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In The Spirit Of 1933 The Georgia Warm Springs Foundation Looks Forward

Creator: n/a
Date: July 1933
Publication: The Polio Chronicle
Source: Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation Archives
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2  Figure 3


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Constructive effort in thought and action is the spirit of 1933. Politically, the slogan-makers label it as the "New Deal." It has reached into every nook and cranny of our national existence it has reached with particular force a certain unique community in Georgia's wooded hills.

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Warm Springs, the last place to feel the Stygian gloom of the depression's worst, is the first to ring in optimism, and action, and forward-looking change. Most of the Aces and Kings drawn in Warm Springs "New Deal" are already known to Foundation residents through official announcement by Arthur Carpenter, resident trustee. However, the editor feels that the other twenty-five hundred readers of the Polio Chronicle would like to sit in with us.

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The dream of Georgia Hall is crystallizing into reality. Conceived first as a central building in which would also be incorporated forty or more patients' bedrooms, the plan emerges as a more complete and comprehensive central unit without dormitory space. The plans have been seen and enthusiastically approved by representative patients.

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In this connection, the National Patients Committee, publishers of this paper, feel that the highest praise is due the Georgia Hall Building Committee, for their thoughtfulness and foresight in seeking constantly, through their architect, Mr. Henry Toombs, the constructive advice and counsel of Foundation patients. Valuable suggestions by real "polios" will help make Georgia Hall truly "A Polio's Paradise."

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Future plans envision outlying dormitory wings, reached by covered walks. Other states may even follow Georgia's great initial step. There may be a New York House, or a Massachusetts House, and so on.

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In line with Mr. Roosevelt's original conception of the whole of the Foundation as a "colony," the familiar name of "the colony" for the patients dormitory cottages will be dropped. These cottages will continue to serve as patients' living quarters, but with very welcome alterations. Five new living or entertaining rooms will be provided. Changes in individual rooms include plaster walls, improved fighting, electric convenience outlets, refinished floors, individual medicine cabinets, wall hand-rails, and more attractive furnishings.

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The Meriwether Inn has ceased to be. The corpse, now known as the Administration Building, must await the completion of the first dormitory wing to Georgia Hall before receiving its final requiem. Needless to say, that will be as soon after the opening of Georgia Hall as is physically possible.

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In the face of rising prices, the Foundation is reducing rentals on its housekeeping cottages by 25%. Further, it strongly recommends a similar course to owners of other houses-to-rent on the Foundation.

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This is partially offset by a change in the medical treatment rates to private cottagers. A change to a uniform rate of $22.00 a week eliminates the old differential between the Foundation resident rate of $17.50 a week and the off-Foundation rate of $30.00 a week.

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The Foundation's 1933 booklet, recently released, announces another interesting though less important policy change. For considerations of safety and economy, the Foundation proposes to replace operation of privately owned radios in the dormitories by use of ultra-modern compact sets to be rented from the Foundation at 25 cents a week.

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Most significant is the decision of the trustees to extend 100% aid from the Patients' Aid Fund to a limited number of prospective patients. Under the new policy, up to one quarter of the dormitory facilities will be proffered to full-aid patients, one quarter to half-aid patients. The remaining beds go to full-pay patients. The task of selecting from the large list of applicants under the new policy has already begun.

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In the spirit of 1933, the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation looks forward. A new humanitarian vessel, precariously launched in 1926, it may stand on the threshold of the future and say with Longfellow's "Ship of State,"

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Build me straight, O worthy Master, Staunch and strong, a goodly vessel...

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