Hyde Park, Vanderbilt Mansion & Valkill June 12, 2014

Map of sites we visited

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's home

Inside FDR's home

FDR's room (Top)
Eleanor's room (Bottom)

I’ve been to the home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt before, but I didn’t remember anything I saw. The first thing I did when we got there was look at the map of all the places we were going to visit today. Every home we would go to was built right along the Hudson River. I thought of two reasons why they would be built on this river; the first is because of the beauty and the second was because of business. By looking at the outside of the house I was sure the inside was going to be extravagant, but it wasn’t. I felt very comfortable in the house and saw it as a regular home where normal citizens would stay. Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in this house and educated by private tutors of the Hudson Valley estate. The pamphlet I read said that the Roosevelt’s had ties to the Hudson River Valley dating back to the 17^th century, which made me think of the time of the Dutch we read about in The Hudson. Franklin’s father James Roosevelt bought this house in Springwood in 1867. While they were wealthy, James disliked an ostentatious home and made his house more modest compared too many other estates that lined the Hudson, such as the Vanderbilt mansion. Although they were a wealthy family, the Roosevelt’s were not as wealthy as the Vanderbilt’s, the family we would learn about later in the day. You could really tell the distance between Franklin and Eleanor by viewing both of their rooms. Franklin’s room was large and decorated while Eleanor’s room was small and simple. That showed me that Eleanor was not comfortable in the home or around Franklin and his mother. After watching the movie about Eleanor and taking the tour of FDR’s home, I was sympathetic for Eleanor and wished she was happier during FDR’s presidency. 

Vanderbilt Mansion

Ladies Parlor in Vanderbilt Mansion

Room in Vanderbilt Mansion

The Vanderbilt mansion was far more extravagant than it needed to be. The Vanderbilt’s made their money through railroads, which showed they had relatively new money compared to the dating of the Roosevelt’s in the 17^th century. The mansion was built along the Hudson River not only because of its beauty but because their railroad company, New York Central, that ran right along the Hudson River. The Vanderbilt’s contributed to the industrialization of the Hudson River Valley and their wealth showed it. The mansion was of European style and they called themselves American Royalty. I felt cold and uncomfortable in the house but it looked amazing. Not only did they have extremely high ceilings but they also had a central heating system. This mansion was the first house in Hyde Park to have electricity. I think this was a way of showing off because they didn’t need fireplaces or a heating system because they only lived in the house during the spring and summer season. But they didn’t just use their money for very extravagant things, they also paid their servants very well. An employee of the Vanderbilt’s made one to two dollars a day and had medical expenses paid for. I guess if the Vanderbilt’s were going to live well, so were their servants. I was so surprised to hear that 33 people in Mr. Vanderbilt’s will were employees. I viewed the Vanderbilt’s as greedy, stubborn people but they were not as bad as I thought. They gave Christmas presents to all the Children in Hyde Park and let them play on their grounds. I wonder if Franklin was one of the children who received a gift out of friendship between the two families. It was Franklin who would later suggest that the Vanderbilt mansion be donated to the Federal government. I couldn’t wait to get out the mansion because that meant there was one more house to go and then we would be on our way to Troy.

Living-room in Valkill

Dining-room in Valkill

I was annoyed we had to watch the 15 minute video because we knew almost everything they said from watching the movie about Eleanor. Valkill was seen as Eleanor’s home, and you can definitely tell she felt so comfortable in her cottage. I imagine it was so easy to tell Eleanor everything because she was so appreciative of different lives and her home was a comfortable setting. While Ranger Bob was speaking I started to read the titles of the books on the book shelf, in assumption that these were the books Eleanor had on her bookshelf. Three of the books I saw were titled A Laughter in the lonely night, To Sir, with love and Girls Scout Handbook.  I think just by reading those titles I already got a great sense of who Eleanor was. I imagined her reading A Laughter in the lonely night and To Sir, with love during her stays at FDR’s home. I imagined her reading the girls scout handbook the night before a visit to a girls scout camp. Eleanor was such an amazing person. She treated everyone as the same whether it was a King, Queen or mine worker. I think if we all had the mindset of Eleanor the world would be a better place.

Quote of Eleanor Roosevelt

I love this quote because I think it firmly speaks to the women of influence at Russell Sage. We are taught to speak our minds and educate our world. Eleanor is a great example of a woman of influence. She never gave up on what she believed in and always did what she thought was the right thing. As I grow up to be a woman of influence I hope to have the same determination as Eleanor did.