Radium Springs & Casino Memories

NOTE: If you have memories you'd like to submit, please email to albanyhightimes@aol.com

Below are memories or questions submitted from graduates of Albany High, especially during the 50's, in response to an article published in The Albany Herald. Responses are arranged in reverse chronological order by date submitted - the newest appears at the top. If you have not read these before - please start at the bottom!

I graduated from Albany High in 1965. During the summer Radium Springs was the place to be during the 1960s. It was easy for me since I lived down the road in the Radium Springs SD. It was a magical place. The Casino area was great fun, but we spent untold hours, as well, swimming, snorkeling, skin diving, spear fishing and tubing in the creek which ran from the springs to the Flint River. The water was gin clear. At the Pavillion we would dance to the juke box, in the spring swimming area we would chase turtles, swim up under the arched platforms at the side of the pool area, slide down the island slide and buy treats at the concession stand. We walked up the staircase to the ballroom area in awed wonder at the wood paneled grace of it all. I went back a couple of years ago and it is all gone. The Casino, the pavillion, the water gushing up forming a bulge on the surface. There is no flow to the water now. The Emerald Eye of the "boil" was still there, and the huge carp were still there at the bottom. Where has the water flow gone? To manufacturing uses? Who knows? Without the water, I don't know what use a park would serve, unless there is some way to restore the flow. Tom West, class of 1965.

Anna (Stephens) Arthur (1962) Is “Skywater” still available? If not, do you know where I can get a nice photograph of the original Radium Springs from the 50’s, early 60’s? My sister, brother and I all graduated from Albany High and I would really like to get them something special for Christmas from the “old days”. Isn't it funny as we get old(er) that we value those wonderful early years? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ben McKemie - Jerusalem (http://arborvista.tripod.com): From an article of our neighbor's marriage, sent by Mom (Betty - Mrs. Frank McKemie) half a year ago and read only now in full, one click on a link sufficed, and Radium Springs suddenly loomed across all the screen. http://www.albanyhightimes.com/radium_springs.htm.

Dumbstruck at unexpected apparition of a showpiece of my mental landscape, reminiscences inundate an inner screen. Grandmother. Eve Bonser managed the 'casino' at some early stage, and years afterward we swam there many summer weekends and weekdays.

Picnics with grandparents, siblings, parents, friends, and neighbors contain memories almost forgotten. Although I surely dream them again and again, I now consciously recall whole scenes, conversations, and motions connected to the spot:

What fortune to have known that spot's exotic beauty, and to have dived from the showpiece board into chilling azure pool of gushing spring water.

How many times did adolescents rehash the incident of the trapped diver, and thrill to see other daring explorers descending to plumb caverns' depths, tanks aback and flippers propelling?

Though my children regularly dip in the Mediterranean, ascend the Temple Mount, and pass Ayalon Valley where Joshua fought Gibonites as sun stood still, and doting grandparents have taken them to Coke Intl., Six Flags, and Cyclorama on GA visits, what would I not give to return with them all, if for only one resplendent summer hour, to that indescribable haven!

Tonia Holland (1957) Helvik: I bought the beautiful book that Morgan Murphy and Lamar Clifton wrote. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone would "step up to the plate," and save the Casino. Pete Lewis and I (and band) played for a lot of dances there in the 60's and Cary Barker and I played in the dining room in the 70's..

*** 03/29/03

Bob Clanton (1954): When I attended Albany High I lived in Putney, about half way between River Bend and Radium Springs. Each day I rode past Radium on the school bus and never gave it a thought. It was there, always had been, always would be.

To the best of my recollections I was only inside twice, both times for our Junior Senior Prom. With so little connection why did my eyes fill with tears when I saw the pictures of it's destruction. Because it was a square in the quilt of my memory. It represented a carefree time, when the only thing I was in a rush to do was grow up. A time when I was in love for the first time. And now the fabric of my memories is coming apart, bit by bit.

I left Albany in Aug.1957 and have only returned briefly three times. Albany, and the friends and classmates I knew there are snapshots frozen in time. With only a few exceptions, all of you are just as you were when I left. That is as it should be. Because that is Home and Home is a safe and secure haven that you return to, even if only in your mind, when you need to recharge yourself.

