Sometimes an archival item unlocks an interesting story. Shown here is a postcard, circa 1940, from the Coastal Georgia Historical Society archives, which is described as “Fresh Water Lake in Glynn Haven, St. Simons Island, Georgia.” On the reverse, the horseback rider on the left is identified as Louisa Spruance.
Courtesy of Coastal Georgia Historical Society
1940s Glynn Haven Postcard
Postcard, circa 1940, from the Coastal Georgia Historical Society archives, which is described as “Fresh Water Lake in Glynn Haven, St. Simons Island, Georgia.” On the reverse, the horseback rider on the left is identified as Louisa Spruance.
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Louisa Spruance Morse
Louisa Spruance Morse 02-03-28
Researching Louisa’s earlier life reveals the significant accomplishments of this lifelong Delaware resident. At the beginning of World War II, she studied to become an aviation ground instructor and was certified by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. In 1942, she joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and began teaching pilots the basics of navigation, meteorology, and civil air regulations. She rose through the ranks from private to colonel, eventually serving as the commander of the Delaware Wing from 1953 to 1976. She was the first woman to serve on the CAP National Executive Committee and was inducted into the Civil Air Patrol Hall of Honor in 1982.
Following active service, she founded the CAP National Historical Committee and became the first national historian of the organization. The archives research and storage facility in Washington, D.C. is named in her honor. It contains information about the CAP Coastal Patrol Base No. 6 on St. Simons Island during World War II. When Louisa died in 2009, she had lived a remarkable life of service for nearly a century.
Among the items Morse donated to the Society is a monograph on the St. Simons CAP base, produced by the National Historical Committee. She also donated the brass matchbox shown here, an early memento from The Cloister on Sea Island.
Coastal Georgia Historical Society
Morse Matchbox
Brass matchbox, an early memento from The Cloister on Sea Island, donated to the Coastal Georgia Historical Society by Louisa Spruance Morse,
Coastal Georgia Historical Society presents this article and images from our archives as part of our mission “to connect people to Coastal Georgia’s dynamic history.” The Society operates the iconic St. Simons Lighthouse Museum and the World War II Home Front Museum, housed in the Historic Coast Guard Station at East Beach. To learn more about the Society, its museums, diverse programs, and membership, please visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org.
