For President “Teddy-Bear” Roosevelt’s Home of Origin: “Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site”
After the
election this year (http://bit.ly/2fwNhAQ)
I was good for nothing. My love of government, politics, and the presidency
seemed lost forever. I needed to do something to remember a more positive time,
a time when good men worked hard to accomplish what seemed impossible. That’s
when I knew I would be spending Veterans Day at Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace.
The
National Park Service spent over a year restoring this enormous brownstone and
it reopened to the public on October 29. I had been counting down to this event
ever since I went to see his summer home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, Long
Island (http://bit.ly/2aO4LZM) last fall.
It was a
gorgeous day to drive into Manhattan and I was spending it with two of my
favorite people, my niece and nephew. When I told them the plan for the day
they were so excited. I had no idea what they would think but they were excited
to do something different. They were absorbing facts as fast as I could spit
them out. We were out to prove that the park ranger giving our tour didn’t have
much over us.
We
arrived right before a tour began but we still had plenty of time to hit up the
gift shop, watch a few minutes of the video they were playing, and look at all
of the artifacts on display. This magnificent structure is not original to the
time Teddy Roosevelt and his family lived there, which was until he turned
fourteen. It had been knocked down some time ago and then rebuilt to the exact
specifications. The Roosevelt family returned the furniture and belongings that
existed during the time they lived there. Teddy lived here with his parents,
three siblings, and aunt who acted as the nanny.
The home
his family moved into after this has sadly been torn down as per the Roosevelt
family. They believed it to be haunted as Teddy’s father died there as well as
his mother and first wife (who died during childbirth). The women shockingly
died eight hours apart on the same day. I guess I would have torn that house
down when I left it too. It had been located about thirty blocks or so from
where we visited. I can only imagine what that house looked like.
When you
come upon the enormous brownstone it seems out of place on the modern street.
But it made me long for the time when these houses would have been stacked up
side by side for rows as far as the eye can see.
The
ground floor acts as the visitor center and it is where you begin your journey.
Immediately both the kids and I pictured what it would have been like to live
in this four-floor mansion. However disappointingly, the fourth floor was for
the children’s bedrooms, which have now been converted to offices, which are
not on the tour. I absolutely HATE when that happens.
The
ground floor is big enough. Originally the kitchen was down there and the food
was brought up to the dining room, which seated twelve, on the second floor via
a dumbwaiter. That is high living.
The
library, which was also the first location of the Roosevelt Museum of Natural
History (later to become the A.M.N.H. on Fifth Avenue), showcased many of the
books the Roosevelt’s read. The best feature in this room is the tiny velvet
chair that Teddy had gotten specifically for him. He was highly asthmatic as a
child and often too sick to go outdoors so he spent the most amount of time at
home. The family’s couches were made with horsehair as was typical of the day
because of its durability but poor Teddy was allergic. Thus he had his own
royal throne.
By far my
favorite room was the one that looked the most like it was taken directly from
Versailles. This blue room with the family piano and floor length mirror is the
stuff I dream about, elegant yet not overdone.
On the
third floor there was a playroom, which also had the family cradle and nurse’s
bed next to it. There was a door that led outside. During the President’s
childhood there was a playground structure for when the kids needed some fresh
air. There were even weights as T.R.’s father wanted him to stay strong as
possible to help his weakened body.
The final
room of the tour was a bedroom that Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt shared. It was also
the room where all of the children were born. A creepy thought but typical of
the time. I remember seeing the one Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in at
his family’s home, Springwood, in Hyde Park, (http://bit.ly/2gqdzZX).
I guess after that it remained empty. They certainly had rooms to spare.
On each
floor as I made my way up I was impressed with the black and white tile floor.
It was so stylish. It didn’t distract from the ornate woodwork that covered the
walls and railings. Every Roosevelt seemed to have a love of beautiful
woodwork. If you visit Sagamore Hill as I did you, will die when you see what
they have in store for you. I kept rubbing my hands all over it. The detail is
something I cannot get over.
Overall
each room in this historic house (http://bit.ly/2guWYBy)
has its own distinctive style and a pair of heavy-duty curtains that could be
drawn for privacy. The colors and materials were breath taking. The wallpaper
was so gorgeous I was taking photos just of that at some point. Everything was
the best of the best but it still had a very homey feel. You could picture the
family living there and actually using the rooms. It certainly did not give off
a vibe that any room was simply for show. The grandeur they could afford meshed
completely with their way of life. I imagine there were many happy times spent
there. Even I have a happy memory of my own now.
Teddy
Roosevelt was naturally the fun president, no pun intended. A lover of animals
and one of the men behind the American Museum of Natural History, he let his
children have numerous interesting pets while they lived inside the White
House. His six children had a hyena, lizard, birds, dogs, cats, and a pony that
his son once let ride in the elevator to visit his brother who was in bed sick
at that time. T.R. must have gotten such a kick out of that. Speaking of the
White House, it was T.R. who officially named it that.
His other
brilliant ideas included creating the U.S. Navy and establishing, thus
protecting the National Parks. No wonder he was the first President to be
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. There is nothing this man couldn’t or didn’t do.
Another
honor was the creation of a toy that is still near and dear to the hearts of
children everywhere, the teddy bear. It was so great to see one of the original
teddy bears on display. I got to convey the story to the kids who were
fascinated. We just so happen to visit near the anniversary of its creation on
November 14, 1902. Coincidently it was displayed next to the book T.R. had in
his shirt pocket when a crazed gunmen took a shot at him while he was giving a
speech to a public crowd. It was that book that saved his life and thus it is
being saved in his childhood home.
My niece
especially loved this story so when she relayed this story to her teacher and kindergarten class this president’s name had changed for good. She so loved her
President TeddyBear Roosevelt that I too have decided to call him that from now
on.
A little
known fact, but one day in 1865, a seven-year-old Teddy Roosevelt was at his
grandfather’s home looking out a window when a historical photo was snapped.
Although the significance and photo itself wouldn’t be known until much later,
it was on that day when T.R. was photographed watching President Lincoln’s
coffin procession down the block. At the time it was taken to show as a symbol
of the profound effect of the moment. It wasn’t until around the 1980s when the
photo was rediscovered and this future leader was recognized in this exceptional
moment in time. The thought of that leaves me bowled over.
Once he
was president T.R. told several close friends that “Lincoln was my great hero
and that he meant more to me than any other of our public men.” I am not
surprised. What a perfect example of one great man following in the footsteps
of another.
Although
I didn’t see this photo on display is its readily available online which I have
borrowed from the archives to share with those who have not yet seen it.
The one
thing missing this day was the man himself. Like my nephew told his mother, “he
is dead”, so don’t expect to see him.
I really
wish I could transport myself back to that time just for a day to see what he
and his life at this home was truly like. Unfortunately that is not yet
possible.
I am glad
I kept my date with Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace and especially thrilled I
got to share my love of history and the presidency with the next generation.
President
TeddyBear Roosevelt is our favorite after all.
For More
Information:
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/10/18/childhood-home-of-teddy-roosevelt-back-open.html
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