I prefer to remember Albany and all of you as you were, even the ones that are no longer with us. Therefore I will retain the pictures of Radium as it was and will not save the ones of it's demise.

For all of you that worked to save Radium you have my heartfelt thanks. Remember any time you want to return there you can, Memories are forever. Take care.

*** 03/14/03

Joye Thomas Hadarits (1954): I remember having lunch on the terrace at Radium Springs and they had a wonderful club sandwich and the best lemonade I have ever tasted. We would have special parties there and when my sister Connie was getting married she had her luncheon there for the bridesmaids and so did Jacque Walton. I have so many wonderful memories of Albany and my many wonderful friends growing up. I have a picture of a luncheon given by Delores Ann Taylor Yancey for Joan Jefferson and we are all in our bathing suits around the table and what fun that was. I am so glad to have my memories of home and even today when anyone asks where I am from I first say Albany even after all these years.

*** 02/06/03

Pat Hancock Hamby (1952): Thank you Beverly for this web site. I enjoyed reading everyone's comments of experiences at Radium Springs. My family, cousins, siblings, my dad who was an avid swimmer and friends, Loretta Maxwell, Joann Dukes and I went to Radium with some very fine airmen we dated from Turner Air Force Base and Ohio, while students at AHS. For high school graduation, my parents honored me with a picnic there, with family members as guests.

During my days of nursing training at Riverside Hospital School of Nursing of Jacksonville, FL. Indiana University School of Nursing and Florida State Hospital, occasionally, classmates and I visited the springs.

My dad lived in the Radium Springs area long before he passed away and we went often during those days.

Radium Springs is a treasure to be cherished forever and I am so thankful for the efforts of Lamar Clifton and Morgan Murphy to save it, plus actually, the possibility of raising the Casino above the flood plain. The Casino will not be the same anywhere else.

The 1952 Class Reunion was great and so is the book Skywater.

Over the years, I have visited Radium Springs with my children and grandchildren, who marveled at the sight and coldness of it. Since closure, I dropped by once to reminisce and just have a positive faith that it will be saved and restored.

It is truly a wonderful place, a precious memory of our younger days and a gift to Albany from God and hopefully, we can all visit and enjoy Radium Springs again in the future. I vote to save it.

*** 02/03/03

Jo Anne Johnston O'Quinn (1952): Please add my name to the people wanting to save Radium Springs. I have so many wonderful memories of Radium (dances, freezing in the water, the Cotton Ball, etc.) Hanging out there on Saturday with Barbara Lipsey England, trying to get Richard and Fred Bartlett to notice us and dancing on the outside pavilion. Also, I remember the only night I got to stay out most of the night was my graduation night. Anne Rouse Donovan and I (along with dates that we can't remember their names) ended up at Radium Springs and actually climbed the high slide, but couldn't get up the nerve to slide down into the cold water. We just backed down the ladder.

My youngest son, Scott, had his graduation dance there many years after my time. My memories of that night aren't all that great as he jumped into the "boil" on a dare from his friends. The part I didn't like was that he had on a brand new suit that I had purchased for his graduation.

As you can see, I do have tons of memories and would love to do anything I can to keep Radium so please add my name to the list.

*** 7/9/02

Dougherty County now owns the Radium Casino. It was deeded to them by FEMA with the stipulation that the building be torn down by the end of this year. We are diligently working with Senators Max Cleland and Zell Miller, and Congressman Sanford Bishop to try and save the building from the wrecking ball. They are developing a bill to submit to Congress in order to save it. It is going to take congressional action to pull this off. The plan is to jack the building up eight feet. This would be out of the flood plain. I have found a company that is capable of accomplishing this feat. The Homeowners Association in Radium Springs would form a 501 (c) (3) non profit status. They, in turn, would manage the building, with maybe some rental offices on the second floor for cash flow. The downstairs could be rented out for reunions, weddings and all those good things. Our senators think they can find the money to do all of this. FEMA has told us they will fight the bill if it gets on the floor of Congress. That is where we are now. We are wishing for the best.

