Q: How did Sandy Springs get its name? When was it incorporated?

FRANCES TATE, Stone Mountain

A: The area north of Atlanta known as Sandy Springs was named for a spring that bubbles up from a sandy hole.

The actual spring, which has never run dry, is found on Sandy Springs Circle at the Sandy Springs Historic Site. The Creek Indians and other horse riders would stop at the spring on their journey to Atlanta.

Later, a Methodist congregation erected a camp where the trails converged and held their summer gatherings at the sandy spring. To this day, it produces 10 gallons of water per minute.

Sandy Springs, the city, was incorporated in December 2005.

Q: Who was it who said, "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"?

JIM MILLER, Hoschton

A: The quote frequently is attributed to author Sinclair Lewis, but there's no proof he ever said it.

Sally E. Parry, spokeswoman for the Sinclair Lewis Society, said in an e-mail that while the quote "sounds like something Sinclair Lewis might have said or written," the society never has been able to link it to the author "although we've been asked a number of times."

Lewis was the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. He died in 1951.

The quote also has been incorrectly attributed to the late Louisiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Huey Long.

-- Researchers Sharon Gaus and Joni Zeccola wrote this column.