85 Years Ago, News Changed Our World

Dr. Jesse Lee Fairchild was best known as the Medical Director of Greenwell Springs Hospital for many years and as the author of The History of Greenwell Springs, 1850-1950, the definitive history of this community during its formative years.

But in 1941, Jesse was a 15 year old boy working part-time at the gas station and general store at the corner of Greenwell Springs Road and Spring Street, the only street remaining from the Greenwell Springs resort as it existed during its prime in the 1850’s.

The store was right next to the Greenwell Springs Hospital and was a place where employees of the hospital as well as visitors and members of the community could buy groceries, grab a sandwich, and fill up their gas tank.

Jesse was raised only about a block away from the store, and it was a great place to earn a few dollars during the Depression, which was still raging.

It was early morning on Sunday, December 7, 1941.

Jesse hadn’t seen his first paying customer yet when a stranger pulled up in a new car. The man asked, “Have you heard the news?” Jesse said he hadn’t, but the radio was playing and he leaned forward into the car.  The man said, “The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor! We’re at war!”  Jesse hadn’t ever heard of Pearl Harbor, but for the rest of his life he remembered that newscast. “That was when our world changed forever!” he said.

PHOTO AT THE STORE NEXT TO GREENWELL SPRINGS HOSPITAL — It was around 8 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.  15-year-old Jesse Lee Fairchild was pumping gas at the small grocery at the corner of Greenwell Springs Road and Spring Street. The store was across Spring Street from the Greenwell Springs Hospital and only a block from the actual Greenwell springs.  A motorist pulled up.  He looked very concerned and asked if Jesse had heard the news.  Jesse said he hadn’t.  The boy leaned forward toward the window and heard the news on the radio.  The announcer said the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  Jesse had never heard of Pearl Harbor, but the man in the car said, “This means we will be at war!”  He pulled off.  Little did Jesse realize that the news would change everything in his world.  Years later, long after Jesse returned from the Navy, he was a medical doctor at Greenwell Springs Hospital and wrote, The History of Greenwell Springs 1850-1950.  He recounted the story of how he learned about Pearl Harbor to Central City News editor Woody Jenkins in 2007. The illustration above is from Louisiana History Brought to Life, An Illustrative Collection by Woody Jenkins.  Historical research, narrative, and creative direction by Woody Jenkins. Illustrations created with generative AI under his direction.