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Hyde Park - Post Office, 1939-1940
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Hyde Park - Post Office, 1939-1940
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Hyde Park Post Office: 1939- 1940 = Subject File- PSF
Box 154
OFFICE DEPARTMENT
file
park
PSF
UNITED POST * STATES OF AMERICA *
the
Office of the Postinater General
Washington, a. C.
New York, New York.
July 25, 1939.
My dear Mr. President:
Confirming my recent conversation with you concerning
the Federal building project for Hyde Park, I have inquired
into this and find that the Joint Departmental Committee on
June 23, 1939, allotted $88,000 for the acquisition of a
site and the erection of a building to provide space for
the Hyde Park post office and for activities of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture.
Mr. Purdum informs me that funds have been definitely
allotted for this project. There has been no press
release for the reason that the committee felt it would be
better not to advertise until after the adjournment of
Congress.
Respectfully yours,
Harley
Honorable Franklin D. Hoosevelt
The White House
Washington, D. C.
I am so sprry That I have no
good photograph of the William STantenburgh
PSF
House at union Comers -
H.P.P.O.
Mrs. WalterSraeme Eliot
with all Good Vishio -
520 East Eightyseventh. Street
MSE.
This was attached to a photograph
z he Stoulenburgh home on Rt.9
that stands register the Roges
gote, Photograph planed in photo fole.
am
10/12/49
12/-
$
H.P.P.O.
12 COSTS 1"
PSF
413686
Jo this Excellency
REGISTERED
Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
President of The united States
styde Park-on-wtudson.
Personal Kindly deliver
Photogoaph
To the Phesident
House
data Hyde Pank.
m.5.E4or m.5. Elior
520 E
THE YORKIN,Y REG'Y 1939 10 DIV.
STATE E WHING AUG STATE
BERISTERED 1939 AUG OR S
ATI SIE MY,
1939
REBISTERED
D
SS
AUG
STA
8)
STATE
See. File
H.P. P.O.
140
Box 152
The Ded stouse that stood Mr, The Hill-
PSF
H.P.PO.
For President Franklin Delano Roosevelt-
Notes by Maud Stoutenburgh Eliot
Meand Stontenburgh Elist,
My father John Albert Stoutenburgh's Description of the
Jacobus Stoutenburgh House at Hyde Park, Dutchess County.
He spoke of tremendously thick outer walls probably built
to withstand Indian attack- of the thick wooden shutters, very
heavy with a crescent cut out on each and painted white - of a
cherry tree driveway that led to the house. A very heavy oak
door, back and front in the middle of the house. These were
half doors with a door knocker on the village side.
The hall was especially fine with wide planks in the floor
and a green wooden bench on either side. These my father in my
lifetime sought to trace.
Jacobus went twice to Holland for Dutch tiles and bricks, etc.
When a child, my father had reverenced the tiles set in the mantel
pieces in dining-room and bedrooms. He and the other boys in the
family were taught Bible lessons from the Scripture tiles. After
the house was torn down, he bought two or three mantel-pieces.
Jacobus' office was one of the four rooms on the left side near
the village. A tall desk on either side and a Kas, I think it was
called, that used to hold his archives. This, although Jacobus
had long since been dead, remained in my father's youth.
He spoke of the doors in the house with very small door-knobs
and interesting latches.
The most interesting thing in the house according to my father,
was the fireplace in the basement which was made by the slope of
the hill. It was a tremendous fireplace in which he could stand
upright. A Dutch oven WDB built next to it. Smith in 1877, in
his "History of Dutchess" tells that the chimney could not be dis-
mantled except by pulling down. In this fireplace a fire burned
all through the year. My father said that the last of August or
the first of September a great back log of hickory was dragged by
oxen to the house and then rolled into the fireplace. Two other
large tree trunks were then placed next the great back log. There
was a meeting of the clans of Stoutenburgh and Teller families when
the back log Was placed. The back log lasted throughout the year.
On either side of the fireplace were benches without backs.
The old struse That stard on The still-
for President-2- Rossebilt -
notes by
maud
Miss Elsie Pritchard was born in the William Stoutenburgh
Stone House at Union Corners, then belonging to Isaac. She moved
to one of the better houses in the village BO she might keep house
for her brother who was a physician (who never married) and a bro-
ther Isaac whom I eferred, who had white hair and beautiful blue
Stoutenburgh eyes. I recall him as walking through the village
with great white boards on his shoulders, for he was a carpenter.
None of these three had married.
