FDR home at Springwood, Hyde Park NY. A Closer Look at Roosevelts on the Hudson

New York. Visit Eleanor and FDR at FDR's birthplace, his childhood home, and often refuge, in Hyde Park NY on the Hudson.  Find details of privileged lives, tributes to their accomplishments, and impact on history.  Hyde Park is the name of the town.  The Roosevelt estate is called Springwood.

Hyde Park NY.  Daniel Widing with Eleanor and FDR

The first Hyde Park dates from 1536 in England, a manor fave of Henry VIII for his hunting. He confiscated it from monks, who had been affiliated with Westminster Abbey. Tut! 

Is this the same manor that is the eponymous area now known as Hyde Park in London? Henry:  Another to the manner born, see http://www.word-detective.com/2011/10/to-the-manner-manor-born/  Another Hyde Park is part of the Chicago area, since 1853, and in Utah 1860.

Springwood, Hyde Park NY.  FDR childhood home, adult refuge, and burial place for him and Eleanor.

Eleanor seems to have preferred  nearby Val-Kill cottage, a more modest estate for her own use, see http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=33/;  http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/eleanor_roosevelt_valkill.html

1.  Stables at Hyde Park.  See the outside first.  Stables.  Splendid latches, neatly repeated for each occupant's stall.

Stable latch, Hyde Park, Springwood, NY. 

The stables show more attention to detail:  tiled floor drain, with a bit motif and Delft blue and Greek key design surrounding.  Water, suds and slush say, let me circle here, please, then I will go in peace.

Tiled stable drain, Springwood estate, FDR home at Hyde Park NY

Also note the hardwood floor surrounding. Easy on the hoof.

Originalists will cheer the Essential Design of the stable sink.  There, instead of hardwood, there is brick on the floor.  

Stable sink, Hyde Park, Springwood home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor

Venerable roof.

Moss on shingle.  Hyde Park, Springwood stables, FED estate.

2. Graves at Hyde Park.  The estate was also the childhood home of FDR.  On the death of his father in 1900, his mother Sara inherited the estate and held it in her name until her death in 1941.  Is this why Eleanor had a place for herself at Val-Kill?  Both FDR and Eleanor are buried here.

Springwood gravesite, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Hyde Park NY

Fala, Scots terrior, and Chief, German shepherd, both allies of FDR:  are those their graves in front of the monument to FDR and Eleanor?  I think I recall the guide saying so, but check. FDR's mother, Sara, is buried at St. James Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, the town.

 

3.  Berlin Wall at Hyde Park.  Global impact:  Franklin and Eleanor, or is this generic man and woman, cutouts from part of the old Berlin Wall.  Nearby is a bust of Winston Churchill.   Note the base on the Wall sculpture:  each side, one of the Four Freedoms of FDR, with reach still topic of debate, see http://hellofodderhellobuyer.blogspot.com/2010/07/fdrs-four-freedoms-applied-to-states.html

3.  Selected interior.  Now:  inside.  Famous fireside chats.  The Presidential Library has fine exhibits; it is easy to spend more time there than in the house

Fireside chat, Daniel Widing attends.  Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt at Hyde Park

Springwood living room.  FDR's wheelchair is just behind the green armchair on the left. 

Springwood, Hyde Park NY.  Living room

There is no people-elevator at Springwood. 

To get to the second floor, FDR had modified a dumb-waiter construct so he could use a system of weights and pulleys to get himself (or someone else would) up and down.  Dumb waiter:  a small utility vertical hollow )stick in your head and turn:  Hellooooo up there) sometimes with speaking tube; service for meals was managed with shelving and ropes and pulleys to pull trays up and down on the shelving, dishes and the like, from lower kitchen to higher halls and back.  See http://www.stannahlifts.co.uk/news-and-resources/news-centre/169/the-origins-of-a-dumb-waiter-or-dumbwaiter/  See laundry chute?

New York. Buffalo. Niagara Falls

Stunts and Daredevils at Niagara Falls.
Ongoing Saga; and the role of family heritage.

Summer 2012. Nik Wallenda.

