Historic Figures: Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt - Hyde Park, NY

Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt

Hyde Park, NY

N 41° 46.191 W 073° 56.026

Short Description: 

A sculpture that that features Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt is locate outside the Henry A. Wallace Visitors Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt national Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY.

Long Description:

A bronze sculpture of Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt is base on a photograph taken on the south lawn of their home in Hyde Park, NY. Eleanor is sitting on a chair while Franklin is seated on the right side of a bench. They are seated around a small circular table which contains two closed books and an open book.

Eleanor is wearing a dress with a half-sleeve jacket. She has her hands at waist level and her legs are crossed, left over right. Franklin is wearing a business suit and tie. He has his right arm on the back of the bench and his left hand on the opened book. There is space to sit to Franklin's right and left.

The sculpture was created by Studio EIS of New York City, cast at the Tallix foundry and copyrighted in 2008.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born at Hyde Park, NY on January 30, 1882 into a prominent and wealthy family. He spent nearly his entire life in public life as a New York State Senator (1910 -1913), Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913), Vice-Presidential candidate with James M. Cox (1920), Governor of New York (1929 -1932) , and president of the United States (1933-1945). He was the only American president to be elected for four terms.

Despite being paralyzed from polio (1921) he led the United States during the worldwide economic crisis known as the Great Depression and World War II. He returned the nation to prosperity and, together with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, led the Allied Forces to victory against Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II. He died at Hot Springs, AR, just before the end of the war on April 12, 1945.

Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884 in New York City. On March 17, 1905 she married her fifth cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt and together they lived in Franklin's Hyde Park estate. Upon the election of Franklin as president of the United States she served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She died in New York City on November 7, 1962.

Eleanor became famous in her own right because of her advocacy for civil rights and social justice. She served as the United States Representative and Chairwoman to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and was appointed by President Kennedy to be Chairwoman of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women.

Philatelic Photograph: Franklin D. Roosevelt Home - Hyde Park, NY

Franklin D. Roosevelt Home

Hyde Park, NY

N 41° 46.031 W 073° 56.128

Short Description: 

The birthplace and home of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt is located within a huge estate between Route 9 and the Hudson River in Hyde Park. NY

Long Description:

The Roosevelt family called this home Springwood. The central portion was originally a large Federal style farmhouse which was built around 1800. In 1845, the estate was purchased by New York City merchant Josiah Wheeler, who remodeled it into a 15 room house in the Italianate style. He adding a three-story tower at the south end as well as front and rear piazzas. James Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt's father, purchased the home in 1866 for $40,000.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was born here on January 30, 1882 and grew up in this house. After he married Eleanor Roosevelt the couple stayed here to live with Franklin's mother. During his life Roosevelt would use this home as a retreat. He once remarked "All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River." President Roosevelt died in office on April 12, 1945. He and his wife Eleanor are buried a short distance away from the house, on the estate, within the rose garden.

The stamp was issued by the United States as part of a series of four stamps issued from 1945 to 1946 commemorating the life of President Franklin D. Roosevelt,

Philatelic Photograph: Barnegat Lighthouse - Long Beach Island - Barnaget Light, NJ

Barnegat Lighthouse

Long Beach Island

Barnaget Light, NJ

N 39° 45.861 W 074° 06.365

Short Description: 

Barnegat Lighthouse "Old Barney" is located at the northern end of Long Beach Island in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Ocean County, NJ.

Long Description:

Barnegat Light built by the Federal Lighthouse Board from 1857 to 1858. It was first lighted on January 1, 1859. The tower light is 172' above sea level and was the second tallest lighthouse in the United States. It remained a first-class navigational light until August 1927 until the Barnegat Lightship was anchored 8 miles off shore. At that time the light was diminished but not fully extinguished until January 1944. The tower is flood-lit at night.

The lighthouse underwent repairs in 1988 and reopened to the public in 1991 and attracts thousands of visitors each year as a museum. The lighthouse was refitted with a first order Fresnel lens and re-lit January 1, 2009 by the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. It maintains the original flash pattern and is visible for 22 nautical miles. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The stamp was issued as part of a set of six stamps by the Bailiwick of Jersey, a self-governing parliamentary democracy under the British crown in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy, France, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of New Jersey.

Roadside Attraction: Cadillac Ranch Tribute Made of Yugos - Middletown, CT

Cadillac Ranch Tribute Made of Yugos

Middletown, CT

N 41° 35.213 W 072° 40.495

Short Description: 

Cadillac Ranch Tribute Made of Yugos is located at Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center at 1003 Newfield Street, Route 3, in Middletown, CT.

