Rock Springs History: The Rock Spring Water Company and Bottling Plant
In 1907, Charles M. Parker bought the 80-acre “Rock Spring Farm”, which contained the spring. Parker began to make plans to start a business called the Rock Spring Water Company at the site of the spring to bottle and sell the water. He had a concrete bottling plant built next to the springhouse. The plant contained a power-driven pump, compression tank, soaker tank, and a steam boiler connected to sterilizing and rinsing equipment.
The Homestead Prairie Farm
Walk into the past to an exciting place where the days before the Civil War live on. Homestead Prairie Farm is built around the Trobaugh-Good House located at Rock Springs Conservation Area. It has been restored to let visitors explore rural life on the Grand Prairie of Illinois in 1860 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Follow in the footsteps of the Joseph Trobaugh family by visiting their home, an heirloom garden, woodworking shop, and the nearby restored Illinois prairie.
Originally constructed by an unknown builder around 1850 as a one room log house, its name comes from the first two families who lived there.
Joseph Trobaugh from Tennessee, his wife Elizabeth born in Illinois and their family were the first known occupants of the house and owned it from 1853 to 1866. Trobaugh was a farmer and sawmill operator. He changed the house by adding rooms and making other renovations.
Today the house is furnished to reflect the lifestyle of the Trobaughs, their boarders, hired hands, and neighbors in 1860, whose lives were being affected by the important changes sweeping the nation in the last years before the Civil War.
Many special events take place at the Prairie Homestead Farm including Festival of Spring, Independence Day 1860 and the Prairie Celebration. The Homestead Prairie Farm has many interpretive programs, complete with living history volunteers in period costume and 1860′s lifestyle demonstrations. Check the events schedule for dates and times or call Rock Springs at (217) 423-7708.
Hiking Trails
Rock Springs Conservation Area boasts nine different trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Most of these trails are suitable for cross-country skiing. You can view and print a map of Rock Springs Conservation Area, including the Hiking Trails, on or website.