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?

Dip into the Past 

this Labor Day Weekend or

Next Memorial Day!

Lots more to do while in the area.

YESTERDAY IN HISTORY

Around 1:00 in the afternoon on August 12, 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt was working at this card table in his beloved Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia. An artist, Elizabeth Shoumatoff was painting his portrait.
A friend and neighbor, Daisy Stuckley was one of several people in the room at the time. Daisy was sitting on the couch (crocheting) when she noticed that something was wrong with Roosevelt. She went to his side to see if she could help.

In an audio recording, Daisy recalls that FDR said, "I'm having such terrific pain in the back of my head".

His doctor was called. Franklin Roosevelt was carried to his bed in the next room.
In her eye witness account, Daisy Suckley said, "We all knew what was going to happen."

The doctor did what he could but there was so little to be done. In just a few hours, at 5:48 pm regular radio programming across the United States was interrupted with this blunt announcement. "We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin from CBS World News. A press association has just announced that President Roosevelt is dead! The president died of a cerebral hemorrhage. All we know so far is that the president died at WS in Georgia."

In BLUE my character Ann Fay did not hear the announcement directly. But she knew the exact moment when it took place.

"It was late in the day when I heard a big commotion at the nurse's station. I was stuck in my bed, but I could tell something important had happened in the world. The nurse at the other end of the ward went rushing out of the room, saying "Oh dear God in heaven. What will America do now?"...

I was sliding out of my bed, fixing to get into that wheelchair, when Harvey stepped into the room. His lips was trembling, but he put his finger over them and we all got quiet. I seen his Adam's apple sliding up and down in his neck and I knew something had really upset him.

Finally Harvey spoke. "It's our president," he said. "Mr Franklin Delano Roosevelt died this afternoon at his polio place in Warm Springs, Georgia."

And then Harvey's face twisted, and he walked away quick before we seen him cry.

It was a day that will live in history...

VALENTINE'S DAY (A Little Late)

Since I posted my love of old newspapers on Valentine's Day, I will remedy the situation by posting a hint of romance from COMFORT which will be released next month.

“Someone’s sweet on – you, Ann Fay.”

Ed Frogge handed me an envelope with only my name on the outside. I didn’t recognize the handwriting. I looked at Ed. His bow tie was just a little bit crooked and his smile was kind of off balance too. There was mischief in his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked him.

“Go ahead. See for yourself.”

I looked in the envelope. There was another, fancier one inside. It had four stamps on it and each one had a drawing of Franklin Roosevelt with the Little White House in the background. And the envelope had his picture too.

I know my mouth fell open with the surprise of it. “Where did this come from?”

The mischief in Ed’s eyes was really acting up now. “State secret,” he said.

I looked all over the envelope, thinking I might find a name. But there wasn’t any. So now I had two envelopes and no letter. “What am I supposed to do with it?”

Ed laughed. “If I were you – I’d put it in a safety – deposit box. See that?” He pointed to some words stamped on the envelope:

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE
AUG 24

1945

“And notice the Warm Springs – postmark with the date. Roosevelt himself would – hang on to that. He was a stamp collector – you know.”

Really? Why hadn’t Sam the Encyclopedia Man told me that? Who was giving me the stamps? And why?

Ed could see I was confused. “I was told it was a – late valentine,” he explained.

“Valentine? From who?”

Ed grinned and straightened his bow tie. “As Mrs. Trotter - would say, ‘We shall see – what we shall see...’”

DIPPING INTO HISTORY

About an hour southwest of Atlanta lies the village of Warm Springs. Franklin Roosevelt came to this gentle place in 1924 seeking a "cure" for the effects of polio.

FDR's arrival changed everything for this small town and for America and for polios as well. But as much as I want to go off on a history tangent here, I will refrain!

If you've read BLUE you know that Ann Fay Honeycutt dreamed of going to Warm Springs where FDR had transformed a resort into a treatment facility for polios. She hoped to catch a glimpse of the president while there.

Some things that could not happen in BLUE just had to wait for the sequel. In COMFORT (Spring '09) Ann Fay does spend time at Warm Springs where she receives therapy in the same warm mineral waters that FDR swam in!

I could have written the sequel without getting into that water. I did, actually. And I think the manuscript is about to go to the copyeditor which means it's too late for significant changes. But it is never too late for research. And I never get tired of going to Warm Springs, GA.

So, when I heard that the historic pools (which are usually empty nowadays) would be filled and open to the public over Labor Day, I decided a research trip was in order.

I wanted to feel what my character felt. Maybe I'd even tweak a sentence or two as a result! So I rented a car, booked a motel, nabbed a friend, and off we went.

Nancy, my intrepid navigator, is one fun person and very patient one too. She enjoyed dipping into history as much as I did and made friends with everyone we talked to.

I could not wait to get in these pools! And yes, I jumped the gun! But David Burke (see way below) forgave me even before he realized I was doing research on a subject we both love.

Nancy is having fun in the water. By the way, Maron Dunn (below right) told me that fun-loving Franklin Roosevelt dunked him a few times in the middle treatment pool just as he'd swim through the narrow passage that Nancy is in!

Marion(a WWII veteran)worked at the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation as a pushboy and a bracemaker which meant he helped polios get to the pool and other places on campus and he also made braces and various medical "contraptions" that enabled them to walk, eat, pick things up, etc.

And who is that with me and Marion? Why it's Franklin Delano Roosevelt!

Actually it's Bob Prater, but do you see the resemblance? Bob is President of Friends of Roosevelt's Little White House (a chapter of the Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites) He does historical interpretations of FDR at the Little White House and other venues. (I can't wait to see his presentation sometime!)

Most of the people in these photos I'd met before or interviewed by phone but Bob was an unexpected benefit of this trip. What a personable man who felt like an instant friend - another resemblance to FDR!(or so I've read.)

And then there was the Doyle family. Nancy and I were chatting with Stephanie Doyle while playing around in the pool.

Stephanie, her brother-in-law David Dykes (floating), and sister-in-law, Emily Dykes
Stephanie told us her father-in-law's grandfather was a friend of FDR and sold him property for a farm in the Warm Springs area. So I climbed out of the pool and introduced myself to the Doyles.

The Doyle family - (L to R) Patrick, Stephanie, Buddy, Anne, and Emily & David Dykes.

In addition to the FDR connection, Anne's parents were polios who met when they came to Warm Springs for treatment. So coming back for a swim was a momentous way to honor their family history. What a fun family they are! I have a feeling that meeting them earned me some new Warm Springs experts.

And, speaking of experts, I should have realized there was a good chance of meeting David Burke because he works at the Little White House. I'd spoken with him over the phone months ago and he put me in touch with Marion Dunn. So I was thrilled when I realized he was the tour guide who gave the history of the pools before we swam.


David is a warm and wonderful human being!

David compiled and edited an Images of America book about Warm Springs. I can't tell you how often I have consulted those fantastic images while writing my Blue sequel! Buddy's grandfather Ed Doyle is pictured on page 57 of David's Book.

While I'm on the subject of experts, no trip to Warm Springs would be complete without visiting Suzanne Pike.

Suzie is history itself, in that she met FDR when she was four years old and still works as a ranger/tour guide at the historic pools and Little White House. I've enjoyed numerous conversations with her - discussing furniture, food, movie stars, a certain place called Magic Hill and much more.

Suzanne is a real character. I promise you'll be hearing more about her!

By they way, I DID get into the pools. I'm sure I didn't feel exactly what Ann Fay Honeycutt felt but I suspect that, as a result of my long luxurious swim, I WILL be tweaking a sentence or two!

Research is soooo much fun!