The Roosevelt’s Safe
During the Gilded Age wealthy NYC families owned “Walk in Safes” to protect their valuables especially when out of town. However, unlike the Vanderbilts, the Roosevelts had a more practical use.
Sagamore Hill was a “Gentleman’s Working Farm.” It was an ongoing business that needed a safe to house deeds, contracts, business agreements, land surveys, profit and loss ledgers, time sheets, expense receipts and ready cash to meet emergencies and payroll. TR and Edith needed a safe for protection against fire and water damage.
When the Roosevelts moved into Sagamore Hill there wasn’t a bank in town. The Oyster Bay Bank opened in 1891. When he was governor and president TR rented a couple of rooms on the 2nd Floor. He brought back a huge flag from Washington and had it flown at the bank. In 1905 his telegraph office was at the bank while his clerical staff was down the block at the Moore Building. After becoming a Mason in 1901 he attended meetings of the Matinecock Lodge on the 3rd floor. Yet, when it came to money, he and Edith relied on Cousin Emlen who was the Director of Chemical Bank and sat on the board of the Bank of New York.
Having a safe in the house was also a welcomed convenience. Edith could keep close tabs without having to travel to town or be restricted to bank hours.
While it’s easy to envision the Roosevelt’s using their safe to protect jewelry it’s also interesting to note how TR and Edith showed little of the same concern toward items of more value strewn around the house. 1st Edition books, TR’s engraved gun collection, his .38 Caliber Colt that went down with the Maine and his Tiffany engraved hunting knife. TR’s gift from Remington of his sculpture Paleolithic Man and his Bronco Buster gift from the Rough Riders. The seal he pressed into the Portsmouth Treaty. Cromwell’s signature that he once told the children was the second most valuable thing in the house after mother. Pope Leo XIII’s mosaic and the Samurai Swords were all worth more than a broach.
GThe was opened a few years back and amazing 24 letters and a lock of Alice Hathaway Lee's hair was found hidden away inside.