If walls — or springs — could talk at Omni Bedford Springs

Published: Sept. 7, 2021

If walls (or natural springs) could talk.

As I meandered the lavish Bedford Springs resort grounds on a recent early September visit, I couldn’t help but think of the history that (pardon the pun) just keeps flowing through the place.

The property — which dates to 1796, when Dr. John Anderson purchased 2,200 acres for a mineral springs resort after learning about the springs from nearby indigenous people — has played host to the likes of politicians (Aaron Burr, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun); business magnates (Henry Ford and department store innovator John Wanamaker); actors and those seeking the reputed medicinal benefits of the natural springs.

Pittsburgh socialites such as the Fricks, Mellons and Heinzes also made use of Bedford Springs.

Hotel historical records suggest as many as 13 future, current and past presidents visited Bedford Springs over the last 225 years — from Thomas Jefferson in 1819 to George W. Bush in 2012.

In an effort to escape the brutal summer heat of the nation’s capital, the Supreme Court, in 1856, informally convened at Bedford Springs. While there, the court worked on the Dred Scott Decision, which gave more support to the anti-slavery movement and, ultimately, paved the way for the Civil War.

The Navy, during World War II, used the hotel and grounds as a training school and — later — as a holding facility for Japanese diplomats.

But it is James Buchanan who might be the resort’s most well-known frequent guest. As president, Buchanan used Bedford Springs as the summer White House between 1857 and 1861. His first visit was made in 1821.

In 1858, Bedford Springs made history as Buchanan, serving as president at the time, received the first transatlantic telegraph on Aug. 12, 1858. The telegram was sent from Queen Victoria to Bedford Springs.

Anderson’s family, in 1887, sold Bedford Springs to a group led by Pittsburgh attorney Philander Knox, who would eventually become secretary of state, serving from 1901 to 1904.

That group sold it again in 1896 to Delaware industrialist Samuel Bancroft.

In 1895, one of the nation’s first golf courses was laid out. Ten years later, in 1905, Bedford Springs became the site of one of the nation’s first indoor swimming pools.

In 1984, the site was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

But just two years later, in 1986, the property closed.

It sat vacant until 1998, when it was purchased for $8 million by a group of 10 investors under the Bedford Resort Partners Limited name.

Over the course of a $120 million effort to reopen the property, an eighth spring was discovered (Eternal Spring) in 2006. The property reopened to overnight guests in July 2007 and was purchased by the Omni Hotels chain in 2009.

Among the amenities the resort offers is a 30,000-square-foot spa — Springs Eternal Spa — that pays homage to the springs.

Along with an 18-hole golf course (spanning the work of Spencer Oldham, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross) and two pools (the 1905 indoor pool and a new outdoor pool), the property offers a 24/7 fitness center; 25 miles of hiking trails connecting hikers to many of the springs; a plethora of outdoor activities; five onsite dining options (the 1796 Room is temporarily closed and the Turtle Shell at the outdoor pool is seasonal); and several onsite shops.

Guests can spend hours looking at all of the artifacts, photos and decor around the lobby, nearby rooms and hallways — including a desk Buchanan used, guest logs and images from when the Navy used the property. Behind the front desk is a 39-star United States flag.

Rocking chairs, lounge chairs, sitting chairs and benches scattered throughout the resort let guests lose track of time watching hotel life go by, watching wildlife, reading a book or taking a nap.

Of the five buildings of guest rooms, my particular room was in the Springs Eternal House. The charming room offered antique furniture and vintage decor. The granite vanity and marble floor in the bathroom provided such an exquisite feeling.

Being accustomed to slim, trendy and functional furniture in other hotels, this was a nice change. The surroundings didn’t feel too fancy (think: Grandma’s house where you can’t touch anything) or too old (think: Old motel). And, it should be noted, that with so much to do at the resort, the rooms quite literally are for resting. I wasn’t in my room except for late evening, through the night and early morning.

Omni Bedford Springs links

Things to do, see and experience in and near Bedford County

Clarification (9/21/22): Information regarding the design of the golf course was clarified to say that the golf course’s work spans the work of Spencer Oldham, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross. The post previously made it sound as if the three worked together.

What if we could provide a targeted, non-invasive treatment for breast cancer?

Sounds incredible, right?

I’m participating in the Race To Beat Women’s Cancers 5K, which supports women’s cancer research and patient care at Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, to help support research to find better treatments and reach a day when cures are possible.

Please consider making a donation to join this effort to fund research.

