It was just wonderful to learn that the Trousdell house, a.k.a. Hillside, has been saved from the developers demolition ball. A house on Anstice Street recently “disappeared into a hole.” Not every house, it appears can be saved.
The Trousdell house was saved for several reasons: it has open space to be preserved; it has architectural significance; it is connected to the history of Oyster Bay; and to the nation in terms of the life of James A. Roosevelt. He was a member of the Sanitary Commission that became what is now known as the Red Cross.
James A. Roosevelt’s signature is on a document in the new Elizabeth Roosevelt collection of the Oyster Bay Historical Society on Broadside No. 2, advertising for “Colored Men” to sign up to serve in the Union Army. His name is listed under the banner of the Union League. Mr. Roosevelt was instrumental in forming two regiments of black soldiers who fought during the Civil War.
The Union League Club was founded in 1863 by a group of concerned citizens to help preserve the Union. According to their website history: “Members of the Union League Club were instrumental in establishing The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870 as well as the Sanitary Commission, a predecessor organization to the American Red Cross. It helped erect the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and the Lincoln Monument in Union Square. Its members were instrumental in bringing down the ‘Boss’ Tweed ring and in raising funds to outfit American soldiers in several conflicts. Many prominent civic, state and national leaders have enjoyed the fellowship of the ULC. Theodore Roosevelt managed his early political career from the Club’s chambers.”
Now there’s a lot of wonderful history to be connected to… and aren’t we always Six Degrees of contact away from TR, here in Oyster Bay.
History really comes alive walking the streets of the hamlet of Oyster Bay. That is a great reason to preserve all we can of the architecture – that defines this wonderful place.
Congratulations are in order for all those who worked to preserve the Trousdell house.
