Healing Waters Steeped in History

by John Berrigan
Tonka Equipment Company

Roosevelt Warms Spring Institute

The healing properties of the warm springs in Georgia were utilized by Native Americans and many others throughout history, but it was President Franklin D.  Roosevelt whose visit in 1924 made the greatest impact. Since 1927, Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute has provided comprehensive rehabilitation “to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence.”  President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the institute originally to treat persons affected by polio. The Institute provides rehabilitation to as many as 5,000 individuals a year from all over the United States.  Tonka Equipment Company was selected to soften the mineral waters of Warm Springs and provide facilities on the beautiful 950 acre campus with softened water—reducing the hard mineralized water and radionuclides to healthful levels.