History
1
On a quiet bank of Fall Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt and her close friends Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman discussed over lunch whether skills training in handcrafts could help keep farmers afloat during tough times. Financed by the women's income, Eleanor tested the idea at the cottage in 1926. Val-Kill Industries provided a model for New Deal programs following the Great Depression. After it closed in 1936, Eleanor transformed the factory into a residence and moved in after the death of her husband in 1945. Val-Kill provided opportunities for rural youth and underemployed workers.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Haviland, New York · United States