It is estimated that more than 927,000 women will be diagnosed with cancer in 2021. More than 281,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. These numbers are staggering.

Add to these numbers are the women who are going through treatment or have ended treatment and are still dealing with the effects or surgeries related to having been diagnosed with cancer.

Researchers in Pittsburgh are making tremendous strides in the detection, treatment and prevention of women’s cancers — including breakthrough therapies for breast, ovarian and cervical cancers that are in large-scale clinical trials right now.

Research is changing the way breast cancer is treated.

And, with your support, the research at the Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation can go further.

By focusing on women’s health, the health of all people here in Pittsburgh and around the world can be improved.

What are Magee scientists doing right now?

  • Uncovering new prevention and treatment approaches in more than 20 clinical trials.
  • Working to solve for treatment resistance in the most common form of breast cancer.
  • Examining the vulnerabilities in triple negative breast cancer to find a more effective cure for this aggressive disease.

For more than two decades, Magee-Womens has dedicated clinical research studies and clinical trials to improving the health care of people everywhere — with research done right here in Pittsburgh.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

Magee-Womens Research Institute collaborates with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to help reduce the incidence of and death from women’s cancers by supporting research aimed at translating novel discoveries into improved patient care.

This great work can continue to impact lives here in Western Pennsylvania and around the world — with your support.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting the important research and patient care at Magee-Womens.

Camped out in the corner booth at Sheetz

As people came and went, grabbing lunch or an afternoon jolt, there I was camped out in the corner booth.

Headphones in as others nearby talked about colleagues, family or life. As jarring alarms from the kitchen sounded each time a new order came in.

The clackity-clack of my computer keyboard. The amped up music from the store.

And there I was, camped out in the corner booth. For hours on end — usually doing some kind of work. Sometimes, watching a movie or playing a game. Other times, just watching the world pass by.

That was how I spent a large chunk of my life. At Sheetz, camped out in the corner booth. Before a pandemic brought the world to a standstill.

Some had a corner coffee shop. Others, Panera or a library. For me, it was Sheetz.

Sheetz was my third place.

Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” — a neutral place where people can meet, gather and interact.

When I worked for a newspaper company, I spent long, countless hours in the office. Sheetz was the place I could unwind before going home.

I’ve used Sheetz for volunteer meetings, lunch meetups, post-theater show outings, midday cold brew coffee jolts, early morning cold brew coffee jolts, evening cold brew coffee jolts, late-night cold brew coffee jolts.

You get the picture.

But that all changed with the COVID-19 pandemic.

No longer did I sit for hours camped out in the corner booth.

My Sheetz trips became blips of time — orders placed on the app and quickly picked up inside at a display kiosk.

In recent weeks, Sheetz reopened the dining areas for use during daylight hours.

I don’t intend to sit down in Sheetz for awhile.

But, soon enough, when the pandemic has ended and I feel comfortable again in public and around others, you’ll find me at Sheetz, camped out in the corner booth.

Image by DAMILARE ODUNUYI from Pixabay

Pepsi Blue returns!

Get ready! Pepsi Blue is making a triumphant return!

The last time we saw Pepsi Blue, Usher had three of the top 25 songs of the year. Nickelback had the 17th best Billboard hits song. “Everybody Loves Raymond” was the top sitcom. “Shrek 2” was the highest-grossing movie.

What was the year?

2004.

Apparently, “passionate Pepsi Blue fans have been clamoring for the return of their beloved berry cola” for years, Pepsi said, according to the USA Today.

The company recently released Pepsi Mango, which is amazing.

Of course, I need a return of Crystal Pepsi. Preferably a zero sugar Crystal Pepsi!

Image by anncapictures from Pixabay

Will ‘Days of our Lives’ be renewed?

Has the sand run out in the hourglass?

“Days of our Lives” wrapped production on April 16 of its 56th season — reportedly filming 112 episodes over the last 14 weeks. And they did that through an ongoing pandemic!

The current contract extends through September. It was last renewed in January 2020.

The last time this happened, Corday Productions — the production company that produces the show for NBC — let all of the actors out of their contracts. It’s not clear if the same situation happened this time around, according to Soap Opera Network.

It should be noted that when this happened in 2019, the news spread like wildfire, suggesting that “Days of our Lives” had been canceled. So, it’s safe to assume that Corday, Sony Pictures Television (which distributes the show for Corday) and NBC likely wanted to avoid a similar situation.

Of course, if NBC does not renew the drama, there are other (albeit, slim) options. NBC could find a way to include it on Peacock (their streaming service) or it could find a home on another streaming service or network.