Cold Springs Grove
Located at the intersection of Jackson Street and Ohio Street.
It is home to the historic McClure Bean Soup Festival and Fair Celebration held annually in September, since 1891. The McClure Bean Soup has been served at the White House and to many people from around the world.
In addition to the historic festival it houses class reunions, church events, the annual Strawberry Festival in June and many others. Website for the McClure Bean Soup Festival and Fair.
McClure Bean Soup Celebration
McClure is proud of its living memorial to all veterans of all wars in the annually held Bean Soup celebrations started by Veterans of the Civil War of McClure and surrounding vicinity. On July 23, 1883, a group of veterans of the Civil War met on the second story of Joseph Peters blacksmith shop in Bannerville for the purpose of organizing a Grand Army of Republic Post. After several preliminary meetings, the first session of the newly formed post was held on October 20, 1883. This is held every September at Cold Springs Grove.
​
This organization held many get-togethers and observed bean soup festivals from time to time, but not until 1891 did the Bean Soup Celebration invite the public to a real Civil War bean soup dinner. Records show Comrade Ner B. Middleswarth was chairman in charge of his celebration and secured from the war department “hard tack” to be served with soup. Comrade Henry Kahley who was a cook in the Civil War was in charge of the soup. Another veteran named in cooking was Comrade Aaron Bickel. From 1891 on, the thinning of the ranks in the early 1900’s caused them to feel that the celebration should be carried on by their sons. Since then, the present Henry K. Ritter Camp Sons of Union War Veterans and citizens of McClure have put forth an united effort to the novel celebration using a ton of beans and a ton of crackers to serve the tens of thousands who attend each year.