Susan Riffe O'Neal (not quite Class of 1954): When I was a child the two most glamorous places in my life were Radium Springs and the New Albany Theater. As I commented recently to Rachel Greer Norras when she was here in Norfolk, when we went to the "picture show" in Albany I felt we were stepping into the movie world itself. The pavilion at Radium Springs also seemed like a terribly sophisticated place to me. Moreover, Radium Springs was the only place I was allowed to swim since my parents thought the waters there were healthy and suspected swimming pools of spreading or even causing dread infantile paralysis. I hope the activists are successful in thwarting FEMA.

Jon Crawford (1954): One of this country boy’s best (early on) thrills before AHS days was GOING TO RADIUM! I can’t remember my first time going – older brothers Holt, AHS ’41 and Gene, ’43 probably introduced me to that wonderful place. I do remember Gene getting somewhat disgusted and throwing me in to shorten the time to be spent on swimming lessons – very effective method. I’m sure we all had self imposed goals – diving from the board; getting to the bottom of the boil; climbing the rock columns to the ‘tower’ above the board, etc. Who will remember or admit how hard that was early on? Believe me, it was as hard for me to go off that ‘tower’ for the first time as it was to make my first jump in Airborne training at Benning a few years later.

I’d usually have to hitch hike (remember this was the 40’s) and on one or two occasions when I didn’t have the price of admission, there was always a soft spot to slither underneath the tall fence back towards the rear woods. Once inside, there was never enough time for all that Radium offered. Does anyone remember diving down to certain cracks and crevices in the rocks on the side walls of the boil and digging out the blue/gray clay? We’d make enough trips down to accumulate enough to smear it all over our skinny bodies, then dive in and swim leaving this blue/gray trail in the clear water. I wonder which genius figured that one out. And of course there was always the creek to explore – always good for frogs, snakes, eels and whatever else was good to delight the girls.

These things plus all sorts of games, races and just generally checking out the island, sandy bottom and everything in general, kept us from too much gawking (with our intelligent looking open mouth drools) at the beautiful girls. I remember going to what must have been a birthday party for Diane Gortatowsky, and there was a picture, but I can’t find it. Who remembers that?

Someone had the good taste to entertain us all with great background music – perhaps different songs take each of you back there – I cannot hear ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE without being there. Don’t want to get mushy in front of all of you but it was the promised kiss of springtime for me. Jon

Harriet Ort Cornelius (1955): I have enjoyed the memories of my "Albany Friends" so very much that I thought, I must think, think, think, and come up with something worthwhile to share on the subject of Radium. I was simply amazed at the memories Robert Gotsch came up with. He must have a photographic memory!

To start off the season every year, my mom would always pack a picnic lunch, invite a few friends and have a birthday party for me at Radium. A new bathing suit would be part of the celebration. At some point during the afternoon we would have a water ballet out in the big part of the water. We were sure that we looked just like Esther Williams.

DAP and I most definitely loved to dance and did teach a lot of boys to do the bop. Of course, the living room of homes was the training ground, then they would graduate to The Pavilion at Radium. It had a rough gray slate finish on the floor and I can remember on at least one occasion, we danced so much that I wore the skin off my feet. I do not know why we danced barefoot. Or maybe, it was just me that did, but my feet took a beating.

Then there were all those hunks that showed off their muscles and diving skills as they plunged into the deep blue water. Just before Lem McLendon passed away, I had an opportunity to tell him how I had admired him diving into the water from the high dive. He was one of those wonderful divers that hardly made a splash when he hit the water. I think I tried diving into the well once or twice and almost lost my bathing suit. So, from them on I decided that it must be a guy thing.

The beautiful water, the cypress trees covered with Spanish moss and friends all around us made this our Camelot.

Joan Kling (1955): Thanks so very much for the classmate updates, and the Radium Springs news .... My family moved to Albany just before the 1953-54 school term, our Junior year, so I don't remember very much about Radium Springs except our end of school picnics, and that it was a beautiful place, and the water was so freezing cold.

I'm glad I'm back in the loop and corresponding with some of my friends from way back when we were "a little" younger. Barbara A. Hoffman and I are reminiscing about when we worked together on our first office jobs. Thanks for getting us in touch with each other.

Barbara Lipsey (1952): Yes, it certainly was "our Camelot"... Most of those times were after me but I do remember many of them with love and affection. Wish we could go back sometimes ...

