Hot Springs National Park Archives Serving the Public When They Need It the MostPublic service takes many shapes. For Ms. Maggie Northcott, it involved helping thousands of disadvantaged women at Hot Springs National Park’s Government Free Bathhouse. Born in Arkansas in 1895, Maggie Northcott began working for the national park in 1931, just as the Great Depression set in across the country. The economic downturn brought many to Hot Springs’ Government Free Bathhouse, an institution at the national park that provided thermal water access to the nation’s invalid poor since 1880. The snapshots we’ve collected of Northcott’s life show her dedication to her job. In 1938, attendants at the Government Free Bathhouse provided 85,913 baths, more than any other bathhouse in town and 20,000 more baths than the next busiest establishment. In 1940, Northcott worked all 52 weeks and supported her mother on a salary of $520 / year. While this was on-par with other bathhouse attendants in town, at the Government Free Bathhouse patients and patrons could not often afford to tip attendants, supplementing their income. This was a practice that happened regularly in other bathhouses. Records show that Maggie Northcott worked at the Government Free Bathhouse for at least FIFTEEN YEARS. She continued to serve as a bathhouse attendant at other establishments. In the 1950s, the superintendent of Hot Springs National Park presented Northcott with an award of appreciation for 25 years of service to the national park. Maggie Northcott’s contributions, and those of other bathhouse attendants, are immeasurable, but will be remembered and appreciated by future generations of public servants at Hot Springs National Park. |
Last updated: December 13, 2023