In 1902 and 3, I spent the summers at Hyde Park and saw Miss
Elsie daily. Col.Eliot and I were deeply interested in getting
reliable data as to the background of the family and its affairs
and the old house. Miss Elsie, a silent, tall woman who made no
friends in the village, seemed to be a fit custodian of the past.
I, after many visits, gained her affection. She always spoke of
the family and especially of Jacobus. Miss Elsie had during her
life lived in only two houses, both those in Hyde Park. She was
baptized in the Dutch Church in 1832. She lived in the past and
we used to write down facts as she gave them. These when checked,
were always found reliable.
She had seen the house as a young girl. Her mother, Eleanor
Stoutenburgh, had stayed there with her cousins, and old Isaac in
whose house she lived had told her how he had as a boy crawled to
"The Mansion" during the Revolution to find a fishing rod. The
family had abandoned the mansion and had buried their silver and
had gone to stay at Isaac's father's house, this because the man-
sion had become a target. It was fired upon when the British
went up the River to burn Kingston. (Note by M.S.E.- The British
war map shows "Stoutenburgh" plainly marked.)
Miss Pritchard said that Washington had spent several days
in the house built by John Stoutenburgh.
She thought the fact that the sons of Jacobus were in service
at the time might have been responsible for the attack upon the
house. Namely, Col. Tobias, Col. 4th Dutchess
Capt. Peter
Capt. John.
Capt. Luke
Private William.
She showed me a great Cannon-ball which she used as a door-stop.
It had stuck in the thick walls of the house. I have her letter
giving me this cannon-ball.
She spoke with pain of the destruction of the house and took me
out to the spot showing me where the slave or servant quarters were
(in Mr. Wales place, where four houses were set aside for this pur-
pose. The slaves or servants never occupied rooms or quarters in
the house but daily came to the house for orders and service.)
(Miss Elsie gave me the original deed to the Gore.- note by M.S.E.)
7n President Result notes on The old House That stood of The stice
-3-
Eliot_
She showed me the last cherry tree, also where some of the
stones from the house had been used in the gutter before the
entrance of the Wales place.
"Imperial Caesar, dead and. turned to clay,
Might stop a chink to keep the wind away."
The Did stouse That sTood on the stell.
-4-
To every generation of my family, there came members of fam-
ilies who trace back to the Great Nine Partners Patent. These
families came yearly to my mother's, to talk of Hyde Park. Amongst
these, the Johnsons who had lived several generations in Hyde Park.
Most, if not all, are dead now. The Rev. Allen Johnson later came
to see me. They spoke of Gov. Johnson's home at Amsterdam as
being copied from the Jacobus house. They had seen both, and were,
I believe, unrelated to the Gov. Johnson family. In other times,
their name was spelled in two ways. They went back to Sir Caleb
Heathcote, owner, I believe, of the 8th Water Lot.
The Nine Partners Book said "Mrs. Johnson had the Indian Deed"
to the Great Nine Partners Patent. Unfortunately, then I had not
read the book, so I could not ask him about it.
The Roosevelts married into this family. They, Lew Johnson,
Miss Euphemia and others spoke of the "Stoutenburgh Mansion". The
N. P. Rogers with Bard background spoke often of the old house and
other matters of interest to Hyde Park in its beginning.
How to return to the present and its needs. My family are all
absent 80 yesterday I sat with photographs of the Stoutenburgh Houses
and the drawing of the architect.
I came to the conclusion first, that it would seem advisable if
you thought best, to copy the John Stoutenburgh House almost exactly
as it now stands opposite the entrance of Mrs. Archibald Rogers? with
a few minor alterations and calling it the Jacobus Stoutenburgh House.
These alterations I offer for your consideration.
The front door should be level with the street as it would be
an impossibility to use it in bad weather with steps. The new shut-
ters that have been put on should be replaced with the heavy wooden
shutters with a crescent moon.
I studied for many hours the various pictures that I have of
William and John Stoutenburgh's houses, and the architectural drawings
and noted that on the first floor of all three houses, the door was
directly in the middle with two windows on either side. I have also
come to the conclusion that any house built at that time of two
stories was called a mansion. Note the VanCortlandt Mansion and
others. Mrs. John King Van Renssalaer, who although a generation
older than I, conferred with me frequently about old time ways and
customs, etc. She asked me why I thought Gracie House was called
Gracie Mansion. I am now absolutely convinced in looking over houses
of the past that this odious title "mansion" was given to houses of
two stories.
+ the roof may be not
the original nodf-
The OCL stress that sTood on The ities_
-5-
The Dutch houses of one story or one story and a half were
to my way of thinking much more attractive. I feel that this
house could indeed be a fitting monument to Jacobus and would
be enjoyed by the people of Hyde Park as a Post Office.