Long Description:

This tribute to the more famous Cadillac Ranch in Texas, where Cadillac cars are buried in the sand, is the work of Joe McCarthy and Peter Albano. Using three discarded Yugos they found at the sprawling Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center they managed to balance each upright by their grills on a fiberglass beach balls. They named this composition "I'd Go Where Yugo Stanley Marsh 3", in honor of the owner of the original Cadillac Ranch. The red white and blue Yugos are visible on the southbound side from Route 3. You can park at Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center and walk around and view the sculpture from all angles.

Roadside Attractions: Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center - Middletown, CT

Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center

Middletown, CT

N 41° 35.180 W 072° 40.495

Short Description: 

Wild Bill's Nostalgia Center is now located at a 40 acre site at 1003 Newfield St., Middletown, CT.

Long Description. 

What a special, albeit kitchy, place! At its heart is a store that specializes in 60's memorabilia. On the grounds is a fantastic display of murals, a haunted house, vintage vehicles, etc.  Aging hippie Bill Ziegler has amassed an incredible collection of artifacts that are on display on the grounds and inside the store. Highlights include a Clarabelle head once owned by Clarabelle himself, actor Bob Keeshan, a mural tribute  to Woodstock featuring Bob Marley, Jimi Hendricks, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia. VW hippie vans and much, much, more.

Civil Rights Monument: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - New Britain, CT

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

New Britain, CT

N 41° 40.438 W 072° 46.384

Short Description:

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in a small park on Martin Luther King Drive and Stanley Street in New Britain,CT.

Long Description:

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a clergyman and activist leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He espoused a philosophy of seeking change using nonviolent civil disobedience.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, was sculpted by Derrick Barrett. Luigi Tempesta did the carving and the New Britain Monumental Works was the fabricator. The monument was dedicated on July 11, 1977.

A 6' by 5' by 2' granite monument sits on a 6' by 3' by 1' granite base. The central section is a black granite block, beveled near the top, and supporting white granite bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King is depicted a suit jacket and tie and is in the process of speaking. The beveled edge contains the words I HAVE A DREAM. The front of the base has the inscription:

DOCTOR 

MARTIN LUTHER 

KING, JR.

1929 - 1968

On Dr. King's right side there is a smaller white granite block with the image of Dr. King surround people of different cultures. Below is the inscription:

WE HAVE INHERITED A LARGE
HOUSE. A GREAT WORLD
HOUSE IN WHICH WE HAVE
TO LIVE TOGETHER * BLACK
AND WHITE, EASTERNER AND
WESTERNER, GENTILE AND
JEW, CATHOLIC AND PROT-
ESTANT, MOSLEM AND HINDU.
A FAMILY UNDULY SEPARAT-
ED IN IDEAS, CULTURE AND
INTEREST, WHO BECAUSE
WE CAN NEVER AGAIN LIVE
APART, MUST SOMEHOW
LEARN TO LIVE WITH EACH
OTHER IN PEACE.

On Dr. King's left side there is a smaller white granite block with the image of the reflecting pool,Washington Monument, four human profiles, and a pair of grasped hands. Below is the inscription:

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE
REAL THE PROMISES OF
DEMOCRACY. NOW IS THE
TIME TO RISE FROM THE
DARK AND DESOLATE VALLEY
OF SEGREGATION TO THE
SUNLIT PATH OF RACIAL
JUSTICE. NOW IS THE TIME
TO LIFT OUR NATION FROM
THE QUICKSANDS OF
RACIAL INJUSTICE TO
THE SOLID ROCK OF
BROTHERHOOD. 

Decorated Utility Box: Elmira 1864 - 2014 - Elmira, NY

Elmira 1864 - 2014

Elmira, NY

N 42° 05.746 W 076° 48.749

Short Description: 

A painted utility box commemorates the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Elmira, NY. It is located on the northeast corner of Park Place and West 5th Street in Elmira, NY.

Long Description:

The Elmira area was first settled in 1788. In 1864 the town of Elmira and the village of Elmira were incorporated as the City of Elmira. In 2014 this utility box was decorated to commemorate this event. The entire utility box is painted purple. The street side is painted with the clock tower of the Elmira City Hall and is inscribed:

150 ELMIRA 

NY

1864 - 2014

Honoring the Past

Building the Future

On the sidewalk side the ELMIRA is inscribed in large pictorial letters with various sites in Elmira, reminiscent of the lettering found on vintage post cards.

