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(Editor's note: This column is part two of a two-part series.)
As promised in my last article, here is the continuation of our adventure, this time focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt, with a brief stop at Mills Mansion along the way.
Mills Mansion was once again a stunning example of Gilded Age opulence. As we drove through the massive iron gates and up the winding lane, the scene before us left us wide-eyed and speechless. Perched high atop a hill overlooking the Hudson River, the mansion offered breathtaking views. The rolling green lawn and bright blue sky provided a beautiful backdrop for this magnificent white-columned estate.
The mansion boasts 65 rooms and 14 bathrooms, but as impressive as the exterior is, the interior is even more extraordinary. Everywhere we looked, there was something to admire: intricate gold gilding, richly woven tapestries, heavy velvet draperies, and an abundance of marble covering the floors, walls, and grand pillars. Every room seemed designed to convey wealth, elegance, and prestige, offering a glimpse into a lifestyle few could ever imagine. I exclaimed to my daughter, "So this is how the other half lives!" She quickly replied, "More like the 1 percent!"
Yet, as breathtaking as Mills Mansion was, it served another purpose for me. It provided the perfect contrast for what came next.
Our next stop was Val-Kill, the modest country cottage that Eleanor Roosevelt called home. Unlike the grandeur of Mills Mansion, Val-Kill does not command your attention. There are no grand staircases or glittering chandeliers. Instead, it quietly invites you inside, where the true significance lies not in the furnishings that filled the rooms, but in the lives that were touched within them.
From early spring through late fall, whenever President Franklin Roosevelt was not staying at Springwood, Eleanor spent as much time at Val-Kill as she could. It was here that she entertained world leaders, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens all with the same warmth and genuineness.
During our tour, we paused in the cozy living room while our guide pointed to two simple chairs tucked into a corner. It was there, she explained, that Eleanor shared tea with a young John F. Kennedy as he sought her endorsement for the Democratic presidential nomination. She had no intention of supporting him when he arrived, but by the end of their conversation she not only endorsed his candidacy, but she also promised to campaign for him. History, it seems, can change over something as ordinary as a cup of tea.
For me, however, the most moving moment came when I stood before Eleanor's writing desk.
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Rhonda Kelley is the executive director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce.