A Trip to the 'Cottages'

As always, there’s something in the title, and we’ll get to that a bit later. A lot has transpired since I last wrote here. My life has been full of busty activity just as much as dull inactivity. I suppose that’s just how things are; you can’t always be active. Even the most ardent adventures need time to rest in between expeditions. I have learned a lot though through the past several months, so when it’s all said and done, I’m pretty happy.

My apartment complex is part of what’s left og the Cheney Brothers Silk Mill, a National Historic Landmark District. I noticed this the same weekend I visited Nathan Hale’s homestead and Jonathan Trumbull’s war headquarters. I haven’t had the chance to take pictures around my area yet, but I’ll get around to it, because it really is like a time capsule.

I am going to go in reverse order here, from last weekends’ trip to Trumbull’s homestead and War Office, to the International Tennis Hall of Fame Classic in Newport I’m doing this because tomorrow morning I’m going back to Newport, to see in the most cliché way possible, the sites and sounds. My hope is that “tourist season” is over for the most part.

Jonathan Trumbull was the only colonial governor to support the American Revolution. He ran Connecticut's operation from this farm house.

Down the street, Trumbull's house stands to this day.

I'm pretty sure this was a carriage house used by the French and rebel forces during the revolution. There is a large field across from Trumbull's House and War Office where French troops massed while on their way to meet up with George Washington near New York City. Maybe this carriage house was used by the French, tough to tell.

Nathan Hale's house. I found out soon after entering Hale never lived here. He died in New York City before he could ever make it there.

Directly behind the house was a storage area for crops and such. Now, it's the gift shop.

I try to have plans every weekend, some sort of excursion or adventure to keep me busy. The last day of August, I went back with two of my good friends, to Queens, New York for the US Open. I’m hoping we can keep going back. Last year, we did the day session, and hot to see a lot of different matches, but this year we went for the night session, and what a night session it was.

Flushing Meadows was the site of the Worlds Fair before the US Open moved in. They kept some incredible landmarks around.

As you walk up into Arthur Ashe Stadium court, you get this fantastic view of Manhattan. 

First match on court was Caroline Wozniacki versus Camila Giorgi. It was best of three sets, but it was an incredible match. Giorgi was un-ranked and pretty much unheard of, but won the match in 3 tight sets. 

The Downton Fan in me was both happy in sad to see Dan Stevens. I wish he didn't leave the show.

Arguably the best player to ever pick up a tennis racket in the open era took the court for the night cap match. Roger Federer rolled over Adrian Manarinno in straight sets. Fed looked so dominant it was tough to believe the way he lost his next match a couple days later. But on this night, on this court, Federer put on a clinic, with almost flawless tennis.

The largest stadium in tennis was electric that night.

Similar angle from before.

For the most part this summer, I was at home. I traveled a little here and there, but had the most fun when I went to the First Annual Schooner Fest in New London with my sister. She was a real sport to tag along, and it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without her. One of the things I love about Connecticut the most is the sheer concentration of history, and there is a ton of history in New London and neighboring Groton.

One of seven ships at the City Pier in New London. There were more earlier on in the week - articles in newspapers touted up to 20 ships - when the festival was at Mystic Seaport. This is the Mystic Whaler, people can charter it for day sails and overnight cruises.

There was a brick stove on the deck...probably my favorite part of the day

This boat was from Virginia, but they flew the same flag the Niagara has flown since 1812.

This is a sand castle...a massive sand castle.

The biggest ship by far.The Mystic was massive, probably 2 or 3 times larger than the Niagara. It was an impressive site.

Watching day-sailers learning how to make sail brought back great memories from the Niagara. 

the Submarine Force and USS Nautilus Museum.  Those two rings; the smaller one was the first submarine and the larger one is the current class of nuclear subs.

A rescue capsule

Conning tower of the USS Nautilus

You could pretty much see the whole interior of the sub...except the nuclear reactors.

Try running through these things.

Part of the control center.

Just what you need to run a sub effectively; a ton of ambiguously-labeled levers and knobs.

Fort Trumbull, a coastal defense fort first built for the American Revolution. It was used as a sonar laboratory during the Cold War when the fear of Iranians or Russians sailing up the Connecticut River to invade Hartford.

BIIIIIGGGGGG Cannon

Gun placements; similar cannon from the image above would go here too.

The Mystic coming back into port. The memorial from the massacre at Fort Griswold is behind it.

On either side of the fort facing towards the water were gun emplacements for iron cannon. They were never fired in anger.

In Saratoga, there is a fair amount of emphasis put on horses and horse racing. This year, for the 150^th anniversary, the New York Racing Association opened a Victorian-esque viewing platform at the Oklahoma Training Track. This track had been closed to the public since 9/11, so I was excited to see the horses working out at sunrise.

