This page is left as it was originally presented ... the loving efforts of a group who tried ... but could not save Radium Casino ... so the City of Albany destroyed a treasure ... but never will they ever be able to strip our memories ... at least not until our generation is gone ... like our beloved Radium.

A small group interested in the preservation of the Radium Springs Casino met in Albany at Double Gate Country Club on Saturday, April 12, 2003, as guests of Morgan Murphy. It was another step into the future, a future we hope will include this historical building, loved by so many, for so long.

In the interest of Radium, two Albany High School alumni, Morgan Murphy and Lamar Clifton, not only created the book, Skywater, featuring history and photos of Radium, but have worked tirelessly for many years, investing their time, money, and hearts in saving Radium. Several of us who hold the same desire stepped forward to additionally offer our time, our energy and our hearts, and the Radium Springs Casino Preservation Group was formed on April 12, 2003.

In addition to Morgan and Lamar, those in attendance were Marion Hay, Buster Wasden, Joe Rossman, Lynne Garrison Johnson, Bonnie Dorough, Richard Harper, Sharon Smith Spies, Paul Murray, Bill Mills and Beverly Smith Zacharias. The group was advised that it would take an act of congress to save Radium. Marion Hay and Joe Ed Rossman will generate letters to Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Sen. Zell Miller and Congressman Sanford Bishop asking that they introduce appropriate legislation in the United States Congress which will allow the Casino to be saved. This letter will be signed by the newly formed committee, the Radium Springs Casino Preservation Group, and submitted personally within the next week or 10 days. We will seek legal help, if we find it necessary. Joe Ed, as an attorney, has offered his services as a gift - however, he has suggested that we need legal counsel in the area of property, FEMA, etc. Hopefully, help will come from Albany. This is a WORKING committee, chaired by Morgan Murphy, and we welcome anyone interested in giving their time and support to saving the Casino ... people who find it personally repugnant that the magic of Radium could be destroyed by the very city that created it.

New members of the Radium Springs Casino Preservation Group discuss the game plan. After the meeting several of the members visited Don and Mary Dale Vansant Kea.

Memo to 94 Petition Signers

To: The 94 petition signers!

A memo from Morgan Murphy today states that he received a call from Debbie Cannon, of Senator Saxby Chambliss' office, who relayed the message that FEMA has officially given us an extension to 12/31/03.

Morgan will be meeting with Larmar Clifton, Marion Hay and Buster Wasden plus some additional folks from Albany to set up the plan to take us forward.

FYI: It is my understanding that there will be NO swimming in Radium, as it has been proclaimed a site to study the Striped Bass (or something to that effect). But Morgan and group are determined to save the Casino on it's original site!

As Morgan says in his email ... "this is good news". And to that I add AMEN!!! And thank you!

Beverly Smith Zacharias

Friends of Radium Springs!!

Join the Snail Mail Campaign

WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY

June 14, 2003

The Radium Springs Casino Preservation Group met June 13, 2003 and determined that we need your help quickly. We need letters … LOTS of letters delivered immediately to our senators and congressman via the U.S. Post Office!!! We feel the next step in our attempt to save Radium Springs Casino is to let our legislators know how strongly we feel about saving the Casino, and to encourage them to move as rapidly as possible to complete the legislation already begun in the office of Congressman Sanford Bishop. Once that bill is completed and submitted to The House, Senators Chambliss and Miller will submit one to The Senate. We don’t have much time … the demolition is slated to begin this September, according to a published time-line, and completed by December 31, 2003.

If you want to see the Casino remain as a permanent part of the Radium Springs area,

SO …

WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS!

You will find the following information helpful in formulating a letter in your own words. It would serve our purpose better if our letters do not appear to be form letters. Therefore the info serves only as a guideline to assist you in writing your own original letter. Please read carefully, and be as succinct as possible as you tell them:

If you have a personal or business letterhead, please use it. If you don’t have a letterhead, just create one in business letterform. Handwritten letters from individuals have more impact. But if you prefer to use a computer or a typewriter, that’s OK. It is important that these be paper-generated letters and not e-mail. Can you imagine the impact that a staff member walking into the congressman's office with a 6 inch think stack of letters on the same subject? Our own on Miracle on Radium Springs Road!!!!

Sign the letter in your own personal handwriting, put a stamp on the envelope, and let the U.S. Post Office deliver our voices!

For Dougherty County folks and for AHS students, create separate letters to all three of the following:

Regardless of where you live, we welcome your support. We encourage you to write your own congressman or senators, and you can get those addresses from the following link:

Be sure to clearly specify what the Radium Springs Casino is and why it is important, if you are not writing to one of the three Georgia legislators. Also, feel free to forward this to friends who have been touched by the beauty of Radium. We need your support if the Casino is to remain for this generation and generations to come!