temp: 60 F
  • pH: N/A

Hours Spring is Open:

24 hours

GPS: N/A

Submitted by: Brandy Breslin

Responses

  1. the pin on the map is wrong.
    it should be
    Latitude – Longitude:
    40.815227,-81.391649

    Lat: 40° 48′ 54.8172″
    Long: -81° 23′ 29.9364″

    Also the spring is back in operation, though the water is now controlled by 2 electronic buttons, one of them is broken already last I was there.

    As for water quality, its an artesian well, water filters through layers of rocks, also the city tests it quarterly I believe. Only problems come with the pipes that bring it to the surface. And they are all new. Lot of minerals, when I use it to make coffee I have to descale the coffeepot more often.

  2. Based on VERiFy testing strips everything is OK, but still I feel like this water has some weird taste. We used to go to Deep Springs Trout Club and that water tasted better, way crisper, satisfying. Last time Trout club charged $0.36/gallon that’s why we switched to John Barker park

  3. The source for this spring house is the Sugarcreek Aqufier … all Canton city water is drawn from the Beach City/Sugarcreek wells that they maintain and pump up to Canton .. this water is pure well water before it gets treated … Ohio Food, Drug and Dairy as well as Canton Board of Health regularly test it and test results are public record … Great Tasting Water!

  4. Just went and it is under reconstruction. A local said there were problems with the pipes so it was being rebuilt and would reopen. Don’t know when this will be completed.

  5. Currently there is some construction going on in the area, and the springhouse is currently inactive. Not sure when it will be back on. I asked the construction worker and he couldn’t give me an answer.

  6. This spring’s pump is currently not in service. I’ve been told by the Canton City Park Dept that the building is going to be rebuilt and back in operation by the end of the year.

    1. The pinpoint on the map is at the wrong location. It should be at 1611 12th St NW, Canton, OH 44708 or GPS 40.809732, -81.391178. It’s located beside the West Branch Trail of Herbert L. Fisher Walking Track that runs through Stadium Park. It’s close to the corner of 12th St. NW and Monument Rd. NW. There’s parking for seven vehicles. The City of Canton constructed the spring house with stainless steal sinks and faucets for sanitation and public convience, and tests the water. The spring house is wheelchair accessible.

      When I live in Canton back in the mid 1990’s, I went to this spring house often to get water. It was some of the best water I’ve ever tasted. It hits the spot and tastes very good after walking the track. Should I be back in the Canton area, I’ll make sure to have a few jugs with me for the water.

      Incidentally, after a hike and a long drink of water, walk, bike, or drive to another great Canton institution… Taggart’s Ice Cream Parlor at 1401 Fulton Rd. NW, Canton, OH! Taggart’s has the best ice cream, and they make it themselves. My favorite back in the 1990’s was Peanut Butter Fudge, and it was great! After some great ice cream, head back to the track to walk it off and then get some more water at the spring house. 😉 LOL

        1. Actually, the original pinpoint was correct. The spring is NOT at 12th Street, it’s where 17th dead-ends at Monument Rd. I have lived in Canton my entire 37 years and have used this spring many times… AND it’s right by a family friend’s house. I am very familiar with this location, and it is definitely not at 12th and Monument Rd. That building is a public restroom.

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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