Nik Wallenda has permission to do it.  See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/nik-wallendas-niagara-fal_n_1279682.html. Scion of the Flying Wallendas will do the tightrope to die for.  See http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/02/ny-trumps-canada-in-niagara-tightrope-fight.html#.

This border of the United States and Canada must address interesting issues.  When, and why, to permit stuntwork across Niagara Falls. Now, in a long line of risk-takers for personal reasons, and the gasps of the rest of us, enter a member of the famous circus performance family, the Flying Wallendas. Nik Wallenda, scion of the Wallendas, is that so, may get his chance.  See Wallenda may cross Niagara Falls by tightrope after all.
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Wallenda is the seventh generation of his skilled family in the derring-do, balance, risk of life on high wires. See http://nikwallenda.com/bio.html
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Niagara stunts. Stunts have been part of Niagara Falls, since people going over in barrels, with a range of results, http://www.niagaraparks.com/media/niagara-falls-stunting-history.html, and it was a woman, Annie Taylor, who did it first.  We love to read who is doing what. See http://www.niagarafrontier.com/devil_frame.html.

The Flying Wallendas must have unique genes, or family persuasion, or all of the above, see http://www.wallenda.com/.  Nik Wallenda is not a contender to dismiss, or group among the nutcases. The circus world has changed from the early tents and trapezes with no nets, even though in some countries, the traveling circus is still a mainstay of seasonal entertainment.

Americana.  Families on road trips, here Niagara Falls in about 1946. Bottom row.

Niagara Falls, NY. American road trip c. 1946

New York, Ground Zero. Support generous but careful immigration with followup.

Ground Zero.
9/11/2001  New York City.

I. A remembrance; and
II. Search for immigrant family roots in NY

I.  New York to many is the place of 9/11.  That is appropriate, for strangers.  Ground Zero.  We share our remembrance for that first, then go back, to roots. Where did first family arrivals settle in NY.

Ground Zero, and the dust.  NYC.

Ground Zero: One foot at a time forward after. NYC.

NYC skyline, after.  Only a crane there. 9/11 aftershock.

II.  Immigrants on both sides. The hurdles are lower for white northern European origins, no question. Doors must always be open with care and followup, however, for all comers, rather than shut based on attributes of race or religion, gender, ethnicity.

We go back when we can to Ground Zero and still have a bucket list of addresses to look up for our own:

1.  Addresses to find:

• 318 West 21st Street, residence of Robert McClure McConaghy age 28 as of August 3, 1904, recent arrival (perhaps in 19 from County Tyrone, Ireland (date not known), son of Robert McConaghy and mother Sidney Torrens

• 301 East 26th Street, residence of Louise Lucinda Hilliard Brien age 26 as of August 3, 1904, recent arrival from County Tyrone, Ireland (date not sure, perhaps 1899?), father William Brien, kept his secret, and mother Margaret Hilliard who had no choice apparently.

• 24 University Place, Manhattan, church of marriage, Louise Lucinda (sometimes Lucinda Louise) presided: Ralph K. Hickok, see marriage certificate.

Northern European types can blend in easier.  All the more reason to extend helping hands to those demonized for other appearances. 

Immigrants: Count us in. McConaghy, Hilliard. To the Bronx, New York.  My mother, Marjorie, youngest of the surviving 5.

B. Places already enjoyed.

•   Woodlawn Cemetery

SW Pt 13158
Aster Plot Sec. 206
Lot Owners:  Robert McConaghy and Louise McConaghy, his wife, marrired as in section 1
Deed No. 18502

Record of Interments:
Lot 1.  Robert McConaghy 7 years 84903 (or 84843) 5/10/13
Lot 2.  Margaret Hilliard, 76 years 156623 2/13/38; Louise McConaghy 87 years 222038 2/11/63
Lot 3.  James Hilliard, 16 years, 83962 1/1/13; Frances Hilliard, 54 years 113872 2/7/24

Surrounding family areas:  Forman, Niebert, Youngling, Mauser, Peter, Pinzisa, Ahnen.  6 from Filbert Ave, 5 from North Border Ave.

