Grant Cottage future looking good, we just have to be patient

By Ken Tingley

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president and hero of the Civil War, died in a small cottage on Mount McGregor in 1885 while rushing to finish memoirs that would provide financial security for his family.

Grant spent just five weeks there, but the story of his final days is compelling. The site has more potential as a historic tourist destination than any other in the Saratoga Springs region.

With the closing of the prison on Mount McGregor nine years ago, there was an opportunity for Grant Cottage to reach its full potential as a historic site and destination. Just recently, the Friends of Grant Cottage were able to obtain a four-acre piece of land adjacent to the cottage that was used as a ballfield for inmates and just this past week, a public hearing was held to review a strategic development plan that, if approved, will be implemented in three phases.

The plan provides the infrastructure to address sidewalks, handicapped access, parking  and an open-air pavilion for future events.

The highlights include:

- Safe new trails that would allow all visitors to visit the eastern overlook.

- A few more parking spaces for the visitor center and a new porch and plaza around it.

- A traffic rotary near the cottage with more parking and safer access.

- A satellite parking lot where the prison ballfield used to be and an open air event pavilion, deck and overlook, as well as a nearby picnic area.

There is nothing grandiose here, just the basics to move forward.

During the public comment period, several members of the Friends of Grant Cottage expressed concern that more parking was needed near the visitor center. What is really needed is a new visitor center and a more ambitious museum but that would require millions in funding.

The greater concern is that the project may still be years from beginning and decades from completion. That’s the problem with state bureaucracy and the approval of funding.

At one point during the public comment period, a state officials said it might take 1 to 3 years to complete Phase 1, 4 t0 10 years to complete Phase 2 and 10 to 15 years to complete Phase 3.

One member of the audience with gray hair  was heard to say, “I won’t live to see any of it.”

Grant Cottage trustees Tim Welch (middle) and Mike Lesser show ask about Grant Cottage parking during Tuesday’s public event.

I wondered the same thing.

Nevertheless, it was encouraging to see concrete plans in place to move forward, even if it is slow going. It comes on the heels of a big-time fundraiser last fall that drew politicians and celebrities alike to show their support.

Tim Welch, chairman of the Friends of Grant Cottage’s board, pointed out the Friends had received a $250,000 donation from one person that is being used as part of $1.2 million fire suppression system currently being installed at the cottage.

Welch said that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Charles Schumer have been instrumental in pushing Grant Cottage to receive a $450,000 grant that would pay for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project.

“We made the first cut,” Welch said. “We are among three finalists in Saratoga County.”

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner has been a big supporter and is looking for funds from the state. Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz and Wilton Supervisor John Lant have both been supportive. While Rep. Elise Stefanik has also been a supporter, redistricting moved Grant Cottage into Rep. Paul Tonko’s district.

As a visitor, and later a member of the Friends board, I had grandiose vision for the cottage’s future. I envisioned a state of the art museum that took advantage of the overlook view and would draw millions of tourists.

There is a Ulysses S.Grant Presidential library on the grounds of Mississippi State - seems ironic it is located in a confederate state not far from Grant’s siege of Vicksburg - that houses Grant’s papers but there is room for more about Grant’s amazing life.

If you haven’t been to Grant Cottage, you should visit, although installation of the fire suppression system has delayed its opening this season until mid-June.

Grant finished his memoirs on July 20, 1885 and took one final trip to the overlook that day. He passed away on July 23, 1885 and his son Fred stopped the clock above the fireplace at 8:08 a.m. The original clock and Grant’s deathbed are still in the cottage along with many other artifacts from the time.

After Grant died, they found a letter addressed to his wife in a sealed enveloped. It read as follows:

Look after our dear children and direct them in the paths of rectitude. It would distress me far more to think that one of them could depart from an honorable, upright and virtuous life than it would to know that they were prostrated on a bed of sickness, from which they were never to arise alive. They have never given us any cause for alarm on their account, and I earnestly pray they never will.

With these few injunctions and the knowledge I have of your love and affection, and of the dutiful affection of all our children, I bid you a final farewell, until we meet in another and, I trust, a better world. You will find this on my person after my demise.

Mount McGregor, July 9, 1885.

When my son was giving tours there, he saved that part of the story for last. It was not unusual to see tears in visitor’s eyes.

Grant’s Cottage deserves our support, It is a great American story.

Editor’s Note: I briefly served on the Friends of Grant Cottage board of directors about 12 years ago. My son also served on the board of directors after I resigned.

Uplifting column

David Brooks had one of those columns this week that was part personality profile, part spiritual guide and part religious Bible study.

It is why I read David Brooks.

The column was about the death of a friend named Tim Keller. He called him “one of the most important theologians and greatest preachers of our time.” Not usually my cup of tea with the morning newspaper, but the headline was  “Tim Keller taught me about joy.”

We all could use a little more joy so I started reading and didn’t stop.

He said his friend, who died at 72 often said, “Cheer up! You’re a worse sinner than you ever dared imagine and you’re more loved than you ever dared hope.”

If we all remembered that we would be better off.

And that’s why I read David Brooks.

ATF back again

I’ve been attending the Adirondack Theater Festival for more than two decades. The productions are original, often thought-provoking and the acting Broadway-caliber.

It is a rarity for a city the size of Glens Falls to have entertainment like this in the community.

There is not a bad seat in the house at the Wood Theater and more often than not you are in the first 10 rows where you can see the cast up close. You can hear them breathe.

It’s more expensive than going to the movies, but it is also a better experience.

ATF has three more shows on tap this year beginning at the end of June and finishing in August. If you haven’t gone before, check it out. If you’ve not been in awhile, it’s time to return.

I will see you there.

Baseball letter

I read a letter to the editor in The Post-Star complaining about the rule changes in Major League Baseball.

I disagree. I’ve been enjoying baseball more than ever this year. Last year, the average game was 3 hours and 5 minutes. This year it is down to 2 hours and 37 minutes thanks to a play clock.

The shift has been eliminated and the bases larger to allow for more stolen bases.  Baseball is still a relaxing endeavor played at a much slower pace than other sports, but the games move along now and for that I am grateful.