Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Housing the Staff
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
The Roosevelt family needed full-time assistance to maintain the house and farm. Theodore had a devoted valet, James Amos, he called his “head man.” The house staff included a cook, waitress, chambermaid, and a nurse who had worked for Edith’s family for many years. Charles Lee, a coachman at the White House, was the family chauffeur.
In 1910, Roosevelt built the home you see in the distance for his married staff. Amos and his wife, Annie, and Lee and his wife, Clara, shared this home. Most other staff were single. The cooks and maids shared the rooms on the third floor of the Roosevelt Home, while the grooms and farm hands lived in quarters on the second floor of the stable and lodge.
“ . . . [M]y wife . . . asked Mrs. Roosevelt about cutting down a tree . . . in front of our cottage. It was very much in the way and she thought it would improve the place if taken down. Mrs. Roosevelt answered: ‘Certainly, I’ll have Mr. Roosevelt come right over.’ And sure enough . . . the President of the United States came over and chopped down the tree for us.”
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.
Location. 40° 53.181′ N, 73° 29.898′ W. Marker is in Oyster Bay, New York, in Nassau County. Marker is on Sagamore Hill Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oyster Bay NY 11771, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Orchard Home (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Barn to Home (about 300 feet away); Old Orchard (about 300 feet away); Chicken House (about 400 feet away); Farm Tools (about 400 feet away); Helping Feed the Family (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oyster Bay.
More about this marker. The background of the marker features a photograph of the Gray Cottage, ca. 1961. The right side of the marker contains a photograph of Charles Lee with Edith Roosevelt, ca. 1935. Below this is a portrait of James Amos, ca. 1923.
Also see . . . Sagamore Hill National Historic Site - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on March 28, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.