Comprehensive Report on Historic and Cultural Landscape, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York
Kane and Carruth, P.C.. 1981. Comprehensive Report on Historic and Cultural Landscape, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York. Cultural Landscape Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Pleasantville, New York
This report presents research, investigation, study, and recommendations related to the preservation and restoration of the landscape at Val-Kill, the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York. The project offered an opportunity to preserve a unique environment and to restore portions of the landscape to the conditions they were in at various times during the residence of Eleanor Roosevelt. Much information was documented and accessible to assist with this study, including some of the former gardeners whose work spanned the years 1837-1970. It was not anticipated that the recommendations made here would be carried out immediately, as they would require coordination with the Historic Structures Report. Description and recommendations for the cultural landscape are provided for the general environment at Val-Kill, the Peninsula Area, the gardens related to the Stone Cottage as they existed circa 1938, the setting surrounding Eleanor Roosevelt's Home as it was in the late 1950s and 1960s, and the Cutting Garden as it existed during the height of its development in the early 1940s. Franklin D. Roosevelt purchased the site, formerly the Bennett Farm, in 1911. The first development of the historical core began in 1925 with the addition of a swimming pool constructed adjacent to Fall Kill stream. During the same year, construction of the Stone Cottage was begun. It was located in a birch and cedar grove and constructed of native fieldstone, which was collected from nearby walls. The house was to be home of Eleanor Roosevelt's friends Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman. Landscape development occurred in following years. This report states that the pond, the wetland, the fields, and the wooded area have remained generally as they were at the time of maximum development in the late 1930s.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Kane and Carruth, P.C.
- Date of Issue
- 1981-01
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ELRO , NER
- Keywords
- American Elm, cutting garden, Dutch Colonial architecture, Eleanor Roosevelt, factory, Fall Kill, fieldstone, first lady, formal garden, garden, gardener, greenhouse, Hyde Park, industry, interview, Nancy Cook, Norway Spruce, president, Stone Cottage, swimming pool, Val-Kill