Besides Springwood, the family home to FDR from
birth until death, both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had their own separate retreats
on the estate where they could each get away to pursue their own interests. FDR’s
place was called Top Cottage, and Eleanor’s was Val-Kill. We were able to walk
from one to the other on the day we toured them both, where we learned a great
deal about their various pursuits.
Early in his presidency, FDR imagined a refuge
from the demands of the office, and when it became increasingly difficult for
him to find solitude at Springwood, he began plans for Top Cottage. A place, in
his words, where he could go to relax and “escape the mob”. Construction began
in 1938 and FDR expected to spend time at Top Cottage during his retirement
sorting his papers and collections, writing his memoirs, and maybe even take a stab
at fictional detective stories. As it happened, he remained in office and used
the cottage for many daytime visits between 1939 and his death in the Spring of
1945.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s legacy in human rights and
world peace emerged from Val-Kill, a simple place, and her home from 1945 until
her death in 1962. She described Val-Kill as the place “where I used to find
myself and grow”. This was Eleanor’s place to gather family, friends, and associates,
picnic, walk in the woods, ride horses, and swim. Val-Kill was both a retreat and
a center of advocacy and activism. Here she also tested progressive ideas, discussed
controversial issues, and inspired students and civil rights and labor leaders
to debate and organize.
No comments:
Post a Comment