Rosy Ramblings

View of the FDR Library/Museum

A gorgeous day..sunny, breezy, cool. Did my driveway walk and gave a mini-tour to man working on a restoration project at Bellefield which has a formal walled garden designed by landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand. I plan to visit as the garden is adjacent to the Roosevelt property.

The Roosevelt property is still a working farm. Numerous fields of hay.

Met another volunteer,  Mary Ellen, and backed up her tour. She is a retired history professor at one of the SUNY universities.   Very much an FDR fan, so we hit it off right away. Very nice to meet her.

2d tour was with Victor, a ranger, who has been doing this since 1988. A treasure trove of knowledge.

Made my way out the secret exit and got a brighter shot of FDR’s office. It was in this office that he and Churchill made plans for the Manhattan Project, the development of the Atomic Bomb.

I talked to friends, Dick and Linda, who live in Rhinebeck and plan to see them this weekend.

Another tour with Victor. He is incredible in his knowledge, shows great  respect for this historic site, and tells me things I did not know. I could follow him on and on. And he is a gentleman, old school.

At the entrance to Springwood is the American flag and the Presidential flag used from 1916 to 1945.

Sitting outside on a bench, enjoying the sun, breeze and beauty of this site.

When I start looking at real estate,come bring me home!

 

 

 

 

 

Usual morning with walk across grounds and down and back on the driveway.  Met with the rangers at the Gingerbread house to get assignments.

I backed up 3 tours, all led by different rangers and each ranger does a somewhat different tour. But they are all excellent.

I was able to see part of the home that is not included on the tours, the South wing, added in 1915.

In this wing, FDR had a small office on the 1st floor.

 

 

Displaying  a Christmas card from George VI and Queen Mum, with photo of London during Blitzkrieg. Can’t read, but you get the historical significance

Also in this wing are some servant quarters. Single women servants had bedrooms in the house. Married couples and single men slept in other buildings on the grounds.

Chamber pot collection, etc.

Finally, the kitchen.

 

This afternoon I hiked on the  Roosevelt Trail. Well marked with tulip signs.

 

From the trail,  you see the back of Springwood and spring.

 

Then to Sara’s greenhouse.

 

The multitude of apples. I still do not know the type or how I might ask for a sappling??

 

Day ended at Hyde Park Brewery..a favorite..made friends  with Andrew who is a Dookie..but nice young man.

 

“I think it is a good time for a beer”.  FDR..🍺

Just another awesome day!!

Another wonderful day.  Went  on morning walk and ran into Paul Sparrow,  Director of the FDR Presidential Library.  Nice conversation with a bit of smoozing on my part.

I then proceeded to be the back up on 3 tours of Springwood.

The first tour was led by Ranger Bob shown here in the parlor

Next tour was led by Ranger Paul as shown at the pause near the graves.

On the third tour, I ended up being totally alone in the house. I thought one of the rangers were downstairs but nope.  So I took  a ton of photo. Here are some.

Library/Living Room from 1915 renovation.

Statue of FDR at age 28. Strangely it shows him with no legs. The sculptor said he could not envision  his legs. This was done 11 years  BEFORE polio. Gave me chills.

 

After contacting polio at the age of 39 in 1921, in order to move to the 2d floor, FDR rolled his wheelchair into a lift that had new used to move travel trunks and pulled himself up using ropes. He never wanted it motorized as his great fear was fire and being trapped.

 

 

Other items on first floor are dining room, music room, bird collection, gong to call children to dinner.

On the second floor are family and guest bedrooms.  In 1915 renovation, a three  bedroom suite was added for FDR,  Eleanor, and mother, Sara. With connecting doors between all

FDR’s bedroom..Fala photo on mantel. Fala also had his own chair to sleep in

FDR’s closet that has his navy cape, top hat for Inauguration, shoes.

Also in his bedroom are 2 phones. The one on the wall went directly  to the White House.

Next is Eleanor’s bedroom. Very simple.

Next is Sara’s bedroom.

Then FDR’s boyhood room.

Finally FDR at age 4. Sara did not want  to cut those curls.

 

It felt really odd to be in that house totally alone but what a photo op. Too many to post here.

More of the same tomorrow.

These rangers are amazing with all there knowledge and dynamic presentation skills. I am totally blown away and by brain is overflowing.

