The Maritime Museum, Arnolds Park, IA

Our prof here at Lakeside Lab took the hydrology class to this wonderful museum in Arnolds Park, IA. on one of our first field trips. It is incredible and the curator, Mary Kennedy, is the most knowledgeable and friendly person you would ever meet. I got to know Mary because of this cornerstone on the floor of the museum. I knocked on her door and inquired about the piece. The story that unfolded intrigued me, so I have decided to do my research project for the hydrology class on this bit of history related to the Badgerow Family of Sioux City, IA. and the Egralharve Mineral Springs, a hydrological wonder just down the road from Lakeside Lab.

This is a delightful story of a postmaster from Sioux City, who bought a 160-acre farm on the western shore of West Okoboji for a summer home back in 1891. When I googled the Badgerow name, I discovered that there is a building in Sioux City that still carries the name of this former farm and summer residence on West Okoboji. The Egralharve Building was built in 1910 by Gordon Badgerow. The building’s unusual name results from the combination of the names Egbert, Ralph, and Harve, sons of Mr. Badgerow.

The artesian spring, which continues to flow today, was the impetus for the Egralharve Bottling Works of 1912. The Egralharve Mineral Water ingredients included Chloride of Iodium, Bicarbonate of Calcium, Magnesia, and Protoscyde of Iron, Alumnia and Silica.

The water is clear, of pleasant taste, and free from organic matter or impurities. It will have a decided and favorable effect in diseases of the kidneys, urinary organs and dyspepsia.