September 10, 2021 Val-Kill, Elenor Roosevelt National Historic Site

 What a beautiful location. This is the house that FDR built for his wife. He purchased the property next to his ancestral home on the Hudson River to add to his families holdings but he eventually built homes for his wife and a small get-away for himself so they had places that they could control. Since he was the only child of his mother Sara, he would eventually inherit Springwood, the family estate on the Hudson, but until her death, Sara controlled the house and she did not really like Eleanor. 

The house and it’s adjoining buildings were Eleanor’s retreat. She and two friends stayed in the house during here lifetime.  She and friends started a company to teach local folks trades. The company housed on site made beautiful wood furniture and pewter works but as the depression deepened, fewer orders were placed and the company folded after about 10 years. 

This park like many we have visited was short staffed so you could not go in and visit her home.  She moved into the house two weeks after FDR died and lived there until here death in the early 60s.  You could go into one building and see some of the items made by here company.  You can walk the grounds and there is actually a walking path (9 mikes one way) that links all the National Park sites in Hyde Park.