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!
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