 

My morning routine is now to walk down driveway and back. Between walking across grounds to driveway and back is about 1 mile.

Trees that line the drive are a mix of new and old. FDR stated in his will that every tree that dies or is in jeopardy must be replaced  with a new tree. When he came home to vote, his stated that his occupation was tree farmer. A true conservationist.

 

Today was a backup for 2 tours. Looks like my schedule will be Tues and Wed afternoon to lead tours at Springwood. Other tours possibly.

They were short staffed today so I really was needed.

On the first tour, an elderly lady collapsed when we were in Springwood.  Paul, Ranger, called 911, and she was transported  to a hospital. That was upsetting and scary. Lots of elderly on these tours.

I spent tla lot of time on the 2d floor of Springwood where the bedrooms are located and explained who slept where. Churchill, George VI, Queen Mum all stayed there. There is the birth room, FDR’s boyhood room, a suite with FDR’s bedroom,  ER”s bedroom, and Sara’s bedroom…all with connecting  doors!

The beds, furniture, rugs, lamps, are all original and remain as they were on March 29, 1945 which was last time FDR was there.

Paul also took me on a tour of parts of the house not open to the public. Saw FDR’s office, secretary’s office, kitchen, servant’ s quarters, bedrooms of servants, chamber pots used in early days, etc. In FDR’s office is a Christmas card from King George and wife. They are standing in front of a building in London destroyed during the Blitzkrieg..wow

After, I the tours, I walked through stables to see stalls. One stall was New Deal.

Then on my way back I rambled through the Rose Garden. The sundial are where Fala (Scottie, 1952) and Chief (German Shepherd, 1933) are buried.

Another busy, beautiful day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A busy day, which started by my walk down the driveway from Springwood to the Albany Post Road, which is about 1/2 mile total.  FDR’s goal was to make that walk on crutches, but he was only able to go about half way down the drive.

Then I did my good deed for the day.  I flagged down a tram for an elderly lady who was sitting on the Library steps and need a ride to Springwood for the tour.

Met with Park Ranger Mike A, signed papers to make me “legal”.  I then went on Tour 1 of Springwood, the home of FDR.

Next, a quick trip to the Vanderbilt Estate to meet Mike and pick up my to pick up my volunteer outfit…cap, shirt, jacket.

In the afternoon, I met with Cliff L, National Archives, and we talked about setting up training to be a docent in the FDR Presidential Library and Museum.  I hope we can work out that schedule this week.

The afternoon ended with Tour 2 of Springwood. I am getting pretty good and understanding how to pace the tour. We start at the Visitor’s Center, then to the Library, then to the grave site, and finally to Springwood, and go inside and tour the 1st and 2nd floor.  The tour last 1 hour..

Tours end with this view across the Hudson Valley.

Tomorrow morning, I am to meet at 8:45 with the Park Rangers at the “Gingerbread” House where they are stationed and then go on another tour, maybe 2.  Interesting to see how different tour leaders proceed.  There is no script.  I hope to train this week, and be ready to go next week. They run 7-8 tours daily.

A very tired blogger this evening. A very, very early flight from RDU to Baltimore. But what a chance meeting in Baltimore with bluegrass legend, Del McCoury. We stood in line to board. I was #32. Del was #33.  Come to learn that the Del is short for Delano.  Yep, his dad was  hard core Democrat.  He is such a nice, kind, talented man.  

Then on to Albany.  Got my rental car.  A Kia Sportage which I really like. Easy and fun to drive.

Got to Hyde Park around 3:30.  Called Ranger Mike A and we are to meet tomorrow at 10:00 at the Wallace Visitor Center.

As it was getting close to dusk and the grounds at the Roosevelt Historic were about to close, I had to go over and pay homage.

 

The driveway from Springwood to Albany Post Road.  The grave site with the sundial where Fala is buried along with FDR and ER.

Then I was in need of food and drink. Across the road is the Hyde Park Brewery.  So very convenient.

Just a wonderful start to this adventure.  Now settling in to watch Ken Burn’s PBS series, The Vietnam War.  Stay tuned.

 

Mid-September heading to the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library/Museum & Historic site, Hyde Park, NY. to serve as a docent and tour guide.

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.”

Taken Sept, 2015 at FDR Historic Site