Rosy Ramblings

A very rainy morning and was off and on all day.  Good day to be a docent..inside!

Guess a lot of other folks wanted to be indoors. The place was packed.

We had 3 docents on duty to handle the number of folks visiting.

So I spent a good deal of time today in the part of the Museum that presents information on FDR’s disability.

Folks seem to have a great interest in that aspect of his life and asked many questions.

On recommendation from one of the Park Rangers,  I had been reading The Man He Became  by James Tobin.  The book discusses FDR’s battle with polio and the impact it had on his life, career and ultimately our American history.

What follows is a very brief summary with photos.

At the age of 39, 1921, while vacationing with family at their home in Campobello,  FDR first fell ill and became paralyzed, first in his legs and then the paraylsis spread upward to his neck. and shoulders.

Home in Campobello

View from his bedroom in Campobello

For the next 7 years, FDR’s focus was on rehabilitation. First in the hospital in NYC, then in the townhouse in the city, at Hyde Park, in Florida, and Warm Springs, Ga.

On houseboat in Florida

Warm Springs Ga.

He realized that if he was to ever going to “run” for political office, he had to appear to be able to walk. This illusion was accomplished by using 14 lb. braces, a cane and a strong arm to grasp and steady him.

Ultimately, he developed a 2-point walk, using his shoulders to move forward with his hips and legs following.  It was dangerous, painful, slow, and only could be endured for short distances.  But it worked…and he was back!

Of the 130,000 total photos of FDR, only 4 show him in his wheelchair

. Can you spot Secret Service??

Began today with church service at St. James Episcopal Church. Rainy morning.

Roosevelt family pew at St. James.

Friends came over for the afternoon.  Toured around Springwood, Graves, Museum and Val-Kill.  Nice to hang out with and show around.

Springwood 

Graves

Museum

Val-Kill

A fine afternoon…almost like NC humidity, aka, sauna. 😊

Off off to Rhinebeck to meet friends, Dick and Linda and head to Kingston to spend the day. 

Walked along Rondout creek.  Tour of the Maritime Museum, boat cruise down the Hudson River on The Rip Van Winkle

Rondout Creek…feeds into the Hudson

Just like this name.

Lunch at Ship to Shore..Great Bloody Mary

Maritime Museum

Icecicle. FDR’s ice boat

Ice  boats.   Very popular sport.

Cruise on the Rip Van Winkle

Fall is coming. Better each day 

Esopus Lighthouse at Port Ewen

Rondout Lighthouse 

Crusing the Hudson 

Docent in Museum this morning and focused on exhibit on early life. Then hiked on Eleanor’s Loop at Val-Kill, and ended with presentation by Peter Baker of N.Y. Times on new book, Obama: The Call of History.  Such a wonderful day.

Eleanor’engagement ring from Tiffanys

Start of political career, 1910

With 5 children..Anna, James,Eliot, Franklin Jr., John

Then a successful hike at Val-Kill on Eleanor’s Loop. I did not get lost.  Next Friday is hike up to Top Cottage..supposed to be very steep near the top.

This afternoon attended presentation by Peter Baker,  Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times and author of,

Obama: The Call of History.

With Paul Sparrow, Director of FDR Presidential Library and Museum.

Began the day with morning walk and ran into Paul, gardener in the Rose Garden, mowing the lawn.

The railing  that limits access was down, so I gestured,  may I walk in. He nodded yes. 

I was able to get photos of the grave markers for Chief and Fala. A major feat as otherwise,  they cannot be seen.

More Fala from the Museum. Life size statue. 

Address on dog tag, White House.

Spent time in the morning as docent in museum. Photos from 1932-33.

Durch Family Bible used in all 4 Inaugurations. Opened to 1 Corinthians 13.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Campaign Hat

Pince-nez glasses..just like TR

First hint of Fall..from parking lot of Hyde Park Brewery..my haunt  🍺

My Apple Quest.

After 2 years of research, I finally was successful in identifying the Apple varieties here with help from Clifford J. Laube Public Programs Specialist Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. 

1948 the apples trees within the orchard included Jonathan, Baldwin, Macintosh, Greening, and Northern Spy. Some of them may have been in decline, because the site managers sought the advice of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, who recommended Delicious and Greening as the hardiest apples to be used as replacements. Many of the trees in the orchard have been removed and replanted over the years. Currently 80 apple trees (Malus sp.) are in the orchard, approximately one-quarter then extant from the Late Roosevelt Ownership Period (figure 4.10).

As I mentioned, Donna, our guys now replace with Macintosh, so, based on the information above, I think it’s safe to say a majority of these trees today are:

Delicious, Greening and Macintosh

 So now You know and so do I.

Yesterday, I was part of a tour of Springwood for a group of school children.  It was great fun to see that energy and enthusiasm.

I also visited the Vanderbilt ground for a spectacular view of the Hudson

And time in President Roosevelt’s Office in the Library/Museum. Two fireside chats were delivered from here.

Also, the Library/Living room in Springwood.

Completely alone in  the Museum this morning, it was THE time to record this video.

April 13, 14, 15  1945.

Warm Springs, Ga, Washington, DC, Hyde Park,N.Y. 

Now that I figured out how to post videos, Please indulge me. I was advised not to move the camera too quickly. Hope this is an improvement.

What a day. Tours at Springwood were large. First one had max capacity of 50 and second had like 37. So difficult to talk loud enough and move them quickly to cover all that I need to cover. Lots of elderly folks who have hearings difficulties and mobility issues. A challenge for sure, but totally rewarding especially when you get good questions. One tired gal.

“I think it is q good time for a beer”

🍺

Woo-Hoo!! Finally figured out how to embed videos on blog.

Two videos on today’s blog. Success.

Morning Mist rising across Hudson Valley.

 

Morning walk ..listen carefully and hear the birds

Then usual ramble. The stable has initials JR, James Roosevelt, Franklin”s father

Sea Shell

I then met with Archives and gave them photos from funeral procession in DC, April 14, 1945.

Got my research card and did a little searching using the search engine, “Franklin”. They use a Novell network. Mercy!! I was researching “apples”, but no luck on identifying the variety but not giving up.

The librarian, Virginia, is learning to play 5-string banjo..strange connections

Spent 2 hours in the Museum doing docent duty.  Cheers 🍸

Oath of Office 1933 Inauguration

Afternoon treat

A clear, sunny morning of 50 degrees.

Perfect for outdoor church service at St. James Episcopal Church in Hyde Park.

Today was Blessing of the Animals, and I sat beside, Austin, Boston Terrier.

During the sermon, Austin fell asleep and snored….very loudly. We all got the church giggles. Not sure the priest knew what was so funny.

Beautiful afternoon. Dick, Linda and I went for lunch in Poughkeepsie at IceHouse restaurant located on the banks of the Hudson. Polenta and shrimp. Excellent

Looking up from the IceHouse you can see the Walkway over the Hudson.

Then to The Walkway. 212-ft.-high, 1.28-mi.-long pedestrian walkway created from a former railroad bridge. We walked the entire length and back.

Day ended at Hyde Park Brewery. Perfect ending to a fun day.