Hermitage Springs

Hermitage Springs was first called Trace because of its location in Big Trace Creek valley. The community existed of only a few scattered residences and a small log church that became known as the Hermitage Springs Church of Christ. Established in August 1840, the church’s first elders were Meredith York, Jesse Vinson and Robert Pedigo. Originally a part of Jackson County, Hermitage Springs was merged into Clay County in 1870. As the community grew, Camelia Griffeth taught a “subscription school” in the small log church. Later Hermitage Springs became known as Sugar Orchard because the valley was covered with sugar maple trees. When Ham Spivey helped establish a post office circa 1889, the name was changed to Spivey. In the early 1900s the area became a summer resort with hotels and sulphuric wells. The Hermitage Springs Church of Christ, one of the community’s first churches located east across Trace Creek, celebrated 180 years in 2020.