Nancy Cook, Marion Dickerman and ER were Val-Kill's original residents. Cook and Dickerman made Val-Kill their permanent home as soon as the Stone Cottage was completed. ER, who loved to visit the grounds and hold parties and meetings by the creek, continued to make Springwood her primary Hyde Park residence, and with rare exception, stayed overnight at Val-Kill only if FDR or the children were not in Hyde Park.

In 1937, ER had the factory building reconverted to apartments for her use and a suite of rooms built for her secretary Malvina Thompson. In 1945, after FDR's death, the Roosevelts donated Springwood to the federal government and ER made Val-Kill her home. In 1947, when Elliott Roosevelt moved his family into Top Cottage, ER purchased Dickerman and Cook's interest in the property for $17,000. John Roosevelt, her youngest child, then moved his family into Stone Cottage. John inherited Val-Kill when ER died in 1962 and continued to live there with his wife Anne until they divorced in 1965. He sold the property in 1970. See When did Val-Kill become a national historic site.