Thursday, August 26, 2010

DIP INTO HISTORY: Warm Springs, GA

There are lots of ways to experience history but I can think of none more inviting than slipping into the silky mineral laden waters of the historic pools at Warm Springs, GA.

Franklin Roosevelt learned about these pools in 1927 and made history by turning them into a place of rehabilitation for individuals who had had polio.
A journalist interviewed him, the story went out across the wires, and before he knew what was happening a small contingent of "polios" had joined him for therapy. He shared his exercises with them, bought the dilapidated resort, and turned it into a place of therapy - a place to get a life back.

Ann Fay, the protagonist in Comfort found a new image of herself while at Warm Springs.

She didn't see the Little White House while she was there
 but you can. 
You will be able to visit the FDR Memorial Museum.

And maybe even meet Suzanne from Comfort or
 Marion Dunn, the former pushboy and bracemaker who remembers being dunked in the pool by FDR.
Or perhaps you'll meet FDR, himself.
Um, that is Robert Prater, FDR interpreter.
He might look more like this!
Don't you want to wade into history?

this Labor Day Weekend or

8 comments:

  1. Great post. Makes me want to go there! Love the way you integrated the pictures into the story. Yeah Comfort! GO NPR (I hope!).

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  2. Carol, you and hubby could find some great places to bike in the area. And golf too, I imagine.

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  3. What a wonderful sense of time and place in this post, Joyce! Congratulations on your new book. Looking forward to reading it!

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  4. Thanks Clara! Comfort is a sequel to Blue - it stands on it's own, I think but just so you know. And maybe you do, already.

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  5. I've spent some time in Warm Springs, VA. in the mineral baths- Great experience. Very rustic. Segregated by sexes! I'd like to go back right now. For some reason, I recall Roosevelt dipped into those baths also.

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  6. Augusta, I've never been to Warm Springs VA. Am going to Hot Springs in North Carolina in a few months.

    Wouldn't be surprised if FDR checked out the warm springs in VA but I don't actually know.

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  7. ooooh! that sounds wonderful! I am loving history more and more as the years go by. And learning about history while stayng fit is an intriguing idea, too. :)

    Thank you for the head's up, my friend. Looking forward to more of your posts!

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  8. Donna, a trip to Warm Springs would make a great field trip for you and your students.

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