Family spirit.  Former Mayor Giuliani was wrong when he said that the purpose behind 9/11 was to break our spirit.  No, as the letter (see Guardian, search online for Osama bin Laden) written to all of us afterwards is clear.  After centuries of colonialism, us invading by corporation and army for oil and turf, read Lawrence in Arabia,  the view of those who hit us was simple retaliation and to get us out of their lands.  Perhaps we should try that. The corporations and those who profit will not let us, is that so?  Our people have plenty of spirit, Mayor Giulini.  What we need is to try to unwind our own history of exploitation. Who said that?  This is a simple blog. For pleasure. Digression.

And the other side:  Canada.  Dad, naturalized in the 1930's; also New York. Immigrants Scotland-Ireland to Canada, Dad to the US: Proud of them. They also adjusted name spellings so the post office would not go nuts keeping the farms straight. No "exact match" possible for years.

Are naturalized persons considered immigrants? Here, Dad and family. Scharfe, Canada.

Washington DC. Process; Battleground; and Memorials

Washington DC

An Amalgam of Battlegrounds and Monuments.

A Process to Raise People and Ideas Up; and Cast Them Down.

Who Decides.  Who Should.

A nation's capital. Capitol? Capital? Does capital run the capitol?  Tour some of it here.

Battlegrounds. Some of our battlegrounds are financial, political and cultural, rather than military:  in the mind, and at the voting box, preceded by all sorts of strategies, judgment calls, tricks and honor and sleights of hand with money, etc.  As anywhere there are elections.  Visit and see where decisions are made and traded, skewed and lifted up, and who does all that.  Visit Washington DC.

1.  White House. 

Think of the White House.  Many decisions are shaped there.

The White House, Washington DC

There is a big role for advisors in governing, or sometimes for just getting re-elected. That is ever true, and each President grapples with advisors.

The President has many advisors to ensure he has the accurate, full and factual information, and then a checkback process vetting the emotional reactions, his and others'.  Life is also pragmatic. Then he is in a position to exercise his judgment. All presidents have advisors. Having advisors does not mean someone is lacking.  It means they have sense.

People, in forming their opinions, are not so well treated. They get truncated. No advisors in their best interest. Unless they work at their own fact-checks, and reviewing multiple sources, people get spinners at favored media outlets.  Spinners give out selected information, like "selling" people something, to ensure the people get swayed to the side the spinner wants before the people might find out more facts.  The people get an emotional whammy interpretation first.  Once hooked, the facts don't matter. Is that so?

2.  Capitol Building. 

Capitol Rotunda.  Here is part of the capitol building interior, the Rotunda, looking up at the ceiling.  Dan thought my position to do this was ridiculous. 

Capitol Rotunda, Washington DC

Senators and Representatives who pass through here, upright, also may take ridiculous positions, or rude, mean ones; and who knows how they vet, but they also have advisors. 

They pick their advisors either to serve a common good, or for partisan constituents, or to get re-elected foremost.  Is that so? Vet the advisors.  The more Madison Avenue, the less the common good is being served.

3.  Washington Monument.

The Washington Monument.

Founders - here the Washington Monument.  It is the least original of all - modeled after Egyptian power symbols that have been emulated or trucked about ever after: the impractical, nonfunctional obelisk. It attracts attention, period. And grounds marches and demonstrations.

An obelisk is made by formula (march march march march) and they all look alike, see their history http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/classics/obelisk.htm/.  The Washington Monument cheats.  Real obelisks are not just the shape, but also monolithic - one stone.  Our Washington monument is all these little segments and bits piled on.  Convenience and budget over authenticity. Shafts. Shafted. Seen one, seen 'em all.

Washington Monument, Washington DC. Dull.

President Washington had high-brow beginnings.

President Lincoln had low-brow.  Both had advisors.  Here is the Lincoln Memorial:

Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC. One to revisit and revisit.

It is far more interesting than the Washington Monument, even though its design is routine. Lots of classical columns, steps up.

4.  War Memorials

We have to stop wars because we are out of space.

World War II Memorial 

There are separate arches for the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.  It is well designed for learning place names, seeing the truly global scope of a world war.

