The Roosevelts And The Lebanon Valley

The Lebanon Valley Historical Society will present “The Roosevelts and the Lebanon Valley” on Monday, March 21, at 7 pm at the Church of Our Saviour Friendship Hall, Lebanon Springs. The presenter is Jennifer Allard.
Jennifer Allard, New Lebanon’s Grade 7/8 Social Studies teacher, took historic tidbits that have long been mentioned in discussions of the Valley’s history and over the course of a year developed the history of the Roosevelts in the Lebanon Valley more fully.  She conducted original research, using sources as varied as the New Lebanon school’s vault, FDR’s papers at Hyde Park, oral histories and The Echo and Berkshire Eagle newspaper archives. She will share the story of her research and its results with the Lebanon Valley Historical Society on Monday.
Allard is a native of nearby Nassau and a graduate of Columbia High School in East Greenbush.  She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Russell Sage College in Troy.  Her Roosevelt research resulted from membership in the social studies committee of the New York State United Teachers.
Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt were two of many illustrious visitors to the historic Lebanon Valley.  They came in 1930, when FDR was NY State’s Governor, to dedicate the present New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School building. Eleanor returned to give a commencement address to the 20 member Class of 1948. The Roosevelts were also friends and relatives of Charles and Margaret Fayerweather, who resided in New Lebanon.
Light refreshments will be available.