Last updated: October 26, 2020
Place
Sagamore Hill as a Working Farm
NPS/Sagamore Hill Collection Archives
Quick Facts
Location:
Oyster Bay, NY
Significance:
Theodore Roosevelt's Farm
Qui Plantavit Curabit. (He who planted will preserve.)
-Roosevelt Family Crest
In 1880, at the age of 22, Theodore Roosevelt purchased 155 arces of land for $30,000 in the Oyster Bay Cove area of Long Island. Four years later, in 1884, he hired the New York City based architectural firm, Lamb and Rich, to plan a large Queen Anne architecture styled home. It was completed in 1885 by John A. Wood and Son for $16,975. Roosevelt named it Sagamore Hill.
In 1886, Theodore Roosevelt moved into Sagamore Hill with his second wife, Edith, and daughter Alice, with his first wife, Alice. Instead of being a summer house, it became their permanent residence and featured a working farm.
Roosevelt believed in the importance of using land for farming so he devoted 47 acres of the Sagamore Hill estate to farmland. In fact, the first building erected on the property, before the house, was the stable and lodge. The original farm manager was Noah Seaman who managed the farm until his death in 1911. Robert Gillespie became the next superintendent and had prior experience working on many New York estates. Unlike Seaman, Gillespie lived with his family in the Roosevelt’s lodge.
The Roosevelts hired additional farm workers to cultivate the hay and straw needed to feed the animals. They had a variety of farm animals including cows, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. They also had large fruit and vegetable groves. One worker, Alfred Davis, who had previously worked at TR's father's Oyster Bay estate, Tranquility, was known as Mr. Let-it-Be to the Roosevelt children, and would care for the fruit and vegetables groves located in the garden area east of the house. He would often scold the children for picking the too ripe vegetables and fruits, telling them to “let it be.” Mrs. Roosevelt would also tend to her flower garden located in that same area of the property.
Edith Roosevelt managed much of the estate along with her household responsibilities to allow TR more time for his political duties. However, when she saw Theodore overworked and in need of a break, she would tell him to go and help the farm hands bring in the hay. He loved the physical demands of farm work and if he spent a day helping, he insisted that the farm manager add his name to the time sheets so he could collect his daily wage.
After becoming President of the United States in 1901, TR wished to avoid the heat of Washington, D.C., so during the summer months, he relocated his office to Sagamore Hill. During Roosevelt's time in office, Sagamore Hill was the focus of international attention. Distinguished visitors included Cecil Spring-Rice, and Henry Cabot Lodge as well as members of the Russian and Japanese Delegation. While staying with the Roosevelts, they enjoyed fresh meals from the farms.
Throughout its years, the farm varied in size and production. Also, between 1884 and 1906, TR bought and sold portions of Sagamore Hill land to other Roosevelt relatives including his sister Anna, his Uncle James, Aunt Gracie, and cousin W. Emlen Roosevelt. Years after his death, in 1938, his oldest son Ted Jr. purchased four acres from Edith Roosevelt, and built his home, Old Orchard, in the area that was once the apple orchard.
Theodore Roosevelt lived at Sagamore Hill from 1884 until his death in January, 1919. Edith Roosevelt lived at Sagamore Hill until her death in 1948. Ted Jr.’s wife Eleanor Alexander Roosevelt lived in the Old Orchard House until her death in 1960.
-Roosevelt Family Crest
In 1880, at the age of 22, Theodore Roosevelt purchased 155 arces of land for $30,000 in the Oyster Bay Cove area of Long Island. Four years later, in 1884, he hired the New York City based architectural firm, Lamb and Rich, to plan a large Queen Anne architecture styled home. It was completed in 1885 by John A. Wood and Son for $16,975. Roosevelt named it Sagamore Hill.
In 1886, Theodore Roosevelt moved into Sagamore Hill with his second wife, Edith, and daughter Alice, with his first wife, Alice. Instead of being a summer house, it became their permanent residence and featured a working farm.
Roosevelt believed in the importance of using land for farming so he devoted 47 acres of the Sagamore Hill estate to farmland. In fact, the first building erected on the property, before the house, was the stable and lodge. The original farm manager was Noah Seaman who managed the farm until his death in 1911. Robert Gillespie became the next superintendent and had prior experience working on many New York estates. Unlike Seaman, Gillespie lived with his family in the Roosevelt’s lodge.
The Roosevelts hired additional farm workers to cultivate the hay and straw needed to feed the animals. They had a variety of farm animals including cows, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. They also had large fruit and vegetable groves. One worker, Alfred Davis, who had previously worked at TR's father's Oyster Bay estate, Tranquility, was known as Mr. Let-it-Be to the Roosevelt children, and would care for the fruit and vegetables groves located in the garden area east of the house. He would often scold the children for picking the too ripe vegetables and fruits, telling them to “let it be.” Mrs. Roosevelt would also tend to her flower garden located in that same area of the property.
Edith Roosevelt managed much of the estate along with her household responsibilities to allow TR more time for his political duties. However, when she saw Theodore overworked and in need of a break, she would tell him to go and help the farm hands bring in the hay. He loved the physical demands of farm work and if he spent a day helping, he insisted that the farm manager add his name to the time sheets so he could collect his daily wage.
After becoming President of the United States in 1901, TR wished to avoid the heat of Washington, D.C., so during the summer months, he relocated his office to Sagamore Hill. During Roosevelt's time in office, Sagamore Hill was the focus of international attention. Distinguished visitors included Cecil Spring-Rice, and Henry Cabot Lodge as well as members of the Russian and Japanese Delegation. While staying with the Roosevelts, they enjoyed fresh meals from the farms.
Throughout its years, the farm varied in size and production. Also, between 1884 and 1906, TR bought and sold portions of Sagamore Hill land to other Roosevelt relatives including his sister Anna, his Uncle James, Aunt Gracie, and cousin W. Emlen Roosevelt. Years after his death, in 1938, his oldest son Ted Jr. purchased four acres from Edith Roosevelt, and built his home, Old Orchard, in the area that was once the apple orchard.
Theodore Roosevelt lived at Sagamore Hill from 1884 until his death in January, 1919. Edith Roosevelt lived at Sagamore Hill until her death in 1948. Ted Jr.’s wife Eleanor Alexander Roosevelt lived in the Old Orchard House until her death in 1960.