World War II Monument, Washington DC

The Vietnam War Memorial

This is the patrol, the sculpture, not the wall part. 

Vietnam War Memorial, the Patrol, Washington DC

Not everyone who serves in the military is a hero, or is treated as they believe their efforts warrant. Still, they serve and by that are honorable. Think of the many who used existing and legal loopholes to enable them to follow paths of self-serving choice, not service. Some made the right choice in that. Still, cheer those who serve.

Some who did, should not have. Killing others, killed them in many ways. Some who did not, should have. Speak, O Delphic Oracle. Who is to know.

The Korean Conflict Memorial.  

Then see these reflected in a polished granite wall beside. Like ghosts.

What issues does a visit to Washington raise?  See FN 1 and Alvin Greene, a product of our system, and who, with advisors like anyone else has, may well serve constituents well.  Our system may be wiser than we know.  Why not put him in?  We know the opposition, and it is rude and mean.

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FN 1  Who should decide weighty matters of state and war.

Populists suggest that those of the elite, those in power who have been shaped by it over time, become  (perhaps) more self-interested, or more blinded, or so enriched financially, that they get lax, exploiting others.  Bad behavior. And shocked, shocked that they are to be held accountable.  On that ground alone, say some, clean house and clean senate periodically.  Put untainted people put in instead.

Where they can position themselves to make money, become corrupted, lose perspective, etc.

Try another standard.

Put or keep people in who have

• common-good ideas, 
• can express them reasonably,
• will surround themselves with the best, most neutral, fact-oriented, diligent advisors in the land, from all sides, and
• will govern for long-term stability, a healthy peacetime life for all inhabitants, a good society, a common good society honoring basic freedoms for human beings;  not just follow the wind to get re-elected. See FDR's 1941 Four Freedoms speech, full text at ://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrthefourfreedoms.htm/; the Four Freedoms for humans are at the end.  Anyone who promotes those Four Freedoms would get my vote.

Consider a contemporary series of events in that regard.

Enter Alvin Greene.

Our election process has given one Alvin M. Greene of South Carolina, elected in a primary as Democratic candidate for Senate, a voice.  The process was vetted, and no fraud or outside actionable machinations unearthed.  He so far has been courteous, has some blotches on his record but don't we all, is it possible to think that he can arise through his own efforts and with the advisors that all the others have anyway, and serve constituents.  Is he - as a college graduate and we understand he earned military honors, see ://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/54303 - cannier than we think.  Is it WYSIWYG for Greene?  So far, evidence says yes, and this is based on that.  Information may change.

I'd vote for that, over people who shout "you lie" -- then go raise money from other boors equally rude and mean. Everyone can be productive, and deserves respect. Those who resort to boorishness should be out. We all have boorish moments, but we don't have to revel in them.

Respect for all

Go on, Alvin Greene.  Let the system play out. I would have you sit at my dinner table and be interested in you, but I wouldn't even invite your opponent.  South Carolina, elect Alvin Smith and provide the best support advisors possible, so he makes common-good decisions for his constituents. A very democratic candidate.

West Hartford, CT. King Philips War. Metacomet Trail. New England Pilgrims in New England

King Philip.  Metacom.  Metacomet. Connecticut.
A Native American,  Son of Chief Massasoit.
Not a European Monarch

I.  Old War - Indian v. Colonist

II.  New War - Developer and big interests v. Ordinary folk hiking about who want their way of life

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I.  Old War - Metacomet, King Philip

New England and King Philip's War in the time of the Pilgrims, the  Colonies.

At issue were the rights of indigenous people against the invaders. That is a topic as old as time. See Studying Wars: Myth and Indigenous Peoples, King Philip.


King Philip is the English name for the Indian whose birth name was Metacom or Metacomet, son of Massasoit. Massasoit was the Indian at Plymouth, who assisted the Pilgrims in their first years. Think of Thanksgiving, as the legend has it; then learn more.

Wetlands, Metacomet Trail, near Hartford CT














How to piece together a verifiable history, when powerful interests prevail in communicating their view. Start with a visit to the Indian Trail, the Metacomet, that traverses much of southern New England. Here it is in the Connecticut area, see http://www.ctxguide.com/ctxguide_232.htm
Move the scroll bar east and south until the West Hartford Reservoir #6 shows.

