In the early 1880's Theodore Moritz, a settler in the Quileute Valley, found a Native American with a broken leg while out hunting. Moritz brought him back to his cabin and cared for him until he could travel. In gratitude, he showed Moritz the location of hot springs that the Native Americans used to cure ailments. Moritz built a cabin and filed claim to the property with the U.S. Land Office. Word spread and soon people were traveling the hard, two-day trip on horseback from Port Angeles. In 1903, Michael Earles, owner of the Puget Sound Mills and Timber Company, accompanied a group of people to the springs. Earles had been told by his doctor that he was dying and should go to Carlsbad. He was too weak to make the trip so he went to Sol Duc Hot Springs where the mineral water cured him. In 1910 Earles purchased the site from Moritz's estate and founded the Sol Duc Hot Springs Company with four other men. The Company built a road and resort at the cost of $500,000 which included: a hotel; electric lights; hot & cold running water; telephones; steam heat; three-story sanatorium; laboratory; operating room; and x-ray. The resort opened in May 1912. The guests & patients drank and bathed in the mineral water for its curative effects. The first year over 10,000 people visited the resort. Tragically, in 1916, sparks from a defective fire lit on the shingle roof of the main hotel building. Within three hours, the Northwest's finest resort hotel and spa was in ashes. Insurance was insufficient to rebuild. The resort would struggle for its survival for many years. In 1925 the estate was bought and a lodge with a pool and cabins was established. Over the years a few other amenities were added. In 1966, the resort was purchased by the National Park Service and became part of the Olympic National Park. In the 1970's the resort was again in trouble. The thermal waters had diminished and several attempts were made to locate additional sources and restore the thermal waters. It was discovered in 1979 that by pumping the cistern wall completely out it restored the natural artesian flow. This turned out to be so successful that the resort was rebuilt in the 1980's and continues to thrive today.
It appears that the Sol Duc Mineral Water Company was established as an affiliated company of the Sol Duc Hot Springs resort that Michael Earles owned. On November 11, 1913,17 people took 25 shares with a par value of $1,000 to establish the Sol Duc Mineral Water Company. The purpose of the company was to own, operate, sell and bottle mineral springs, mineral waters, still waters. The company wanted to manufacture, bottle and operate bottling works for bottling and placing of carbonate water for sale. The company was also incorporated to buy and sell land, docks, vessels, wharves, stage lines and pipe lines. The first trustees of the company were: Jacob Furth, Michael Earles, J. S. Goldsmith, John C. Eden, C.E. Farnsworth, James F. McElroy, Jules Redlesheimer, Frank M. Sullivan, Ralph A. Schoenfield and Albert Schubach. The first officers of the company were: Michael Earles, Pres.; James F. McElroy, Vice Pres.; Albert Schubach, Sec. & Treasurer. In April 1914 they increased their capital stock from $25,000 to $75,000. By Feb. 1915 the Sol Duc Mineral Water Co. was in the process of "winding up the affairs" of the Company. In May 1916 the resort burned to the ground and the insurance could not begin to rebuild it.
From the description of Washington State Library's collection of Sol Duc Mineral Water Company's records, 1913-1915. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 430101486