That you, dear President Roosevelt, as President of the
United States, should have selected this house to which to do
honor should make each and every descendant of my family deeply
grateful and ever sensible of your kindness.
most suncerely your old neighbor
august 10- 1939-
Mrs. Walter Graeme Eliot
520 East 87th Street
New York City
I callose G. survey by Jacob Smith
of the village.
4 tells the names of the family
TS mhom it was lys. the 34 generation-
2t also shows That 'Trts no. 14
21 Containing mausin + Barn
remains undivided"
this card was attached to a map of
Hyde Pale Villay - Thomap is being
put IN a lorge folder to preserve it
from delerioration -
2/22/84
I
Hyde Park Village
Inhabited only by Sloutenburghs
1st generation
Jacobus
Stoutenburgh 1772
2nd 2 generation
Luke Stonlenburgl
1792
3 2d generation
here of Luke Stone emburgh
4. as shown ru map-
Dr Lee's house himas Dn John
DeCantaline 4 1 u L
allen Lee. Mar. a Stoul ruburgh
for preservation
of
adv
archeast on duly of you
to Ace the map
in
A Map
of the FARM of the
Late
Luke Stourenburgh Esqre
Situate in
Clin ton, Town Dutchefs County
as Deeded Among His Heirs
Laid down
From Actual Survey
Jacob by Smith
j
Reference Table
Lots, the Share ofert
i. Clothier Shop
James Stoutenburgh's
Church
John
House
K. Bridge
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN MICROFILMED
AT A REDUCTION RATIO OF 16 . 1.
This oversized item has been
filmed in sections
4
Ne 18
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No
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at
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a) Decreas Among His Heirs
Back
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3
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du
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country
No.38
$
11,000
5
puer
Reference Table
Late the State aferet Moin my
a Charce
Clorhier Shap
James Stourenburgh's N° 2, 10,25,29138
é
Mansion House
. Bridge
John
7,426,271.42
No.39
/ Mill Pond
Luke
.
c. D'Lee's House
-
7,13,19,34 139
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No 3/outenburghi Land
For
August 25, 1939.
Dear Helen:-
As you know, there is a possibility that
I may get a new Post Office for Hyde Park village
next Spring and the type of building becomes
important.
You will remember the article by Colonel
Kliot claiming that the old Stoutenburgh house
at the top of the river hill was practically
identical with the Sir William Johnston house
in the Mohawk Valley -- a full two story and
attic house. Apparently Mrs. Eliot does not
make this claim and suggests it was more like
the Stoutenburgh house opposite the Rogers'
north gate - a house with a hip roof.
Have you any thought as to what type
of design we should follow? It is possible
(don't tell anybody about 1t) that we may need
a bigger building than Rhinebeck because of
housing the federal agricultural activities
for Dutchess County.
If this dreadful war business does
not definitely break out, I hope to be at
Hyde Park the better part of September -- and
if you are back be sure to let me know and
come up to tea with us.
As ever yours,
Miss Helen W. Reynolds,
66 Grand Avenue,
Poughkeepsie,
New York.
PSF
August 25, 1939.
Dear Mrs. Eliot:-
Ever so sany thanks for those
interesting notes. We are not sure yet that
there is enough money for the new Post Office
but I hope such that we can get one started
next Spring.
I told Helen Reynolds about
your unrecorded deeds and she is thrilled at
the thought and wants to publish abstracts
of them in the Dutchess County Historical
Society 1940 Year Book.
I do hope that you will be
able to get to Hyde Park one of these days
and if you do come that you will let me know
and also let me show you my now stone cottage
on the top of Dutchess Hill, three miles east
of Hama's house.
Always sincerely,
rs. Walter Graene Eliot,
820 East 97th Street,
New York City,
New York.
E
/
B
/
510 E. 87th a
new your
ny.
Dear kind President Roosevelt
may these notes be a
bringing back the Past,
little helpful to you in
2 an greatly heartened at -
The old Jacobus House as
the thought that you wish
a Post office - The old Bukman
House at Reimbeck is a
dream and it is deeply
appreciated J by every one
Cust going 5 Reep your
letter for three young grandsous.
Children of amory Eliot, my son
who is G major in The signal
anpo of the army I hope me
of them may later Furn into a styde Parker!
Please do try and get as
little rest for the all form
you, and are so proud of you - -
most sincerely yours
mand Stonten burgh quin
august 10-1939- -
a photograph follows-
PSF Hyde PlePatoffice r
August 29, 1939
Letter to the President
From Helen Reynolds
Attaches two memorandums
1. On new Post Office for Hyde Park
2. Hyde Park Library
Pres. ack of Sept 12, 1939 attached.
