FDR at Rhinebeck
President Roosevelt had a passion for history and for early Dutch/Hudson Valley stone building design. He was also a Beekman descendant (his forefather was Gerardus Beekman, Judge Beekman’s brother). For almost 90 years now, people have been passing by the various post offices and other buildings he built, always admiring their architectural grace. The post office in Rhinebeck, as most people know, was, per FDR, based on the original design of the Col. Henry Beekman house just up the road. The stones used were from that site, and the P.O. design even incorporates a small round window to mark the spot where a cannonball hit the original structure in 1777 (look up near the NYS historical marker). When the post office was dedicated on May 1, 1939, FDR gave us a suggestion worth remembering. His words that day:
“May I make a suggestion to you, my neighbors of Rhinebeck? At this very historic crossroads of the village, we now have the new Post Office, the nation-wide famous Beekman Arms Inn, and just beyond it on the northwest corner that fine old stone building, so substantially built that it will last for all time to come. As time goes on, some of the other buildings on the other side of the street and on this side may have to be replaced by new buildings. Now, these buildings are substantial enough, but they are set rather close to the street and represent a style of architecture that is not being copied much today, a style that was followed by architects for years but one which we now rather smile at as we label it Victorian. And so, when replacements are made, I hope that the new buildings may be set back by—what shall we say?—not by law but by community opinion, set back so that you in Rhinebeck will have what, in effect, will be a large open square, admired for its beauty by the many thousands who pass this way.”
FDR was suggesting an open space in the town center, one where people would admire the town and the old traditional buildings. A place where people could gather together as a community. That never happened. The “fine old stone building” he was referring to (White’s Corner) was razed in the 1940’s for a gas station (and bulldozed down later for a parking lot). A modern bank was built to the other side of the P.O. A modern commercial building was built just across the street from the Beekman Arms (replacing Tracy Dows real estate office). Behind the Beekman Arms, a modern new hotel was built. We’ve never really moved closer to his vision, but with the old mill, we think he would be pleased.
If any interest, there’s actual video footage of FDR arriving and leaving the post office that day. Found here. Skip ahead to 2:25. (Above photo credit: FDR Library)
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