Home Page

Back

This page is just a summary of the historical events that shaped the history of The Springs. For a more in-depth look at our history, visit http://springshistory.cjb.net

The Springs Bath and Yacht Club subdivision was developed by an entrepreneur named Martin Granholm. Before it was developed, it was mostly citrus grove, but a portion of it was used as a camp and recreation area by the employees and friends of the businessman who owned the property. Mr. Granholm's original plan was to develop a much larger area, but he developed it piecemeal, a portion or unit at a time. His vision was to have a community of congenial people who would enjoy the lifestyle of swimming, boating, fishing, and the social life afforded by a community clubhouse and park area and to make this affordable to people of moderate income. His enterprise was incorporated as the "Springs Harbor Corporation". The subdivision was named "The Springs Bath and Yacht Club". Homeowners were assured they would have free use of the park area (3 3/4 acres), the clubhouse and the spring-fed swimming pool to be built. The pool, remarkably, was built over several natural springs with a daily flow of over eight hundred thousand gallons of pure 72-degree water - enough to replace the water in the pool every 3 hours, eliminating the need for chemicals to purify the water.

In December, 1961, Mr. Granholm was unable to make the mortgage payments. The bank began foreclosure proceedings and notified the homeowners (40 at the time) of this fact. The homeowners tried to raise the money to buy the mortgage from the bank, but full participation was lacking. So four homeowners (Cunningham, Fox, Lacher, and Wothke) put up the full amount and bought the mortgage. They cleared title to the park area, clubhouse, swimming pool and fishing pier and deeded the property to "The Springs Park Area Corporation", a not-for-profit corporation organized by the homeowners, with the restriction that it could never be sold or encumbered by a mortgage. Mr. Granholm made no effort to exercise his right of recovery of the property, so the four homeowners were left with the water system (later sold to the Springs Park Area Corporation), 40 unsold lots and some undeveloped land on the lake shore. They formed a corporation, "The Blue Springs Corporation", until the balance of the property had been disposed of, then terminated the Blue Springs Corporation.

So, the 3 3/4 acres of park area, clubhouse, pier, some frontage on the boat canal, and the water system are owned by the Springs Park Area Corporation, a non-profit corporation owned by the homeowners of the Springs Bath and Yacht Club subdivision. As a resident homeowner, you are eligible for membership in The Springs Park Area Corporation. As a condition of membership, you must pay a membership fee and the annual assessment as provided in the annual budget which must be approved by the membership at an annual business meeting. Also, you must agree to abide by by the Bylaws approved by the membership, and Rules and Regulations adopted by the Board of Directors. It is suggested that you take the time to study these Bylaws and Rules. You will find they provide a well thought-out, reasonable set of rules to enable this community to continue to live the good lifestyle intended by Martin Granholm, and, as long as good judgment, cooperation, and participation of the members prevail, at an affordable cost. Violations not only cause disharmony, but they can result in grievances and possible expulsion from membership. Our community exists and was made possible by the hard work and the extraordinary talents of many residents over a long period of time. Its continuing operation can only be as good as we make it by cooperating and working together.