See: Helen Reynolds folder-Drawer--2-1939
/
Attached is plan of the Property of
W.W. Woodworth, Esq--Hyde Pk.
OFFICE DEPARTMENT
PhoPost r office
*
Office of the Hashmaster General
STATES 40 OF AMERICA
Washington, D.C.
PSF
file Hyde finde Bork Bark
October 13, 1939.
My dear Mr. President:
Attached hereto is a photostatic copy of the Synopsis
of Bids for the new Federal building site at Hyde Park, New
York; also a marked blue print showing the locations of the
sites offered.
During the investigation by site agents A. J. Leamy
and W. Plath it came to their attention that the Union Free
School Building, located at the southwest corner of Albany
Post Road and Albertson Street, with dimensions of 101'2"
on the Albany Post Road, 198' on Albertson Street, and 154'
on the south line, is to be abandoned upon the completion
of the new Central School building about January 1940.
In view of the fact that the Union Free School Building
is to be abandoned the site agents wrote Mr. Ralph R. Smith,
Sr., President of the Central School Board, Hyde Park, New
York, concerning the matter, and transmitted to him & blank
proposal form for his use in the event the school board
desires to submit 8. formal bid on the property. The site
agents are withholding their report until some definite word
is received from the Central School Board.
I thought you would like to have the above-mentioned
Synopsis of Bids and the blue print showing the locations.
I shall be glad to discuss the matter with you when I
see you next week.
Sincerely yours,
James a Farly
Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt,
The White House,
Washington, D. C.
A Plan of the Property of
W.I. 11.00dworch EsgE
Hyde Park.
14
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65
Park
Albany
A
liam
Street
Henry Munfield
Civil
Poughkeepsie April 1835
Hvcle Park N
Hyde Park, New York.
710. 15 OF BIDS
Mid 0.
owner or ugont
Location
Dirensions
making price
1
George J. Lumb,
SW
cor.
Ibony
165' on Post
86,200
agent
Post Ed. Har- ed., by 247'
12:13
vey Stre t
on Hervey
to
Do
Do
110' on Mabeny 5,500
lost Rd., by 170'123
on Harvey
5
0.2. & I.I.
NW cor. Albany
115.5' on
8,500
Palmatoer
Post Rd. & Al-
Post Rd., by
AB
owners
bortson St.
134' on Albert-
son
4
Henry Myers,
W/S Albany Post 100' by 212'
11,000
Rd., todo 214'
LAB
owner
north of Bast
Market St.
5
Fred S. Hover,
E/S Albeny Post 143.22' by
16,000
ovner
Rd. bet East Mar- irres.
. only
ket & Church Sts
depth.
6
C.O. & Julio
E/S Albany Post 185' by 170'
1,950
Rd.200' south of
L.only
Parker, owners
Church St.
7
M.P.Brophy,
NE cor. Albany 54' on Post
5,800
owner
Post Rd. & East Rd., by 72'
143
Markot St.
on E. Market
Ja.,1198 Postmaster
Witness. Belson
Reall
10/3/39 Ant
PSF
4/ydiple Port offle
October 14, 1939
MEMORANDUM FOR S. D. R.
Would you ask the Librarian
at Hyde Park to lend you a picture
she has there of the original house
of Dr. John Bard which stood on the
East side of the Post Road Just North
of St. James Church.
I would like to see it next
Saturday morning as we might want to
copy it for the new Hyde Park post-
office.
F. D. R.
fdr/tmb
Int 2898
October 14, 1939
Dear Helent
I am having Mama get a picture
of the John Bard house from the library at
Hyde Park and I will see it next week end.
I entirely approve the announce-
ment of Volume VII of the Collections.
will you thank Dr. Poucher and
tell him I shall be delighted to have him
do as he did before and take care of the
distribution. I do hope he 1s better.
Give him my very warm regards.
As ever yours,
Miss Helen W. Reynolds,
56 Grand Avenue,
Poughkeepsie,
New York.
MISS HELEN WILKINSON REYNOLDS
Bd. GRAND AVENUE
October 12th,
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
1939
Dear Mr. President,
Would you be willing that your book should be an-
nounsed in the 1939 Year Book (which will get in the
mail in December) and, if BO, would you approve the
wording of the enclosed draft of an Announcement ?
Henry Hackett and I are much interested in our
findings about Dr. John Bard's house as a possible de-
sign for the post office at Hyde Park :
And, oh :, if a new school 1s named "Val Kill" do
have the children taught to give "Val" the Dutch pro-
nunciation , - which rhymes with "fol" not with valley.