Woods, Metacomet Trail, Avon Mountain, West Hartford CT

Our photos are from the West Hartford side of Avon Mountain, along the Metacomet.  The Avon side is not far behind.  The trail covers some 51 miles, blue-blazed. It links to the Monadknock in Massachusetts to the north, and to the Mattabesett to the south.

The Native American for whom the Trail is named is the hero or the demon of King  Philip's War, depending on your side.



King Philip's War.

The War began in 1675, see http://www.pilgrimhall.org/philipwar.htm/  It was short in time, but devastating in loss of life. It lasted a year, perhaps two, triggered by the killing of an Indian named John Sassomon, who was a literate Christian convert.  His death occurred under circumstances that then each side interpreted to get what it wanted. Some said he had been working with the Colonists, and so was killed by Indians. Who knows.

The Indians who were then accused of murder were executed. But the colonists were not after justice, as seen in their eyes, because far more was at stake. They wanted land, expansion, resources.

And the Indians wanted their way of life, and got in the way of white expansion, so the incursions accelerated.

The result:  Destruction of communities, deaths of thousands and thousands, and finally the defeat of the Indians led to their enslavement, many taken abroad as slaves, others killed outright or forced into servitude for the colonists.

The Indians never recovered their strength, but did retain a sense of community and identity. Some early tribes now run Casinos on their land in Connecticut, see Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, if you must

Tally:  Three thousand Indians dead; thirteen colonial towns burned, including Deerfield MA, Brookfield, Northfield MA  Farms burned, and an enormous debt for military support incurred.  Philip, bold and strong agrees this site, at http://www.usahistory.info/NewEngland/King-Philips-War.html/  King Philip's Cave is said to be in an easily visible cavern in the ridge rock of Avon Mountain - just a long ridge, really, not a "mountain".

USA History site.

We found this slanted. Not objective.  Propaganda.  Use that site only for chronology.  It is full of white supremacist language, spun and berating the "savage" for not standing and fighting - but see how successful the guerrilla tactic, terrorism, was.  Considering muskets, what else could they do? Ongoing issues of who has the righteous cause, what is a fair fight, and does that matter when you are against the wall. Better site: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/horsemusket/kingphilip/default.aspx

King Philip was finally hunted down in Rhode Island and shot.

II.  New wars 

Development Wars.  See again powerful interests against those of us who just live around here loomed.



Developers coming, Metacomet Trail, Avon Mountain, West Hartford CT


But they were never really fought.  Power and money win; and ordinary people can't undertake guerrilla warfare etc.  Folks lose. Colonial America and the colonizing goes on, is that so? Developers take over the trail area.

To the east, back sides of megahouses. To the west, mostly sparse, but For Sale signs going up and large tracts of land are up for homes.

Vermont. American Revolution: Mount Independence VT

Mount Independence, Vermont

Mount Independence, Lake Champlain, Revolutionary War, Vermont

This is a fort site on a peninsula across from Fort Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga is in NY, on Lake Champlain here, on the far side). There had been an old French fort here first, then it became a fort for patriots. There are just ruins now, barely distinguishable foundations, paths, clearings for buildings.



Traces of a colonial army fort, Mount Independence VT, American Revolution

This is a place for those who love their own imaginations. Foundations, graves, depressions for bulwarks and entrenchments, fabulous vistas of Lake Champlain, barracks remains, old rock forms, paths, parts of buildings, but no great preservation as at Fort Ticonderoga. It was built to ensure that the British could be stopped on their way south from Canada to Saratoga - like a pincer place.

However, the Americans did not need it for that, abandoned it, and the British took it over and eventually burned it as they retreated to Canada. See http://www.revolutionaryday.com/usroute7/independence/default.htm. It is off Route 7, a long and old highway through most of New England, north to south. This is a fine leaf-color route in the fall.  See its strategic location from the air, at ://www.historicvermont.org/mountindependence/independencemural.htm

There was disease, so a hospital and infirmary area is there, blockhouse, barracks, all that a fort needed. It just fell into disuse. Visit the museum - see in particular how wounds and illnesses were treated or not.

