Author: donnacornick

I was on a mission to find out when and where the wonderful FDR photo in the Library lobby was taken. Success!.

I had taken a photo when I visited Campobello and was pretty sure the photo was taken in June 1933. This was FDR’s first visit to Campobello since 1921 when he was diagnosed with polio.

So with the help of Matt who is an Archivist here, I learned that I was correct and that the original photo was taken June 29, 1933. Matt sent me the Full, original photo that is part of the Archives at the FDR Presidential Library.

Archives are Treasures.

Photo in Lobby of FDR Presidential Library

Same photo that I took at Campobello

Original photo from FDR Archives

A rainy afternoon so taking a shortcut through the Visitors Center on the way to the Library, I took note of this saga

Kneeling Woman is now housed in the very back corner of the Visitors Center. Yout have to look really hard to find her. 😉

Reverend Chuck Kramer. Outstanding sermon. “And Yet We Persist “. Delivered without notes. He will send me a copy.

In the Cementary at St. James Episcopal Church

James Roosevelt. FDR’s father.

Rebecca Roosevelt. First wife of James.

Sara Delano Roosevelt. Mother of FDR. After Rebecca died, James married Sara. He was 52; she was 26!

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. He was the 2d FDR Jr. The first Jr. died as an infant.

Anna Roosevelt. The only daughter of Franklin and Eleanor.

John Roosevelt. The last born of the 6 Roosevelt children. 5 survived to adulthood

FDR built Top Cottage as a place where he could escape from the “mob” at Springwood. He planned to use it as a retreat where he could write his memoirs after leaving the Presidency. A Special Place.

Tour leader, Ranger Mike. Mike was my first contact. He called me after receiving my letter and resume and said they would like to have me. Thank you Mike!

Bathroom issues.

The famous porch

View from the bedroom

Once this was the road from Val-Kill that FDR would use to drive up to the Cottage. Now you can hike up which I did once upon a time..really steep at the top.

So much more I could say…so much..

A chilly morning. 33 degrees and a bit of frost.

In Poughkeepsie

Roosevelt Bridge over the Hudson

Walkway over the Hudson

Lunch overlooking the Hudson

On the day before FDR died, he sent this message to Churchill.

April 12, 1945

Churchill’s tribute..

Please read..poetry

Winston Churchill visits FDR’s grave. He stood in silence for over 3 minutes.

Churchill comes to visit and stayed for 3 weeks.

and on this visit…Churchill (stepping naked from his bath): “The Prime Minister of Great Britain has nothing to hide from the President of the United States.” **

Verification source

Daisy Suckley, a cousin of FDR, records FDR’s thoughts and concerns about Stalin. Her diary is a treasure and was published as Closest Companion

Cuban cigar

3-4 packs of Camels each day

Original document. FDR’s D-Day Prayer

See the handwritten addition of the first line. “Last night when I spoke with you aboit the fall of Rome….”

Machine used by FDR and Churchill to send coded messages. They exchanged nearly 2000 messages between 1939-1945.

FDR’s sketch creating bodies of the United Nations …the 40 nations of UN, the Executive branch, and 4 policemen ..US, Britian, Russia, China.

Part 3. Final exhibit post..tomorrow

A cold, windy, cloudy morning. the wind was cutting through me, so a shorter walk

Presidential and American flag in the wind at entrance of Springwood

The rose garden is almost finished for another year, but a few still bloom.

James Roosevelt’s stable..note the JR

To honor the life and legacy of U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the flags shall be flown at half-staff

A cool morning with heavy rain forecast for this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow morning. Raining as I blog.

Working on hay bales

Cloud bank over the Hudson River Valley

In the rose garden…the Graves of Fala and Chief (a German Shepherd).

“Murray the Outlaw of Falahill”

I then spent most of the day as a docent in the D-Day Special exhibit. Great to see so much interest and appreciation.

Photos of Special Exhibit Part 1 is next.

The head docent gave me an intensive tour of the Special Exhibit, D-Day, FDR and Churchill’s “Mighty Endeavor”. It tells the story of these two remarkable leaders, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. The exhibit starts in August, 1941, with the secret meeting off the coast of Newfoundland and the resulting Atlantic Charter. These photos are from that 1941 meeting.

I will post more photos each day from the other sections.

Apparently, the British hand-delivered their material one day before the exhibit opened.

The exhibit will continue through January 2020. All of the documents are original. Some are on loan from various British archives. Others are from the FDR Presidential Library.

This is a very special exhibit. Maybe best I have seen.

In the opening section this photo shows the floor is made to resemble the deck of the ship…HMS Prince of Wales

The view that they could see from the ship that Roosevelt and Churchill were on..Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. …

The original document..The Atlantic Charter.