Mary Jean Cook (1955): The Radium emails are always so interesting and bring back so many good memories about Albany. I guess the older we get the more we like to think about the good old days when life seemed simple. It was also sad to read the article about Radium Springs in the Atlanta Journal yesterday. I wish there was something we could do about saving it but I don't know what it would be do you? Is there anybody we can write to? I enjoyed reading Bob Gotsch's article about AHS and all the things we did as teen-agers. Lou, our daughter and his daughter were sorority sisters at Auburn.

Bob Gotsch (1953): I did not know that Ebb Pate brought back the "dirty bop" to Albany. He used to hang out with Davie "Nook" Garrison a lot, and Davie was a good dancer. They both went to Auburn and were fraternity brothers in Delta Sigma Phi. I visualize "Nook" shaggin in his loafers, white socks, cuff rolled Levi's, and shirt with the collar rolled up, with a cool focused stare, while he danced with Dap et al. I remember the "dirty bop" name now that you mention it, a forerunner of "dirty dancing" no doubt. Hey, Ebb's got the Radium Dialogs credit as being the "big daddy" of dancin' at the Pavilion. Now how do Youngblood and the black kids in Atlanta West End in the early 50's fit into the link?

We'll have to talk about another cultural pop icon from Albany at another time, Ray (Ragsdale) Stevens and the musical influence he brought to Nashville from Albany. I have some good stories on that.

Beverly Smith (1955): I can tell you that Ebb Pate brought back the "dirty bop" straight from PC to my crowd!

Bob Gotsch (1953): I referred to myself as "Nine Fingers" as dubbed by Charlotte Curry, in the auditorium stage bit with Glen Chapman. I got a bit misty eyed writing this thing, as one memory led to another

About 10 years ago, WCLK 90.9 FM, had a Saturday afternoon show with a black DJ called "Youngblood". Youngblood would play the great shaggin stuff from the 50's to which we used to dance to at the Pavilion. He began reminiscing about shaggin' to the music in Atlanta in the fifties, and talking about the steps. I had to call him on the show, and tell him that I was a white kid growing up in South GA in the early 50's, and we were dancin' to the same stuff he was talking about. We got it from Hangout at PC. The black kids in West End were doin' the same steps during the same years. I mentioned this to Youngblood. We were both amazed we were both dancin' the same stuff at opposite ends of GA. The black kids started those steps which we did in Albany, but how did they get from Atlanta to the PC Hangout, or the PC Hangout to the black kids neighborhood? Neither of us could answer that one in a short air time phone call.

Bob Gotsch (1953): Below is an update on the line of succession protocol concerning "the wall" at Radium. Our contributor is my sister Linda, Class of '58.

Linda Gotsch (1958): I was one of those girls who sat at the wall at Radium. It happened your junior year if you were in and definitely your summer of the senior year. Baby oil and iodine was the sun tan oil of choice, plus making a big deal of mixing the stuff and rubbing it on your bod. You just sat there and looked good. Linda

Anne Ruffin (1956): Thanks for sending the Radium memories. I took a little jaunt down memory lane.

Robert (Bob) Gotsch (1953): Radium Springs Memories: the Clark Thread Sunday afternoon picnics behind the sandy beach in 1949 and 1950; the first time swimming in "water over my head" between the island and the platform; Ted Cahill diving off the island and landing on my mother who happened to be swimming around the island at the time, she never forgot that event; wrestling on the soapy raft with the other guys, and always ending up in the water early, Claude Boynton was the "king of the raft" that summer; listening to "Sundays Down South" over the PA at the "boil" being broadcast from WQXI in Atlanta and thinking how great is was listening to the "big city station" playing those "neat sounds"; checking out the "chicks" in their Jantzen's sitting on their towels by the wall next to the stairwell, and thinking as a 15 year old, next time I walk on by, I'll get the courage to stop and talk; noticing from about the years of 11 to 17, that the spot by the stairs always seemed to be occupied by the "really cute girls", but the group changed gradually each year, I wondered who set up the line of succession as a 15 year old;

