CS1904 Picture Gallery

1904 Cambridge Springs International Chess Congress

Picture Gallery

Here is yours truly in Cambridge Springs on July 4, 2003.
Welcome Historical Marker
"Between 1894 and 1915 this was a major health resort, founded upon the various mineral springs here. Dr. John H. Gray, who had discovered spring water on his farm, began prescribing and marketing it in 1884. By the early 1900s over forty inns and resort hotels were operating, including the palatial Hotel Rider and the Riverside Inn. Passenger trains ran here daily. Ultimately, changes in medical practices ended this health spa's heyday." - PA Historical Marker in Cambridge Springs, PA.

Below left is an Erie Railroad Advertisement that specifically mentions the 1904 chess tournament. Note the columns of white and black chess pieces, which meet in the distance at the Hotel Rider. Below right is an announcement from the Daily Bulletin referring to a lecture by Dr. Lasker using Mr. Peter Toepfer's patented chessmen. Interestingly, Toepfer purchased one of the chess sets used in the 1904 tournament (more info).
Erie RR Ad (Chess) Lasker Lecture

Here are some postcard images of the Hotel Rider and Cambridge Springs from the era of the tournament, along with other related material. Current photos have been added to complement the original pictures.

"The longest journey starts with a single step." (Chinese Proverb) I was at a flea market around 1997 in my home state of Pennsylvania when I came upon a postcard dealer. The dealer had a nice selection of cards organized by city. As fate would have it, the section marked Cambridge Springs caught my eye. (I was already very familiar with the chess significance of the town.) It was here that I found the postcard shown above. From that point forward, I was "hooked" on Cambridge Springs -- this web site is what grew from my purchase of this $2.00 postcard. An interesting note... there were three of these cards there that day but I was a "cheapskate" and only bought one of them. I subsequently wrote to the dealer but he could not find any remaining in his inventory. There is a lesson in here somewhere.

The Hotel Rider	Hill where the Hotel Rider stood
Hotel Rider Main Entrance	Hotel Rider American Dining Room
Hotel Rider Main Entrance	Hotel Rider Swimming Pool
Corner of Cafe - Hotel Rider	Crystal Lithia Spring - on the grounds of Hotel Rider
Hotel Rider Lobby	Hotel Rider Lobby
Hotel Rider Ballroom	Hotel Rider Stage
Hotel Rider Roof	Hotel Rider Veranda
Hotel Rider Veranda View	Hotel Rider City View
City View from Rider Roof	Similar view from front of Rider site (blue house is the yellow building at left)
City View	Panoramic View of Cambridge Springs before the turn of the century.
Beach Avenue (Rider in background)	Beach Avenue Today (closer view)
Old City Hall - Now the Historical Museum. Hotel Rider in the background	Historical Museum (City Hall) Today
Hotel Rider artifacts at the museum.	Hotel Rider memorabilia
Boardwalk to Gray Mineral Springs	Boardwalk Pillars today
Gray Mineral Springs	Overgrown area on left is spring house location
Main Street	Macadam Drive
Main Street Bridge	Main Street Bridge Today (view from town side)
Erie RR Station	Trolley Station
Erie RR Station	Trolley Station
Boat Landing	French Creek
Chadwick Springs	French Creek Today
Hotel Bartlett	[Hotel] Bartlett Today
Hotel Bartlett Rear Court	Bartlett Rear Court Today
Magnesia Springs	Spring Building Today
Riverside Hotel	Riverside Inn Prior to May 2017
Riverside Inn Sign - May 2017	Riverside Inn Burned on May 2, 2017
Riverside Casino	Casino building prior to May 2017 (was connected to Riverside Inn)
Rider Golf Course	Riverside Hotel Tennis Court
Rider Car Pool	Winter Fun at the Riverside
Arcade Building	Arcade Building Today

Souvenir

Hotel Rider Coin

Erie RR Ad

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Souvenir Jug

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Souvenir Glass (Sold for $65 on eBay.)

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