Campobello

Hi Blog!

If you've watch the PSB special on the Roosevelts, then you know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his family spent the summer months on Campobello Island. Located at the entrance to Passamaquoddy Bay within the Bay of Fundy, Campobello is actually in New Brunswick, Canada.

The Roosevelt Campobello International Park preserves the house and surrounding landscape of the summer retreat of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and their family. It is located on the southern tip of Campobello Island, and is connected to the mainland by the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, at Lubec, Maine in the United States.

On Thursday, August 30, 2018, we drove over to Campobello from Oak Bay, New Brunswick. We had to cross the border into Maine and then cross it again when we drove onto Campobello Island. After watching a great video on the life and times of FDR at Campobello, we got our first look at the "cottage."

Here in August 1921, 39-year-old Roosevelt, who would go on to become the 32nd President of the United States, fell ill and was diagnosed with polio. FDR was no longer able to stay at the "beloved island", but he sailed there in 1933 and visited briefly in 1936 and 1939. Eleanor Roosevelt loved the cool summer weather and visited many times with her children and friends. While the cottage was finely decorated, it never had electricity the entire time the Roosevelts owned it.

After her death in 1962, the family deeded the property to the governments of the U.S. and Canada. In 1964, they created the 2,800-acre International Park. The cottage and surrounding area are owned and administered by the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission, created by international treaty signed by Governor General Georges Vanier, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, and President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 22, 1964. The park was established on July 7, 1964. Both countries provide financial support to the park. It is an affiliated area of Parks Canada and of the U.S. National Park Service.

Many of the furnishings and artifacts where donated by the Roosevelt family. While the table was set for 8, it was not uncommon to have as many as 14 for dinner. Eleanor loved to invite the neighbors over.

The cottage was actually a wedding present from FDR's mom, Sara Delano Roosevelt. She owned the property next door. When her neighbor, Mrs. Kuhn, passed, she mentioned in her will that Sara had the right to purchase the property. She did and gave it to Franklin and Eleanor. They went on to expand the property to add a number of additional rooms, including this room for their two boys.

While the cottage doesn't appear that large from the outside, when you go upstairs and see the entire length of the building, it seems pretty impressive.

We loved the craftsmanship. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.

We finished our tour, with a walk out the back deck. From here, we could see all the way to the beach and dock. Across the bay is Eastport, Maine.

After the tour, we decided to walk down to the beach and dock. The view back up to the cottage was impressive. We did look for whales in the bay, but with low tide the chances were not very good that we would spot one.

When we first arrived, we had asked one of the Park Rangers for a lunch suggestion. She mentioned The Pier on the Waterfront in Wilson's Beach. We both decided on the seafood chowder and were not disappointed. After lunch, we decided to hunt down a couple lighthouses. The first one, Head Harbour Lightstation is located at the very northern tip of the island. While it is open for tours, you must arrive at low tide or there is no way to reach it. If you look closely, you will see that the stairs leading to the lighthouse are under water!

While we were disappointed we couldn't reach the lighthouse, we had fun watching the the incoming and outgoing tides do battle.

We drove back across the island to visit a lighthouse we first saw when we crossed over the Roosevelt Bridge. The Mulholland Point Lighthouse was built in 1883 and overlooks the Lubec Narrows.

The Mulholland Point Lighthouse is a wooden octagonal tower standing 44 feet. The light was decommissioned in 1963 and deeded to the Roosevelt Campobellt International Park. There is a small building onsite which houses nature displays. The naturalist at the sight came out and helped us spot the different seals in the area. Apparently, seals love to people watch. If you talk really loud, they poke there heads out of the water to listen. Who knew!

This small bridge is all the separates Canada from the U.S. The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge connects Lubec, Main to Campobello Island, New Brunswick. It is the only road connection. If you want to get back to Canada without crossing the U.S. border, you have to take a ferry.

Since we had to drive back through the U.S. to get back to Canada, we decided to take advantage of the situation by stopping at the bank, Walmart and the Post Office. With our chores done and dusted, we gladly headed back into Canada so we could relax and enjoy our Happy Hour in Oak Bay.