Yours,
H.
H.W.R.
I
PSF
October 25, 1939.
Dear Als-
I talked with the Post Office and Treasury
people about your property and while it is an
Ideal corner, they feel it is not big enough.
Furthermore, you have made 80 sany improvements
and made such 8 success of the businesses that
you would very properly have to ask a fairly
high price in order to come out square. I
hope to get some further news from the of-
fielals before I get back over Election weekend
and I will ... you then.
Very sincerely yours,
Mr. A. E. Zepf,
Hyde Park,
Dutchess County,
New York.
Hyde Park, N.Y.
October 20, 1939
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Hyde Park, N.Y.
Dear Mr. Roosevelt:
Representatives of the United States
Government have called upon me relative to
purchasing my property as & site for the new
Post Office, together with the property on the
corner of Main Street and Albany Post Road which
is owned by Mrs. Sarah Bayles Seddon.
I want you to know that I am perfectly
willing to sell my property at & fair and
reasonable price either given by myself or by
authorised appraisers.
I feel that the Post Office should be
in the center of our Village and that the building
itself with the grounds surrounding it will be an
improvement. I have done my very best to make my
buildings attractive for Hyde Park and for the
traveling public, but as you and I know this was a
terrible looking place when I took it over, and I
am now willing to vacate because it is what the
Village needs.
Sincerely yours
A.E.Zepf
officifican v
November 14, 1939.
My dear Lawson:
I come to you in the hope that your
memory goes back to the time when you were an infant
in erns at Hyde Park.
We are about to put up a new post office
building in Hyde Park village and it has been suggested
that we copy the plan of "The Red House" built by Dr.
John Bard about 1765 and torn down by Mr. Langdon in
1875.
There is a sketch of it in a annuscript
book kept by Mr. Ed Branan - a tiny pen and ink sketch
showing a square center, two stories high and one-story
wings on the north and south.
We would much like to find the original
site of this house and perhaps dig down to get its
original dimensions.
Some people describe it as having been
in the field east of the Post Road and just north of
St. James' Church and what was then the church rectory.
Other people say it was north of the road into the
Langdon or Venderbilt farm buildings i.e. where Mr.
Langdon built his superintendent's house. The farm
entrence lies, as you know, immediately north of the
field which, in turn, is north of the church property.
#
OF
A
/
/
E
S
R
FOR
- 2 -
I wonder much whether you have any recollection
of "The Red House" - or its location. Evidently, it
had red clapboards but the design would readily reproduce
in the fieldstone we like BO much and which would enable
us to have e fireproof building.
I hope all goes well with you and that I shall
have the pleasure of seeing you soon.
As ever yours,
Honorable Lawson Purdy,
640 West 158th Street,
New York City, N.Y.
FDR/dj
HENRY T. HACKETT
ATTORNEY & COUNSELLOR AT LAW
226 UNION STREET
POUGHKEEPSIE
NEW YORK
Nov. 10th, 1939.
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Franklin:
It has just occurred to me that Mr.
Lawson Purdy, whose father, the Rev. James S. Purdy,
was the Rector of St. James from 1860 to 1876 and
resided in the rectory just north of the Church, ought
to know something about "The Red House" of Dr. John Bard.
At the time of the centennial of the Church he spoke of
his boyhood days and of the grain field of John A.
DeGroff just north of the Church.
Mr. Langdon purchased the land in-
cluding "The Red House" east of the Post Road from
John A. DeGroff on April 20th, 1872, four years before
Dr. Purdy left Hyde Park and is said to have torn down
"The Red House".
I think that Mr. Purdy's address is
105 E. 22nd St., New York City.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Checked & find out latest address is :
640 W. 158th St.
Nw. 14
by
file al
PSF
HENRY T. HACKETT
ATTORNEY & COUNSELLOR AT LAW
226 UNION STREET
POUGHKEEPSIE,
NEW YORK
Nov. 22nd, 1939.
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Franklin:
Replying to your letter of Nov. 20th, in
reference to the home of Dr. John Bard known as the "Red House",
I interviewed Mrs. James A. DeGroff, the mother of Arthur DeGroff,
and whose husband was the farmer on the Nathaniel P. Rogers place
for a number of years. She told me that she remembered the Red
House when John A. DeGroff lived in it and that it stood in a
small group of maple trees in the open lot south of the lane leading
into the farm from the Post Road. Some of the maple trees are still
standing in the open lot south of the lane running into the Vanderbilt
farm.
