This abandoned luxury hotel was an iconic landmark in Cambridge for 132 years. The high sulphur content in its mineral baths was used to “cleanse” the body and to treat arthritis, rheumatism and a variety of other diseases. Other treatments, included X-rays, hydrotherapy, electric baths and mineral cures for circulatory, respiratory, urinary, nervous and gastrointestinal ailments. Guests included Babe Ruth, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Lord Stanley (Canada’s 6th Governor General and donor of the Stanley Cup). Several efforts to revive the hotel and spa after the Second World War failed, including by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, who rented Preston Springs to accommodate professional and retired businesspeople. By January 2020, the abandoned hotel had deteriorated to a point that the City of Cambridge issued the current owners, Haastown Holdings Preston Inc., a demolition order. (information with thanks to Bruce Forsyth).

March 5, 2020: Karen Scott Booth, Vice-Chair, ACO Cambridge and North Dumfries filed an objection to stop the City of Cambridge from stripping the building of its heritage status: “The action taken now should be to stabilize the building and to find an adaptive re-use. The original structure is the porch, the tower, and three and a half storeys. That’s what was there in 1880, that’s what is protected.” Removing the additions that came later would significantly decrease possible repair costs. “About 50 per cent of the footprint would be removed, therefore you reduced your costs of stabilizing and conserving the original structure.”

Region of Waterloo Region Planning Advisory Committee and Cambridge Heritage Advisory Committee also encouraged the City of Cambridge and the property owner to examine all possible options for the building. “It’s important to know we’re trying to work with the city, we’re not fighting the city on this.” Karen Scott Booth added: “It is also important to note that there is a development application circulating for this site and, to the best of my knowledge, this proposal does not include the historic hotel. The saving of the hotel and the protection afforded under the Ontario Heritage Act Designation would have an impact on what can be built adjacent to the historic structure, and possibly limit the current proposal.” The matter was referred to the Conservation Review Board (CRB) which is scheduled to begin its hearing mid-October, 2020.

Christmas Eve 2020: demolition permit issued. ("There's nothing nefarious attached to the issuance of the order on that particular date, it just happened to be the timing of getting all our information together.")

January 5 2021: “Crews work to tear down the last remains of the once-famous landmark”.