How about hanging out at "The Pavilion" on Friday and Saturday nights after the movies at the Albany Theater with your dates; I learned to shag there, and those shag steps keep me in demand at weddings with the "ole girls" who remember how, greeting me with "I see you're a dancer", to which I reply, "Let's dance, mama". We always sit down when the wedding band plays the 20 minute rendition of "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch" and all the girls over 35 get up and start dancing with each other; Yes, I still remember "DAP" Page leaning against a post at the Pavilion soloing on steps she learned at the "Hangout" in PC, which has since become a victim of the "hurricane urban renewal program";

How 'bout the rest of the group also thinking dancing with a post "was cool" and imitating her; I learned all of my shagging steps at the Pavilion, and as a result I got to meet some neat girls at the Tech fraternity parties and after graduation at those swinging Atlanta apartment parties in the early 60's; I always proudly stated "I learned this stuff at the Radium Pavilion; taking a break from the dance at the Casino, and walking around the pool in the moonlight with your date (Charlotte Curry or Mary Jean Cook or Sydnor Peacock), and thinking "does it get any better then this?" Reading about the Smith Family moving to Albany with Beverly and her sisters in the Albany Herald (with a picture) and residing across from Radium in those apartments; riding your bike to Radium during a hot summer day with a couple of buddies, and carefully balancing on the white line by the side of the road, to stay out of the cars way coming up behind you; stopping at five points to get a Top Cola (16 oz for the long ride to Radium), putting Planters Peanuts into the bottle, and "shooting torpedoes" with the peanuts.

Returning to Radium in the early nineties and realizing things had changed when three uniformed guards stopped and searched my bag for weapons and booze because they had some "incidents" between some of the groups on site recently. . . .I looked at the makeup of crowd, the Jantzen girls were gone from sitting against the wall by the staircase, Dap and BB where long gone from shagging against the posts at the Pavilion, Claude Boynton and the soapy raft were gone, but young black guys and their dates were in a corner by the Pavilion, the troops from the base were gathered on the grass in front of the gazebo, and the redneck guys and their dates were on blankets, scattered on the grass and the area behind the sandy beach. I understood why the armed guards were in place.

I walked around from the slide, to the restaurant deck, to the Pavilion, across the grass lawn, over to the sandy beach, and back. As I looked into the "boil", I remembered Howard Bedenbaugh and the perfect arc dive he could make off of the high dive and land with a minimum splash, and think "what a cool dive". I looked around again and noted how worn and tired Radium looked. I didn't know anyone there. The AHS gang was gone.

You can't go home again, but it was great while it lasted as "Our Camelot".

Barbara Amann (1955): Radium Springs! There will never be another place like it. I remember one of my first parties there -- if I remember correctly, I was with David Akridge (whom I looked for at the reunions - 1985 and 1995 but never did see). I did remind Jackie Clark, however, that he teased me unmercifully by spelling words and getting me to say them with my Yankee accent -- he didn't remember! Does anyone remember the parachute "chair" that was installed there one summer for Air Force survival training? I want you all to know that I had the courage (that only a sixteen-year-old would have) to actually jump from it as it was raised over the center! My sons would never believe it!

I'm so glad that the '95 reunion was held there; it brought back a lot of pleasant memories

Taylor Harrison (1954): I can remember that (judge) Bubba Stewart was "king of the raft" practically all summer in the early 50's. The raft was a gift from TAFB as well as I remembered.

Patsy Gregory (1955): Thanks so much for the updates on our "history" ------ each of us has memories of Radium Springs which would entertain everyone for hours. Keep the news coming and I will keep passing it along ..

Joe Ed Rossman (1955): Thought I'd add some of my thoughts to Cleme’s. Remember church picnics at Radium after Bible School in June or July. (That's from my pre-high school days). I am like Cleme because I also remember the so-called "Tree House" as The Pavilion. Diving from the board over the boil and from the tower where all the boys tried so hard to show off what "real Men" they were.

And don't forget eating at the Casino (never the gambling kind) on Sunday afternoons with Rosin baked potatoes to go with the roast beef.

And what about swimming over to the island and climbing up on the rock wall to walk around under the trees then diving back into that (seemingly) freezing water to swim to the raft. I remember diving off the raft one summer and going straight to the bottom and hitting my head on a rock. It still hurts! Maybe that's why I've always been such a nut.

