August 28, 2008

Thursday 28~~~Today we went across the border to New Brunswick, Canada to see the summer home of Franklin D Roosevelt called Campabella. The United States and Canada share the responsibility of the island, home and grounds which is free to tourists. Roosevelt went to this island with his parents from the age of one every summer as he grew up. His parents purchased this home from the people next door to their home and gave it to Franklin and his new bride as a wedding gift. (picture) They went there every summer with their 5 children the same as his parents did with him, the home has 16 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. Each child had their own room and there was bedrooms for the maids and Nannies. The other staff lived in a cottage on the grounds. The original china and a lot of their furniture is on display. It is hard to imagine such a grand home for a summer cottage and to be closed up all winter. The winters were too cold and too much snow to live in it year round. The Park workers still completely pack up the entire house at the end of the tourist season to protect things from mice, elements and to be able to clean and put everything out fresh in the spring. One of the things that we thought was so unique was the stove in the laundry room. ( pictures) Notice in the picture there are many flat irons attached to the heating stove so there is no time wasted on the heating of the irons when doing the vast amount of laundry they did. The grounds are so beautiful with all the flowers they grow there, they are taken care of by volunteer workers. (Pictures) After this we had lunch and we went to the "Eastern Most Point in the United States". (picture) It was by an old light house that was very interesting and had a lot of history about it there. Now we have been to all 4 of the points in the U.S. About 100 feet from shore is a rock Island that is 100X100 feet. If you sailed directly South you wouldn't hit land until you got to South America. We really enjoyed touring the streets of the town and the shops are small and cute with their early American look, everyone is very friendly . (also curious)