Horeb Spring

Tom Spence was born near Belfast, Ireland. As a young man, he apprenticed as a surveyor and taught school. After marring Jane Leslie, he moved to the America with hopes of a profitable life. He arrived on the shores of the United States in 1844, and lived in Brooklyn, New York for some time. Eventually, he joined the masses moving westward and arrived in Milwaukee when Wisconsin became a state.

He soon relocated once again in the developing village of Waukesha, where he joined in business with JC Brown in a boot and shoe store. After a year, the partnership dissolved, leaving him the sole owner of the prospering business. He continued to survey and even established an insurance business. He held a variety of positions in the village government including Clerk, Assessor, and member of the Board of Education.

As the Springs Era came crashing down on Waukesha, Tom Spence knew the changes that were soon to take place. He purchased Horeb Spring and an accompanying twenty acres from Milton Bidwell. In the 1880s he began to develop the property into a resort.

Known for it's position high above the town, the Horeb Spring Resort flourished. It quickly became popular to spend time on the hill above the city, which was said to have a small grove of trees providing the perfect amount of shade to the weary visitor.

Tom Spence's Horeb Spring Company brought considerable profits to him as well. At the height of the 'health water' rage, Horeb shipped to St. Paul, Buffalo, Montreal, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Memphis, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh among many others.

In 1874, the industrious Spence made yet another addition to his land, a tower built on the highest point in the village. For a time it was popular to spend an afternoon high up in the tower, which was said to afford a view of Lake Michigan on a clear day. The price for climbing the 6-story lookout was 25 cents.