Decorated Utility Box: Elmira Themed - Elmira, NY

Elmira Themed Utility Box

Elmira, NY

N 42° 05.349 W 076° 48.465

Short Description: 

A painted utility box with various images related to Elmira, NY and a collection of handprints is located at the northeast corner of North Main Street and East gray Street in Elmira, NY
Location: New York, United States

Long Description:

This nicely painted utility box has three images. On the street side is Trinity Episcopal Church which is located one block north of the utility box. On the sidewalk side is the statue of Thomas K. Beecher, which is located across the street and a short distance north. On the south side is an portrait of Mark Twain, who spent many summers and worked on several of his books while living in Elmira and is buried in Elmira. The north side contains a collection of multicolored handprints. The portrait of Mark Twain is signed by William Walker and dated 2015.

Decorated Utility Box: Mark Twain in His Study - Elmira, MY

Mark Twain In His Study

Elmira, NY

N 42° 05.243 W 076° 48.429

Short Description: 

A painted utility box featuring Mark Twain is located in a small park at the corner of West Water Streeet and North Main Street in Elmira, NY

Long Description:

This utility box is painted on two sides to show Mark Twain reading a book while sitting in a rocking chair. The scene takes place in the Mark Twain Study, a small building that was built as for use by Mark Twain when he spent his summers in Elmira, NY. The lower right corner of the painting is signed by B. Smith and N. Moffe. It is undated.

Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, married an Elmira resident Olivia Langdon. They spent many summers with Olivia's sister, Susan Crane, at her mansion at Quarry Farm in Elmira, NY. In 1874, Susan and Theodore Crane gave this study to Samuel Clemens as a gift. The one-room octagonal building, equipped with a fireplace, was placed about 100 yards from the main house at Quarry Farm.

Here Mark Twain wrote major portions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Prince and the Pauper, A Tramp Abroad, and several shorter works. In 1952, the Mark Twain Study was moved from Quarry Farm to the Elmira College campus where it is staffed by student docents and open to the public.

Decorated Utility Box: Book Cabinet - Elmira, NY

Book Cabinet

Elmira, NY

N 42° 05.497 W 076° 48.540

Short Description: 

A utility box painted as a book cabinet is located at he northeast corner of North main Street and West 2nd Street in Elmira, NY.

Long Description:

The front of this utility box is a four-shelf book cabinet. The lowest shelf has 4 vertically and 10 horizontally stacked books. The next shelf up has 8 vertically stacked book on the left side of the shelf. The next shelf up has 7 vertically stacked book on the right side of the shelf. The upper shelf has 5 horizontally stacked books on the right side of the shelf. Multiple colors are used for the book covers. The remaining three sides and the base are painted in a brown wood-grained pattern. The second book down on the top shelf has a green cover and is signed and dated by the artist - KIAH 2014

Decorated Utility Box: Marsh Plants - Springfield, MA

Marsh Plants

Stearns Square

Springfield, MA

N 42° 06.264 W 072° 35.444

Short  Description: 

A painted utility box featuring marsh plants is located on the south (Bridge Street) side of Stearns Square in downtown Springfield, MA.

Long Description:

In August 2016 the City of Springfield recruited two local artist to beautify two utility boxed located in Stearns Square, in the heart of the downtown entertainment district. On September 23, 2015 the painted utility box created by Mischa Epstein was unveiled during a community screening of "The Princess Bride."

Ms. Epstein's design features the marsh plants - cattail (Typha latifolia), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and northern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) - painted against a pale blue background.

Decorated Utility Box: Central Cultural District - Springfield, MA

Central Cultural District

Stearns Square

Springfield, MA

N 42° 06.293 W 072° 35.484

Short Description: 

A painted utility box paying tribute to the Central Cultural District of Springfield, MA is located on the north (Worthington Street) side of Stearns Square in downtown Springfield.

Long Description:

In August 2016 the City of Springfield recruited two local artist to beautify two utility boxed located in Stearns Square, in the heart of the downtown entertainment district. On September 23, 2015 the painted utility box created by Carole Singh was unveiled during a community screening of "The Princess Bride."

Ms. Singh's design highlights Springfield's music scene with a series of instruments and musical notes painted in black against a background containing multicolored stripes. She also included a tribute to region's oldest and best known billiard hall, Smith's Billiards which was founded in 1902.