Stone Cottage, at Val-Kill |
A couple of weeks ago, we started our visit to The Franklin
D. Roosevelt Home and Presidential Library. You might have noticed that, while
I wrote a lot about Franklin, and his mother Sara Roosevelt, one person was
mostly absent from that visit, the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.
Well, family relationships can be complicated.
National Archives and Records Administration [Public domain] via wikicommons |
Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the few first ladies who is as
famous and respected as her husband. Born in 1884, Eleanor suffered many personal
family losses. Her mother, father and one brother all died before her 10th
birthday. When she was 15, Eleanor was sent her to a finishing school in
England, and her time there seemed to bring out the best in her. When she
returned to New York, she worked with poor youths, teaching dancing and calisthenics.
Val-Kill |
Eleanor married Franklin, her 5th cousin, in 1905,
over the objections of his mother. It was never a happy marriage, and it almost
fell apart in 1918, when Eleanor found evidence that Franklin was having an
affair with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer. While the union survived, it was
basically a political partnership from that point on. After Franklin was
diagnosed with polio, in 1921, Eleanor took a more public role in his political
life. Coming out from Franklin’s shadow caused even more conflict with his
mother, Sara.
It is fairly well known that Sara Roosevelt ran Springwood, the
family’s home in Hyde Park, and also much of Franklin’s life. This certainly
made things uncomfortable for Eleanor. In 1927, the family built Val-Kill
on the eastern end of the property. Originally built as a home for Eleanor’s
friends Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman. Together the three women developed
Val-Kill Industries. They hired local farmers and craftspeople to build
furniture, homespun cloth and pewter goods using traditional methods. Val-Kill
became the place that Eleanor, and sometimes Franklin, could escape from Sara’s
domination. Val-Kill industries basically fell apart during the Second World
War, and after Franklin’s death in 1945, Eleanor bought the land, and converted
the factory building into a residence for herself.
Eleanor used her position as first lady of New York State,
and then as first lady of the United States, to push for many causes that she
believed in. There is evidence that she had Franklin’s ear in creating several New
Deal policies and agencies that worked directly in aiding unemployed workers. She
was a voice for women’s rights and civil rights. In fact, her voice was
important enough that J. Edgar Hoover labeled her “socialistic” and collected a
huge file on her. Eleanor continued to advocate on women’s issues until her
death in 1962.
Unlike the drive into Springwood, entering Val-Kill is much
more low-key. Instead of an estate drive, the entrance is like driving down a
country lane. You arrive at a parking area near a small lake. Across is Stone
Cottage, which was home to Ms. Dickerman and Ms. Cook. Walking through the
grounds, you arrive at Eleanor’s house. The inside has been restored to what it
looked like when Eleanor lived there. It was a comfortable home, that served as
a refuge from the world, but one that the world came call at. Eleanor
entertained world leaders there, but always kept it as an informal home, that
was welcoming to all guests.
While you are waiting for your tour, there is a visitor’s
center where you will find exhibits on her life and a tribute to the issues she
spent her life fighting for.
Franklin D. Roosevelt gets all of the attention in Hyde Park,
but it is worth taking the time to visit Val-Kill, and discover more about
Eleanor, a force in her own right.
I have been to Hyde Park and was depressed at the somberness of the place. If it reflects the personality of the commanding elder Mrs. Roosevelt, that tells me all I need to know about those relationships. I can understand why her daughter-in-law fled to the furthest part of the property. Must visit Eleanor's place. It sounds like I'll be much more uplifting. AMD
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