13 thoughts on “Great Magnetic Flowing Well, Magnetic Park, Plymouth IN

  1. I just read a geologic survey from 1886, written by W.H. Thompson. Part of Thompson’s report on Marshall county covers this spring, and others like it.

    In it, he explains the moniker “magnetic” as common to ANY well at that time which produces an orange tint of iron oxide in or around it’s opening. There is nothing MAGNETIC about iron oxide, or it’s water. That’s misinformation.

    Magnetic Well or Spring was a common term used all over the U.S. at that time in history.

    1. Hello Lu – thanks for this info – do you happen to have a citation for that? I would love to read it as well – All the best – Kay

    2. Indiana has readily available geological surveys starting in the early 1800’s. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/15535.
      I just read about several Wells near Lafayette that were known to produce magnetic water. In this report it specifically talks about how a knife left in the water would quickly be able to pick up nail etc etc. Another off the subject interesting thing is that one of the wells people were attracted was tested in the report was actually tested and the chlorides of iodium were up to 9 times as much as everything else. I don’t know what exactly a chlorides of iodium is but I do know that iodine pill are taken by holistic folks in today’s world. It help with the thyroid I guess. Iodium is a metal I guess. Anyway that well was described as a white sulfur well. The magnetic water is extremely interesting to me. I hope someone that knows a little more can enlighten.

  2. June 26th, 2016/Bob

    we lived across the street from the park – we never called it Magnetic Park – we always referred to it as the “Bird Park”. On a hot day, after playing baseball in the park, we would submerge ourselves in the “Wishing Well” standing in the center of the well as deep as we could stand – very cold.

    1. Love this story Bob, do you know when it became to be known as Magnetic Park? The well was supposed to have magnetic properties! 🙂

  3. I would love to find out the true story behind this well’s name also — we need to gather these types of stories and document them. Did this story come through word of mouth or is some of it written somewhere? Very interesting and thanks for sharing – Kay

    1. The magnetic well was the result of a failed attemt to drill a gas well. They found water instead of gas. The water is high in iron and has magnetic properties as a result. There use to be a second well near by that has been sealed off.

      This area has a lot of flow wells and springs.

  4. I made my first trip to this well last week. My wife and I collected about 2 gallons of water to use in whats called a “Joe Cell”(very strange energy device). We look for water that has passed through mother natures clensing cycle. Anyway, the “Magnetic” part of the name may have come from a different story. In 1876 a man named Jim Bailey that lived near Plymouth claimed that his well would magnatize metal objects that were placed in the water. Jims well output 500 gallons of water a minute, however it was not what the Bailey firm had wanted to operate a mill wheel by underground stream. Instead he got a gusher that was claimed to sparkel strangly with the tints of the rainbow. People at the time were drawn to the well for the healing aspects. The crowds became a nuisance and Jim covered the well.
    I can’t claim this well is Jims old well but would guess that the story and the name merged. Why would Jim need to tap an underground river when the Yellow river is yards away? Anyway, if anyone finds the true story this well or Jims I would love to hear the story. And if your at this well take a walk across the bridge and you will see a wooden platform covering another natural spring. Parts are disassembled but it use to flow into a wood gutter.

  5. I enjoyed your presentation at ‘Fiddlers Hearth’ the other day – and the great photos ! I find artisan wells a wonderful reminder of what our past could have been like.

  6. Its in Magnetic Park, I’m not sure if anyone pays much attention to it anymore. The park has a very cool conservation club built by the Civilian Conservation Corps – I think that is what most people know it for now.

  7. Kay,
    My father grew up in Plymouth. I have been there hundreds of times over the last 56 years. I have never heard of the Great Magnetic Flowing Well. Next time I’m there I will have to ask about it.

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