I am enclosing herewith a. print of a part of the
map of the Town of Hyde Park enlarged to twice the size as it appears
in the "Atlas of New York and vicinity - N. Y. 1867". On this map
the house of John A. DeGroff appears to be north and east of the
church yard. The farm buildings appear to be near the Post Road.
There was also another house standing on the east side of the Post
Road about half way down the Sexton Hill. When the new concrete
road was built a few years ago the last trace of this house, which
consisted of an old stone wall, was removed. I believe that this
house was once occupied by the Gillispie family, who were related to
Dr. John Bard. The Gillispie lot in which I think this house stood
was mentioned in the deed from Alexander E. Hosack to John A. DeGroff
dated May 1st, 1841.
The location of Dr. JohnBard's "Red House" is
further established by the following reference taken from a book
entitled "Pierre Fauconnier and His Descendants" by Abraham Ernest
Helffenstein, M. D., Philadelphia 1911 at page 84:
"The building in 1772, I suppose, was the residence of Dr. John
Bard on the Post Road, built just far enough back to miss the fine
view of the river, but escaping the full force of the winter winds."
I think Mr. Edward Bramen stated in his article
on Hyde Park that John A. DeGroff lived in the Red House until he
sold it to Mr. Langdon in 1872.
HENRY T. HACKETT
ATTORNEY a COUNSELLOR AT LAW
226 UNION STREET
POUGHKEEPSIE,
New York
Nov. 22nd, 1939.
Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt
#2-
I am returning enclosed herewith the letter
from Mr. Lawson Purdy to you dated Nov. 16th.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Hung y
November 20, 1939
Dear Henry:
The enclosed has just come from
Lawson Purdy. From 1t I gather that the old
Bard house was about where Mr. Shears' house
now stands -- in other words, north of the
farm lane.
will you send this back to me at
your convenience?
As ever,
Henry T. Hackett, Eeq.,
226 Union Street,
Poughkeepsie,
New York.
Enclosure
fdr/tmb
Let to the President 11/16/39 from Lawson Purdy, 640 West 158th St.
New York, New York
640 WEST 158TH STREET
Dear m. President
about out ty five
\
years ago mrs. ang istus
Cowman lived in The house
you discribe. Her husband
had been long dead. - He had
much to do with disig ning and
building The Church- He bund
on what we knew as The Kirkpatuek
place or Dray ton Place opposite
the charch - the died and his estate
Dhrunk and The widow went to like
in The house on the East side
of the road. Who it
Tao not know. The house
4 Think Tood East of this road
about as far as the old Rectory,
perhahs 150 ful- a lane
led from The road south of
the house to mr. de groffs house
which stood purhaps 600 or
from The road- The "Rud"
house stood about 100 fl
north ofthe lane
I Think The Do called
"Ria" house was Trown When Thrum
it, about The color of the old Rectory -
remember better Than g as she is with
& shall ask my sister who may
I ears older-my father was Twice m anied,
my Distric mother was Quo an Band
Johnson She was related and q Think
a descend and of Dr John Band too
Than reason the might Busw about
This house- Its a great pleasure
to have a letter from you.
Dinarely
Hon. Franklin D.Rosseult
Wistervell
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Grace:
The President may want to
keep the attached in his basket to
remind him to write Mr. Simon
about the offer.
Paula
PSF
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 21, 1939.
MEMORANDUM FOR
HON. LOUIS A. SIMON
When you come to the building
of the new Hyde Park Post Office
please make a memorandum that Mrs.
Walter Graeme Eliot, 520 East 87th
Street, New York City, has offered,
free of charge, the stone walls on
the hundred acre farm owned by her
at the entrance to the Mill Road,
just east of Hyde Park village.
If we adopt the Samuel Bard
house plan for the Post Office
it would be appropriate to use
this stone, as the farm in
question used to be owned by
Dr. Samuel Bard. Mrs. Eliot
specifically reserves, of course,
the stone walls which form the
boundaries of this farm but she
says there are two or three
walls in the interior of the
place.
F. D. R.
December 19, 1939.
Ky dear Mrs. Eliot:-
I have not had a chance to thank
you before this for your very generous offer
of the use of some of the stone wall on the
one hundred acre farm at the entrance of the
Mill Road at Ryde Park. I will tell the
Procurement Division about 18.
Negotiations are still going
on for a Post Office site in the village and
I hope to get the matter settled in a few
weeks.
The Town Board has, I believe,
not yet acted on accepting "the Pines as a
town park but I hope that too will go through.
ity very best wishes for a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Very sincerely yours,
Mrs. Walter Graens Eliot,
520 East 87th Street,
New York City,
New York.
COPY
ST. JAMES'S CHURCH
Hyde Park, D.Y.
