Visitors to Sagamore Hill
The French said there were two interesting things in the United States. One was Niagara Falls and the other was Theodore Roosevelt. TR brough charisma to the presidency. He was fun and visiting Sagamore Hill was a treat and an adventure.
Here's a list of those who came to Oyster Bay and while some may not be remembered today, they were in the headlines back at the turn of the 20th Centruy: John Hay, John Muir, Thomas Edison, Leonard Wood, John Burroughs, Robert Peary, Elihu Root, James Rudolph Garfield, John Slocum, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, John Phillip Sousa, Rudyard Kipling, Bellamy and Maria Storer, FDR, William Hornaday, Owen Wister, Jacob Riis, James Clark and members of the men’s 1908 US. Olympic Team.
The team competed in London moved from Italy because Mount Vesuvius had been erupting since 1906. The team photo includes Mel Sheppard who won 4 Gold Medals and 1 Silver. John Flanagan a 35 year old NYPD officer who won his third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the hammer throw and flag bearer Ralph Rose who refused to dip the American Flag as the team passed King Edward VII. The Irishman said, “the American flag never dips for any king.” Tug of War was an Oympuc event. The British wore steel spiked shoes.
