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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1955)
Tuesday. April 12, 195S MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE FIVE Little White House Draws Over 100,000 FDR Admirers Yearly V.'arm Springs, Ga. (U.R)- Ten years have passed since Franklin D. Roosevelt died here April 12, 1945, but more than 100,000 persons a year still travel out of their way to pay their respects. Most of them are not the gawking tour - guide variety. They leave the impression of being friends of the family who drove over for a visit. Raymond Noon, former chief probation officer in New York City when FDR was governor of New York and who is now custodian at the "Little White House" property, said at least 95 per cent of the visitors are Roosevelt admirers. He said an elderly woman from Alabama told him during a visit that every time her Social Security check arrived she said "thank you Mr. Roose velt." Introduced In 1924 The late President, a polio suf ferer, was introduced to Warm Springs in 1924 by his friend, George Foster Peabody. He be came an increasingly regular visitor to the spa, then a run down former summer resort. As news spread about4 FDR "swimming his way back to health," infantile paralysis suf ferers became arriving unan nounced and unasked. Warm Springs polio hospital and the early research into cause and treatment of the crippling mala dy grew from that "Topsy" start to- its present status as the pilot hospital for rehabilitation of polio patients. Indian legend has it that wounded warriors were given safe conduct in battle when they journeyed toward Warm Springs to be healed. Actually the water there has no known med icinal qualities. But it does have soothing 88-degree warmth and promotes the hydro-therapy so beneficial in treatment of such ailments as polo. The "Little White House," a columned, simple cottage with almost austere furnishings, first was occupied by Mr. Roosevelt in 1932 and became one of his favorite spots. He once was quoted here that "only Warm Springs and Eleanor," his wife, kept him going. Portrait Displayed On the morning ofx April 12, 1945, the newspaper on the chief executive's breakfast tray proclaimed in big black head lines: "9th 57 miles from Ber lin." . , ' In the afternoon, his few other appointments having been dispatched, Mr. Roosevelt re ceived artist Elizabeth Shoumat off in the living room. She began the finishing touches en a' por trait she was doing of the Presi dent, Suddenly, Mr. Roosevelt put his hand to his forehead and slumped in his chair. He was borne into his bed chamber off the" living room where he died. Because-its primary function was the care of "patients, the Warm Springs Foundation, which received the "Little White House" in the Roosevelt will, turned it over to a Georgia me morial commission in 1946 and the place was opened to the public Oct. 28, 1948. The Shoumatoff portrait is a favorite item of interest there. It is protected by a S50,000 in surance policy and an elaborate burglar alarm system that goes off when anyone gets too near. A museum in the basement of the building contains the best of thousands of gadgets andmemen toes given to FDR by persons from all over the world. GRANGE Upper Rogue Grange H.E.C. of Upper Rogue Grange will meet April 14 at the Grange hall at 1 o'clock. Hostesses will be Mrs. Crenshaw and Mrs. Ulrich. Chairman, Mrs. Lock stine, announced that there would be a plant sale at the next Grange meeting, April 21, pro ceeds to go into the H.E.C. fund. Use Mail Tribune Want Ads Fong Murder Trial Enters Second Day Portland U.R) The Fong murder trail entered its second day today with Wey Him Fong and his wife, Sherry, accused of the slaying of 16-year-old Diane Hank. The Portland girl's body was found tied in a blanket along a sideroad near Washou gal, Wash., on Feb. 26 ,1954. The Fong's attorney, Irvin Goodman, set the stage for a lengthy court battle yesterday by charging that the case was "steeped in politics." He said his clients have not been allowed enough time to prepare for the trial. The day FD ft died Where were you when you heard the news of President Roosevelt's death? Lela Stiles, former White House secretary, was behind the scenes in Washington. Here are her moving recollectioni of what happened on that fateful day, exactly ten year ' ago. Get your copy of The Saturday Evening Post and read it today! Use Mail Tribune Want Ada HflWf IFPflTWIiai u u i u u u lsiti u kz u u ua us o n a at WEEKS & ORR As shown in the March SUNSET Authentic Colonial Reproductions: m Faithfully Made of Selected Hard Mountain Maple Lovely for Spring A Bedroom in True Colonial Maple The entire group shown above ..... $414.50 Head Board Bed .... $ 89.50 Double Dresser with Mirror . . . Seven Drawer Chest . $ 95.00 Night Stands, each . . $ 26.50 Comb Back Chair . . 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