Jamie Larson reports from Rhinebeck. The Wilderstein Historic Site is as beautiful as it is steeped in unique history. Droves of supporters came out to celebrate and raise funds at its Summer Party on Saturday, July 7. The bash had a fun period carnival theme and honored longtime Wilderstein supporters Linda and Ward Stanley [pictured at left]. Wilderstein was home to the Suckley family dating back to 1852. Its final resident was Margaret “Daisy” Suckley, the storied cousin and confidante of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. After her death at the age of 100 in 1991, the arduous but fascinating task of cataloging the materials in the house began. Among many other items, the private correspondences between Suckley and Roosevelt were unearthed. “The real treasure at Wilderstein is the cultural history,” said Ward Stanley. “If you’re interested in the Gilded Age, you have to come here.”
Mike Amsden, Mary Casey, Kevin Casey and Wilderstein Executive Director Greg Sokaris; Jeff and Francoise Antevil, Abigail McMahon and Linda Stanley.
Leigh Bahnatka of Record Storage Solutions, “Penny Peanuts the lion tamer” a.k.a. Dana Paige and Cliff Platt; Gorgeous Wilderstein.
Events committee member Robin Waxenberg, longtime volunteers Duane and Linda Watson, board member and director of the events committee Colleen Bloxham and docent Marion Baldaun. (Wilderstein’s ad hoc curator, Duane Watson and wife Linda have been volunteers at the site for nearly 30 years. They have been integral to the huge task of cataloging the materials at the property which now fill a 60,000 item database.)
Attorneys Avery Gilbert and David Waltzer with Zaya Waltzer, Moses Bendiner and Tina Shaffer; Chuck Olbricht, board member Chuck Hewett, Karin Dalton and board member Brian Dalton.
Natalie Brown, Steve Rikert of Rikert’s Auto Body and Joanne Fredenberg; Joe Gelb, Joyce Gelb, Betsy Sarles, Monique Segarra and Scott-Martin Kosofsky.
Daniel Newsome, Jenifer Udell, Robin Cherry and Chelsea Streifeneder of Body Be Well Pilates.
Regina Brown, Hank Brown, Hudson Valley Vintage owner Risa Getman and Kevin McCarty; Sharon Caughlan and board member Caroline Carey.