October 24th, 1939
Coudert Brothers
2 Rector Street
New York, New York
Att: Mr. Moran
Centlemen:
In re: Eliot Estate
At a recent meeting of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of
St. James' Church I broached the subject which we discussed in
my office. As I recall it was your desire to obtain some sort of
an instrument in writing executed by the proper authorities of
the various churches whereby they would indicate their acceptance
of "The Pines" for the uses and purposes set forth in Mr. Eliot's
will.
After discussing the matter from various angles the Vestry took
the view that by executing this acceptance we would then become
vested of a title or an interest in the premises. Having once
soquired any such title the only way for the Church to divest
itself would be through an action or proceeding in the Supreme
Court. Such an action or proceeding would require a great deal
of legal research and compliance with technical requirements of
the law in order that any subsequent title might be good and
marketable.
It was suppested by Mr. Roosevelt that we communicate with you
furth-r and give the matter further thought with the view of adopt-
ing a resolution at this time renouncing our right to accept under
the terms of the will which renunciation would be upon the ex-
pressed condition that the proposed legates under Subdivision Pour
of the codicil would also renounce and all the distributess
would join in a conveyance of the property to the Town of Hyde Park.
Such a conveyance could and would be with a provision that the
property would be used for, the uses and purposes set forth in Mr.
Eliot's will and should be given a title in accordance with his
desires as expressed.
до are holding another meeting on November fifth at which time
the matter will be discussed at more length. If you have any sugges-
tions to make, please try to let the hear from you in the meantime.
Very truly yours,
(sgá) À. S. HALPIN
H:M
this and note with pleasure your
suggestion that I mark upon this
520 EAST 87TH STREET
copy of the letter 80 that the prop-
erty may be used for the purposes
November lst, 1939
set forth in Col.Eliot's will.,
My dear President Roosevelt:
Shorld the Village through
you take over this property, please
In my last letter to you oon-
remember that like and Eittie Keogan
cerning the post office, I neglected
be allowed the use of the gardener's
to say that it would afford the great
cottage during their lifetime.
pleasure if you could take some of
the stone wall on the hundred aore
with kindest regards to you,
form (Shun Pike Form) at the entrance
dear President Roosevelt, I am ever
of the Hill Road in Hyde Park, once
sincerely
known 08 the Shun Pike Road, and for-
merly owned by my father and mother
Your friend,
and more remotely by Dr. Samuel Bard
and Dr. David Hosack. I do not al-
lude to the stone wolls forming the
boundaries, but as I recell it there
were two or three walls in the inte-
Mrs. walter Graeme Eliot
rior of the place and should you care
for these either for your historic
library or possibly later on for a
possible Jacobus Stoutenburgh Poot
Office, I world be delighted.
I Bee that you are to hold
a meeting of the verious church boards
in Hyde Park on November fifth and
I en hoping that you can come to a
conclusion in the matter of the Pines.
I an attaching Mr. Halpin's letter to
PSF
HYDE PARK, NEW YORK
POST OFFICE BUILDING (NEW)
Hydr
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
PUBLIC BUILDINGS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT
WASHINGTON
IN REPLYING, QUOTA THE ABOVE s.a.
SA-ADM
ACT. BULDING, AND THEM LETTERS
March 18, 1940
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
SUBJECT:
POST OFFICE BUILDING, HYDE PARK
The design for the new Post Office building has been prepared for
further discussion with the President; or if he prefers it, the sketch
will be sent to the White House for such comments as he may wish to
nake.
The question of moving the old FreerHouse to the back of the
Post Office lot and renting it to Mrs. Freer has been investigated at
great length. There appears to be no legal authority by which this
can be accomplished. An excerpt of the Comptroller's decision and
some further circumstances in connection with this natter are given
on the attached sheet.
Following a recent visit to Hyde Park to look into the local
situation, Mr. Stanley Brown of this office expressed the opinion
that & close examination of the various details of the Freer House
led him to believe that it might date from the period between 1840
and 1850; and while some of the interior trim and the front entrance
is interesting, "none of the work is outstanding as an example of
work done at the close of the Greek Revival period."
your
Supervising Architect
The President,
The White House.
1085
MOTDMIH2AW
БОВГІС впігрійсе VOWIN
LEDEBVE MoHKa VOEW
HAVE STX
EXCERPT OF COMPTROLLER'S DECISION
AND SOME FURTHER CIRCUMSTANCES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OLD FREER
HOUSE NOW LOCATED ON THE SITE OF
THE NEW POST OFFICE BUILDING AT
HYDE PARK, N.Y.
no it appears that in the absence of specific statutory
authority therefor, Government officers and heads of departments
may not legally rent Government-owned property, buildings, or
parts of buildings, to private parties or private enterprises."
