To arrange an exhibit of this work or to purchase prints, please contact:
Kay Westhues
1-574-287-6293
kwesthues@gmail.com
Well Stories
A project about public water sources and the people who use them.
This project is made possible, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. All content © Kay Westhues 
Hi!
I just read the article about your work in the New York Times and love the idea of photographing and documenting artesian wells.
I grew up in southern Michigan a mile from such a well. In fact, the crossroads was known as Artesian Wells. There was a tavern there that for years had a pipe inside where people could come and fill up jugs with water. There was also a pipe outside, if I remember correctly, that was rigged up to look like a wishing well.
I haven’t been back there in years but I found the website and apparently it’s now owned by family friends who also own the motorcycle center next door where I worked my first job as a teenager. http://thewellson12.com/
On the opposite site of the tavern is where my brother’s best friend used to live. His father owned Artesian Wells Garage, which I think is still there. I believe they had wells in their basement. Artesian Wells is the intersection of US 12 and US 127 at the junction of Hillsdale, Lenawee and Jackson Counties in Michigan.
Also a bit further south there is a well I remember from when I was a kid on US 223 at Rome Center. It seems like it’s still there: http://www.findaspring.com/rome-center-spring-rome-center-michigan/
Finally a bit north of Artesian Wells on US 127 and Jefferson Rd is a spring water bottling plant that sells water to Walgreen’s for their store brand generic water (I had bought a bottle in New York City where I live and was idly reading the label only to find to my surprise that the water had come from a few miles where I grew up). A few weeks ago, I was chatting with Facebook friends who still live in the area about the water — it wasn’t clear if there was still public access to the spring there or not.
Anyway, the whole area has a number of spring fed lakes and there might be additional public access wells around that I don’t know about.
If you do venture up that way and need a place to stay, the house I grew up in is now a bed and breakfast: http://www.brickhousebb.com/index.html Incidentally, it gets its water from a pump and when I lived there supplied water to several neighbors and a nearby cow barn.
Wishing you continued success with your project!
Lisa Fenger
Lisa,
Thanks so much for these wells, they are in a area that I want to explore more – I’ve added them to my google map. The B&B is absolutely beautiful, how wonderful to have grown up in such a place! All the best – Kay
Were you aware of the spring at Parkersburg south of Crawfordsville, IN. It predictably has much Indian significance and easily visible on the west side of the road in this Putnam county village on SR 43.
What you are doing is excellent and I commend you for your effort. These springs and seeps are part of our Hoosier landscape.
Thanks Mike, I have been to that well before, not too long ago – the history of it is very interesting, nice that it is documented too -
Looking for artesian wells? We have one right on my property line in New Palestine on US 52. Either My neighbor or I would not mind showing you the well. It is right on the banks of Sugar Creek. It flows non-stop all year, and does not have a pump. It cascades in an old stone retaining pool, then overflows down some rocks to the creek.
You might be interested in this well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pryor_Avenue_Iron_Well
Hi Mary,
This is very interesting, I had also heard of a well in Milwaukee that was located next to a brewery, I am not sure if it is still accessible though – have you heard of that one?
This marker is near the Parkersburg Spring on U.S. Hwy 231. http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=3884
Kay,
This is a very interesting project. When I was a kid, there was a flowing well south of North Webster on Indiana 13. I’m not sure if it’s still there.
The well is still there but I think it may be dry now. I grew up in Syracuse, with family in Webster. My Gpa used to take us to the well for a drink and then let us drop a penny in then he would take us for a ride on the Dixie. Some of my very fondest childhood memories.
That well is still there, I have a few photos of it – look here: http://www.wellstories.com/category/kosciusko/
Hi Kay,
I am so grateful to have stumbled across your pictures and articles on the Artesian Wells! I live in Elkhart,Indiana and grew up in Union,Michigan.I have been searching everywhere for a good spring to collect water out of that is close.I found one at Shavehead Lake in Union ,michigan recently.There seems to be lots of sediment most likely from the pipes,however.The only otherspring I have found is at Pokagon State Park in Angola.Great water but it is over an hour drive each way,then toll fee and entrance fee.I see that there may be a closer spring in LaGrange,IN. I was wondering if you know of any closer ones maybe in Michigan say around the state line or maybe in South Bend or something? Thanks.Sounds like a greeat time driving around experiencing these springs.The water is magical.I know i drank and drank and splashed around in it for a long time.It was wonderful! If any one reading this can help please feel free to email me. babajijr@hotmail.com
Thank You
Sincerely, John DeMoss
Hi Kay,
I haven’t visited this well in Northville since we lived in Michigan years ago. The water was extremely good then and probably still is. I just now googled Northville artesian well and found this: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM45H0_Northville_Silver_Spring_Michigan
Well Stories is an interesting project, and a good reminder for me to return to the well sometime this summer!
Ann Gentry