WINSLOW, Illinois – In northern Stephenson County, the town of Winslow doesn’t have just any running water faucet, it’s a local tourist destination that people near and far have come to for nearly 100 years – all for a lot of water to take home.

Winslow’s artesian well at Paradise Cove Park has been running almost constantly since a spring was discovered there in 1927, flowing fresh water that rushes like a jet through a faucet downward onto a drain, where excess runs into the nearby Indian Creek. It’s well-maintained (no pun intended) and the water is tested twice a month to make sure nothing’s amiss. Unlike tap or bottled water, you don’t have to look too far to know where the water came, from original source to your cup or container. [Cody’s photo album linked here]

Just how fast does the water rush out of the faucet? In a span of just 1 minute, nearly 450 gallons go through. Think of that many plastic gallon jugs and do some visual comparisons – that’s a lot of water. That’s a lot of pressure, too. If you’re looking to just fill up a small water bottle, good luck not getting wet. You want to hold it really tight before filling it.

Not only is the water safe to drink, it’s all free. There is a donation box near the faucet to help maintain the well and keep water in great quality.

Those who believe that the purest water makes life all the better than from other sources will come to the well and bring many containers – jugs, buckets, large pans, etc. – to fill up. Some days will see a line of cars wait their turn behind one another to get their fill. While they wait, they can get a glimpse of the park and its beauty: there’s a picnic pavilion, small running waterfall, a water wheel, garden areas, a covered walking bridge over the creek, and plenty of shade when the trees are in full bloom.

The park and its well are well-hidden from the beaten path: There is a “Paradise Cove” sign next to the Grace Bible Church that leads visitors down a driveway-like path to the park. The Paradise Cove Committee makes sure everything is looking neat and in working order.

Since making water a big part of my drinking intake in a weight loss task, I’ve made sure to keep a couple of gallon jugs in the trunk of the car for any time I find myself around 10 miles or so from Winslow. Think about it: Buying a gallon of water from the store is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.50-$1.79. It’s free here. Even if you look at your water bill and figure out your monthly cost per gallon, filling up at the well is still a savings. I would add, though, that if someone is going to take great advantage of it, a donation wouldn’t hurt. On my most recent trip, I filled up four empty gallons and put a couple of bucks through the donation slit.

Is there a health difference? That depends on your body, I guess. We’ve heard the phrase, “I wonder what’s in the water there” when it comes to a specific place having some sort of success. In the case of Winslow, the school district’s high school football program, the Lena-Winslow Panthers, have won six state championships since 2010. Is it something in the water there? Perhaps not, but it’s still something interesting to thinking about.

Around town and area

Winslow (population 300 or so) is one mile south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border on state Route 73; Lena is eight miles south on the highway, and the unincorporated Wisconsin community of Martintown is right at the border. Along with the aforementioned Indian Creek, the Pecatonica River also runs through it. There are a few places in town to get food of some sort, including an Amoco gas station.

The town’s most famous native was popular 19th century entertaining sharpshooter Doc Carver; a mural of him is painted outside one of the town’s buildings. It’s at that spot where you can experience one of my favorite jokes: standing on a corner in Winslow. (You’ll know what I mean when you listen to “Take it Easy” by Eagles.)

Even if drinking water isn’t your thing, a drive through town still satisfies the scenic experiences. The highway between town and Lena has hills and curves, and the east-west arterial roads (toward Warren or Oneco) aren’t bad either. Lake Le-Aqua-Na, a state park that recently experienced a major reconstruction, isn’t too far away, as well as Cadiz Springs Natural Area and Hawk’s Mill Winery north of the border.

Artesian wells aren’t something that travelers come across often, but there’s one in Winslow. There are also more corners to stand on, too. —->

More information about Winslow from the Greater Freeport Partnership website, and the village’s Facebook page.