Anita Springs

Shortly after the Revolutionary War, Lt. John Russell of Henrico, VA received a sizable land grant for his services to the United States.  Receiving nearly 3,000 acres of land in what was to later become Oldham County, Russell moved his wife Hannah and their 12 children to the new frontier.  Russell discovered his property continued one prominent and important feature, five natural limestone springs.  The prominent spring was located ½ mile from the center of downtown LaGrange. These natural limestone springs became very popular vacation spots, attracting families throughout the country that would bring their families to Kentucky for extended visits.  While some would come for the “curative powers” of the clear spring waters, others came merely for a season of socializing. These springs also became popular for mixing drinks such as bourbon and branch. 

By 1854, the railroad was running through the city of LaGrange and small resorts were built to accompany the tourists who would flee large, mosquito infested cities like Louisville in the summer to find relief in the countryside with cool springs. It was during time that resorts, such as the Royal Inn in LaGrange, were so popular. 

In 1877 Dr. James Thornley Berry and his wife, Anita, bought 200 acres of the property that was formerly owned by Lt. John Russell that contained the prominent spring.  Berry named the property, Anita Springs, after his wife, and began bottling the mineral spring water. Since the L&N Railroad passed thorugh Anita Springs property, Dr. Berry could easily ship jugs of his bottled water to friends in Louisville. 

By 1903, demands for Dr. Berry’s mineral water increased so that he felt obliged to start the Anita Water Company.  He located his office at 721 S. 2^nd Street in Louisville. Within a matter of months after establishing his business, ill health forced him to turn operations over to Robt. Brooke, husband of Berry’s daughter, Anita Anderson Berry Brooke.

With Dr. Berry’s death in 1905, Brook made several changes in the company.  He moved the office to 210 Pearl St. and constructed a bottling plant at that location.  The new site took advantage of the Interurban Electric Railway whose tracks ran parallel to the L&N Railroad tracks on the Anita Springs property.  With the convenience of a platform built by the Interurban Electric Railway on Anita Springs property, workmen could transport large barrels of water from the spring to the on-site loading facility.  From here the cargo of water would travel to the plant entrance in Louisville was made by Coleman Bennett using a horse and wagon.  The Berry family continued to run Anita Water Company until 1918 when it was sold.