Cleme is right. None of us were what you would call "Rich", but when it came to fun and good times together there was a richness to our lives that is somehow missing from what young people go through today. No drugs (except a few beers if you could get them) a lot of self respect and respect for other people, and most of all, lots of good fun just being together. There'll never be another "Radium."

Clementine Wiggins (1957): Oh, the wonderful memories that name provokes. Hot summer night’s air conditioned by the Springs. Listening to the jukebox and dancing. You're right about the name "Tree House" I don't remember calling it anything but the "Pavilion". Remember how cold it was when you first went in the water and how you stayed cool on a hot Sowega summer day a good half hour after you got out and Will or Wiley Smith climbing up in the tree to dive down into the boil. I remember one day a gray oak snake dropped into the water and emptied the area near by of all swimmers. The Senior picnic and of course the Jr. Sr. prom were held there. I really think the teenagers of today would envy us if they had one taste of what we had and I wouldn't trade it for anything they have today. I know that there are a lot more Radium memories out there and hope you will forward those to me.

Tommy Herrington (1956): Re: The Senior Picnic and the Jr. Sr. Prom at Radium. I remember that night pretty well. Maynard playing the trombone, and the fact that I had been given four flat tires by somebody ... (on my mother's old '41 Dodge with the Fluid Drive. Even had a running board!). I guess we will never forget our times growing up....

B.B. Rhodes (1952): I remember Cleme Wiggins and I bet she remembers B.B. as one of Motie's older friends. As we get older we wonder what happened to people - where are they - what are they doing, etc. I also remember Radium Springs, being a life guard, diving in the boil, our Jr. Sr. picnic and winning the swimming race, dancing and skinny dipping in the springs when no one was looking. I also remember gigging ells in the creek and selling them to blacks in Harlem.

B.B. Rhodes (1952): The Radium article was in the Albany Herald and was an interview with Morgan Murphy about the book Skywater that he and Lamar Clifton wrote. I have a copy of the book and it's really good. You can get a copy from Albany Bank and Trust. (A new bank in town / home owned). Take care B.B.

Taylor Harrison (1954): The latest is that the casino is to be torn down. Seems FEMA paid Manley for it & the next step calls for tearing it down. Hopefully, still in the air, but doesn't look good for the home team.

Beverly Smith (1955): When we first moved to Albany from Jacksonville, FL in November of '48, we lived in the Magnolia apartments straight east from Radium. There was a flood that fall/winter that prohibited going into McIntosh Elementary - you couldn't get across the Flint into town and though Radium was flooded too, I didn't have a clue what it was! But I certainly found out - for Radium was the "ground of bonding" for me. In the summer it was Mother's baby sitter - and every summer I went nearly every day. My closest group of girlfriends ... Sydnor Peacock, Sara Cordell, Mary Jane Cook and Roxana Speight ... were there most days with me! And I have pictures - black and white of course to prove it! We turned our little bodies brown as nuts with baby oil and iodine. And even though I had incredibly natural blonde hair at that time, in went the lemon juice to make it lighter! We wore Jantzen’s, Catalina’s, and Rose Marie's (or something like that) and we drank wonderful icy co-colas in little green bottles! We sun bathed in the little area just to the right of the grand stairway! And yes - dancing in the Pavilion was dancing the good way ... mostly jitterbug and the wonderful "close" dancing! I didn't like heights, so the high dive and the big slide were not for me! And I really was not crazy about the cold water either, but one December 31 at midnight some of us simply got crazy and jumped in the water from the concrete wall! I remember I forgot I was wearing a brand new watch! I rescued it with my hair dryer later that night!

A group of Juniors "sponsored" the Junior-Senior dances and I was dating Terry Coleman the year I was a sponsor - unfortunately he played drums in Ray Ragsdale's "Baron's" - frankly I wasn't impressed at all - especially with the fact that if he was my date, I would have no one to dance with!!! SO - we broke up and John Huie took me! HOW SHALLOW OF ME!!! But Terry did a beautiful thing ... Annie Jean Pridgen - did not have a date, but was also a sponsor, and she asked Terry if he would be her date so she could be listed in the newspaper as having an escort. HE DID THE BIG THING .... HE SAID YES!!!