Hyde Park, New York

Springwood, Home of FDR

The small community of Hyde Park, New York is located just 5 miles north of Poughkeepsie on US Route 9 and is where Franklin Roosevelt made his home. The old home place, Springwood, was purchased by FDR’s father and it is the home in which the 32nd President of the US was born, raised, and eventually laid to rest. Following the death of Roosevelt’s father, the farm was owned by his mother until her death in 1941 at which time it was inherited by Franklin. Upon his death, he gave this beautiful place on the banks of the Hudson to the people of the United States.

Tree-lined driveway

Gravesite of FDR and Eleanor

Also located on the farm a few miles from the “big house” was a small get away place for Eleanor—the Stone Cottage. She was not especially happy living in her mother-in-law’s home so Franklin built the stone cottage as a place she could call her own. She started a small business here to teach skills to the local residents in the hopes that they would remain in the community rather than leaving for the “the city”. The buildings used for the furniture making business were eventually converted to the home where Eleanor lived following Franklin’s death. In this small house she entertained such dignitaries as John Kennedy and the Queen of England.

Val-Kill, home of Eleanor

The Stone Cottage

We wanted to take a final driving loop in our exploration of the Empire state so we did not take the time to visit the Presidential Library and Museum. As it turned out, the drive was not very scenic so we would have probably enjoyed the library and museum better. Oh well, sometimes choices made are not always the best. We’ll just add it to the list of things to do when we come back.