|
Amelia Earhart:
She was famous. In 1937 America, a house was six thousand dollars. Gas was twenty cents a gallon, and a car was about six hundred dollars. When, in July of that year, Amelia disappeared, President Roosevelt authorized the equivalent of spending sixty six million dollars to locate her – as that (in 1937) was what four million was worth in 2014 dollars! There are endless books, and media accounts on all this, so no need to re-tell any of that. Suffice it to say, she and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were flying on the final, western leg of their – so far – round the world record shattering flight, towards a place in the Pacific Ocean called Howland Island. They never got there. I was in Kansas City and, infused with my fascination for anything aviation related, I knew Amelia's home was in Atchison, Kansas. As it was only 50 miles away, I had to visit Atchison. As I approached her house – at 223 North Terrace, Atchison – I could sense the all-around peace and tranquility, and was thankful it had not been turned into a glitzy, tourist trap. It was, as far as I could see, just how it had been when she was a child.
This sense of stillness and serenity was increased by glancing at the view outside her bedroom window – just a hop, skip and jump below her home, is the gently flowing Missouri. The house was a wood frame, Gothic Revival cottage built in 1861. Amelia was born there on July 24th, 1897.
I've always felt a sense of deep gratitude to those far sighted individuals who take it upon themselves to "save" things, places and other memorabilia for future generations to enjoy. I asked one of the helpful, knowledgeable guides in Amelia's house, who was the person – or group – that'd saved this well-looked-after, historic house, and fashioned it just as it was in Amelia's youth. Turns out it's a group called the "Ninety Nines." Founded in November 1929, they're an international organization for female pilots providing members with professional opportunities. At its founding, 117 women pilots were invited – only 99 showed up. Amelia was their first elected president.
Because the house is so authentic – I felt Amelia might suddenly appear at any moment – I wondered how all this had developed into the "experience" it is today. One of the always "right there" guides told me that starting in 1994 a fundraising program was begun to restore – and preserve – the home to what it was. The exterior has been completely restored. Air conditioning installed. Faux woodwork grained to the 1897 - 1909 period accomplished. Walls and ceilings repaired. Floors refinished to the period. I loved the fact that there had been, what one guide told me was the "use of selected furnishings were installed." The result is captivating and delightful beyond belief, and so "in the moment" of Amelia's childhood, that you're persuaded you'll hear childish laughter, and she'll unexpectedly appear.
I walked into her bedroom and wondered what her thoughts might have been as she lay in her bed. Did she think about setting world aviation records? And would it be Amelia who'd achieve them? Did she have any aviation related toys, and what sort of playthings did she treasure? Another guide told me the house at 223 North Terrace, belonged to her grandparents, Judge Alfred Otis and Amelia Harres Otis. When I heard THAT news, I wished I'd known Amelia's parents, so I could ask them if they'd chosen the name AMELIA, due to Mrs. Otis' first name. The guide went on to tell me that Amelia had always had a love of travel and adventure, manifested in her fashion designs, public speaking about aviation, and women's rights! She was, I thought, "a woman ahead of her time." Let me suggest you visit this marvelous home that, although millions have been spent trying to find Amelia, resonates with all things Amelia Earhart. Indeed, the way the home has been restored and recreated, it's so compelling you feel her presence in every room. If YOU do go there, send me an email (jdcradio@cox.net) and let me know about YOUR visit. Related Articles: |
f
you disappeared, how much do you think the government would spend trying
to find you? $100? $750? Could you imagine half a million? What if you
were Amelia Earhart? She was the first woman to fly – solo –
across the Atlantic, in her 15 hour flight from Newfoundland to Ireland,
and Eleanor Roosevelt – the president's wife – was her friend,
and wanted Amelia to teach her how to fly. Amelia was the 16th woman
to be issued a pilot's license.