Later legislation which permits rental "until their removal
becomes necessary" is held to furnish no authority to rent the
property to Mrs. Freer. To avoid demolishing the house would
require the Government to eliminate the house and the rear portion
of the Freer lot from the purchase, and permit the old house to
be moved back, leaving a right-of-way by which the house could
be approached in its new location on ground which would be left in
Mrs. Freer's ownership. if she would reduce the price of the property.
It is estimated that the moving might readily cost from $2,500
to $3,000 or more, and would require the destruction of two large
pine trees which it is very desirable to retain.
WITH 257 NO CHTAGOJ you SEUCH
KWHL (LI) XHI EYN MOITORISHOO
VAD BONE BIBSHAM
EXCESS CL DECISIO
HYDE PARK, NEW YORK
POST OFFICE BUILDING (NEW)
ADM
March 18, 1940
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
SUBJECT:
POST OFFICE BUILDING, HYDS PARK
The design for the new Post Office building has been prepared for
further discussion with the Presidents or if he prefers 18, the sketch
will be sent to the White House for such comments as he may wish to
make.
The question of moving the old Free House to the back of the
Post Office lot and renting 18 to Mrs. Freer has been investigated at
great length. There appears to be no legal authority w which this
can be accomplished. in excerpt of the Comptroller's decision and
some further circumstances in connection with this matter are given
on the attached sheet.
Fellowing a recent visit to Hyde Park to look into the lecal
situation, Mr. Stanley Brown of this office expressed the opinion
that a close examination of the various details of the Freer House
led his to believe that it might date from the period between 1840
and 1850; and while some of the interior trin and the front entrance
is interesting, "none of the work is outstanding as an example of
work done at the close of the Greek Revival period."
Supervising Architect
Je' To
LOBS ON
If
HAVE bvilk' RE
I
2012 201
VIM
EXCERPT OF COMPTROLLER'S DECISION
AND SOME FURTHER CIRCUMSTANCES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OLD FREER
HOUSE NOW LOCATED ON THE SITE OF
THE NEW POST OFFICE BUILDING All
HYDE PARK, N.Y.
no it appears that in the absence of specific statutory
authority therefor, Government officers and heads of departments
may not legally rent Government-owned property. buildings, or
parts of buildings, to private parties or private enterprises."
Later legislation which permits rental "until their removal
becomes necessary" is held to furnish no authority to rent the
property to Mrs. Freer. To avoid demolishing the house would
require the Government to eliminate the house and the rear portion
of the Freer lot from the purchase, and permit the old house to
be moved back, leaving & right-of-vay by which the house could
be approached in its new lecation on ground which would be left in
Mrs. Freer's ownership, if she would reduce the price fither property
It is estimated that the moving wight readily cost from $2,800
to $3,000 or more, and would require the destruction of two large
pine trees which 11 is very desirable to retain.
PSF
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
PUBLIC BUILDINGS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT
WASHINGTON
IN REPLYING, QUOTE THE ABOVE s.a. SA-ADM
ACT. BUILDING, AND THEM LETTERS
May 7, 1940.
MEMORANDUM FOR MISS TULLY:
My dear lliss Tully:
In accordance with our telephone conversation these are
the facts in connection with the proposed new Post Office and
Agricultural Building at Hyde Park:
The drawings are completed and the specifications are
being made. It is the intention to place the work on the mar-
ket for bids by the twenty-fifth of May.
The ordinary thirty days for the work to remain on the
market has been shortened to twenty days which means that
the bids are to be opened on June 14 and if the low bidder
is found to be qualified and there are no complications, this
should permit the contract to be in force by the twentieth
of June.
Every possible effort will be made to have the contrac-
tor start operations at once with the hope of completing the
building by the middle of December.
The President might be interested to know that we made
an effort to have the present old Freer House removed from
the site, but information I received from Hyde Park shows
that there are no bidders. It looks very much as if the
old House would have to come down.
Supervising Architect.
PSF
520 EAST 87TH STREET
file
the
Dear President Roosevelt:
The old house is to live again as
the Hyde Park Postoffice and I cannot
tell you how happy your vision has made
me.
It is a blessed thought that there
is one who is preserving and restoring
the ancient landmarks and who is over
calm and helpful in a frensied world.
With kindest regards. Ever your
sincere friend.
May Slat 1940
Mrs. Walter Graeme Eliot
To His Excellency
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The picture 7 IF POST office of Hyde Plate
is MA. The of Today!