Marylou Whitney has a ton of money, and donated a TON to have this built

The Oklahoma Training Track opens up before sunrise each morning during the track season for horses to work out before the major flat track across the street opens up at 7am.

When a horse gets lose, like the one in the shot here, the lights go off and a horn blasts until the horse is caught.

Across the street at the main track.

The Grandstand, dating back to the 1800's and early 1900's.

When I went to Hyde Park right when I got home from UConn, FDR’s presidential library was still closed for renovations. It opened up in the beginning of July, so I thought I’d go back. Down the street, at the Vanderbilt Mansion, I found a massive garden system, one that I missed the first time I visited. I’m glad I went back.

Springwood, FDR's home.

FDR's Library

Family picture!!

The Roosevelt grave in the foreground, with the library in the background.

This gavel is one of what I'm assuming is hundreds of thousands of pieces related to FDR in the collection. This was used at the Democratic National Convention when FDR first won the part nomination for President.

These were car ornaments.

This bible was used at FDR's first inauguration. I hope they didn't try and force Eleanor to hold this up. 

Couldn't miss the chance to hear a fireside chat.

FDR's office from Springwood, reassembled in the library.

Taking a call in the situation room; yeah I have a situation room.

The situation room.

FDR's desk from the Oval Office. It stayed largely the same over his 4-term presidency.

Eleanor led an incredibly active life after FDR died, notably leading our delegation to the United Nations. Before she led the delegation, she found other ways in...such as the press pass above.

Eleanor carried a pistol in the glove box of her car after FDR died. Her driving skills were infamous...in how horrible those skills were.

FDR's car...the pedals were superseded for hand controls. 

The archives section in the basement.

The Garden's of the Vanderbilt Mansion.

These greenhouses used to be there...but alas, no more.

After FDR died, Eleanor donated Springwood and the property to the federal government to create the national historic site we can use today.

ER moved nearby to Val-Kill. When I was in Hyde Park last, Val-Kill was closed because of the sequester, so I was excited to go inside. Her name plate above, was spelled incorrectly her entire time there.

Most dinners Eleanor hosted had to be buffet dinners, because this table was almost always too small.

The playhouse for the grandchildren was a scale model of the Warm Springs estate in Georgia...with indoor plumbing and electricity.

The Mills Mansion. Several New York Governors lived here.

My favorite backyard.

They had their own lighthouse.

Wilderstein. FDR's cousins, Margaret Suckley lived here.

Suckley was FDR's closest confidant at the end of his life.

I had a fantastic trip to the international tennis hall of fame. The drive was uneventful – thankfully – and the tennis was incredible. I even got one of the best American tennis players of our generation to sign a tennis ball for me. There is just so much to see in Newport, which is why I’ll be back tomorrow morning.

The Hall of Fame is on the grounds of the old Newport Casino, a relic of the Victorian Age.

Not enough emphasis can be put on sponsorship's.

The two tallest players in the game, both measuring in just shy of 7 feet tall, faced-off in the first singles match of the day. John Isner is in blue and Ivo Karlovic is in white. Isner played the longest match in tennis history a couple years ago at Wimbledon. Ivo was just returning from a bout with mono. The serving in this match was incredible.

Full house for this marque match. Isner won in 2 tie breakers, and signed a tennis ball for me after.

The next match on court was Leyton Hewitt and Jan Hernych. Hewitt is a 2-time grand slam champion. Jan put up an incredible fight, pushing the match to a loonnnggg 3 sets. It was  a great display of tennis,

After the Hewitt match, most people cleared out, so we moved to better seats for the last match of the day, a doubles match. I think I got more out of the doubles when it was all said and done. The sheer level of technique and aptitude displayed was impressive. It was the slug fest the singles matches were, there was much more finesse.

Overall, things have been great. I’m working at UConn, which is why I’m living in Connecticut full time. This job is a temporary appointment, meant to last through the end of the school year. It has been a ton of fun so far, something I’m coming to love more each day I go in to work. Undoubtedly, my eyes are facing towards the future, trying to plan the next step in my professional journey.

Tomorrow morning I’m going to Newport. The affluent people who built the epic mansions over 100 years ago we see today, called these houses “cottages” because they were comparatively smaller than their other homes.

One thing I have really enjoyed since graduation is the time I have had to read. One of the books I am reading, by famed historian David McCullough, is a biopic of John Adams. The aforementioned Founding Father is both celebrated and vilified in academic circles, but is perhaps one of the most interesting Founding Fathers we had – at least Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of him. This got me to watching the HBO miniseries about Adams, and one of the funniest quotes was in the first episode, where Ben Franklin was conversing with Adams and Thomas Jefferson during a break in the convention to pass the Declaration of Independence. He was attributing their cold reception in Philadelphia to that of a spoiled fish (and I’m paraphrasing):

‘guests are like fish, after three days they tend to stink.’

Stay Tuned.