Go anyway and walk - paths and hiking trails, any length, any direction. 

Mount Independence, Fort archeological remains, VT, Revolutionary War

In 1776, it took 12,000 soldiers to build the fort. It was a preventive measure, anticipating an attack by the British. That did not happen, and by winter, only 2500 remained and they suffered, hardship, disease, death. In 1777 support troops arrived, but the site was ultimately abandoned. http://www.historicvermont.org/mountindependence. 

Fort constructed and later abandoned, and now a fine park and history lesson starting point.

New York, Saratoga. American Revolution: Battle of Saratoga NY

 Battle of Saratoga

The Revolutionary War - Refresh your memory with a loop around several battlefields related to the Revolutionary War and its memorials.  We chose  1) Saratoga NY;  2) Ticonderoga NY;  and 3) Bennington VT general route.

Saratoga.

The War had begun in 1775, and the British had hopes of ending it at this battle at Saratoga. There were three prongs to the attack planned by the British - 10,000 soldiers from Canada under General Burgoyne (who had just retaken Fort Ticonderoga to the north; the Patriots had earlier taken it from the British), a second British army from Lake Ontario to the Mohawk River, and a third British army under General Howe from New York. There were Germans fighting with General Burgoyne, other nationalities also represented.

On this Battlefield, General Benedict Arnold fought with distinction - see his later status as a "turncoat" to the British, at Studying Wars: Benedict Arnold, "Turncoat".  He had his reasons, and much contributed to it.


Saratoga National Park cannon

The American plan was to keep the British divided. There were only about 8500 Americans. See the battles history at http://www.nps.gov/sara/historyculture/index.htm. There is a fine drive around and through the battlefield, with markers and narratives explaining.

There is an annual re-enactment of the battle, see http://www.saratoga.org/battle1777/reenact.html

Saratoga Surrender Memorial Tower, Victory, NY.

 A pedestal is empty, for Arnold.

Then, go to the Saratoga National Cemetery nearby for the many war heroes and veterans there.

Saratoga National Cemetery.

Prepare for a surprise.

Here is veteran Wilbert Thomas Lagassse in the cemetery named after Gerald Brooks Hunt Solomon, a NY congressman. See http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000675.  Fields of rows of headstones, and Mr. Lagasse claims the best tan. America. Would Mr. Solomon admire the humor of this lucky one, not killed in battle, or not so much?


Lake Saratoga, NY.

Near the battlefield, home of the fine old Victorian resort at Saratoga Springs and racetrack, see http://www.nyra.com/index_saratoga.html

Many fine Bed and Breakfasts.  There is no need to call ahead for reservations.  Choose one with a view.

Environmental issue: Food chain broken.  No bugs. What have we done to the food chain?

Bug alert. Ominous. With a 5-day overall trip, in summer, our windshields were almost clean. No bugs. A few butterflies, very few, on the vast battlefields. Have we finally broken the food chain? Remember when each stop for gas meant scraping the windshield, hard, with that liquid, just to get those millions off? And the wings in the grille?

New York, Fort Ticonderoga. American Revolution: Fort Ticonderoga NY

Fort Ticonderoga, New York

Fort Ticonderoga NY, fife and drum

If you are lucky or a planner, your visit will include a re-enactment.  Fort Ticonderoga is in NY State, north of Saratoga. For a timeline on the Revolutionary War, see http://members.aol.com/ntgen/hrtg/revtmln.html.

There is a fine drive to the Fort, through woods with markers and narratives for the battles and skirmishes. See where the Black Watch regiment fought for the British. Follow the memorials. Costumed guides are at the main fort.

Benedict Arnold, here a colonel I understand, fought with distinction. He was later despised as a turncoat, one who is disloyal and deserts his prior cause, see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/turncoat/  There is more to it than that, but he was nonetheless brilliant. Nothing is simple. See Studying Wars: Benedict Arnold. It looks more like swiftboating Benedict Arnold. Is that so? Check it out.  A kind of bullying against adults also takes its toll.