few properties in the hudson valley possess a history as palpable as the morgenthau homestead, also known as wiccopee house. to enter the house or walk its grounds is to experience a remarkable piece of american history—one shaped by statesmen, writers, presidents, and generations of one of new york′s most distinguished families.
henry morgenthau, jr. considered himself first and foremost a farmer, continuing to list farming as his occupation even after president franklin d. roosevelt appointed him secretary of the treasury, a position he held throughout much of the new deal and world war ii. his son, robert morgenthau, later made the homestead his own while serving his celebrated tenure as manhattan district attorney. he shared the property with his wife, pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author lucinda franks.
the morgenthau′s close relationship with franklin and eleanor roosevelt brought the first family here frequently. fdr is said to have favored a particular entrance to the house, its proportions accommodating his wheelchair and its doorknob ideally positioned for him. in june 1942, at the height of world war ii, winston churchill met with roosevelt on the west portico. photographs also capture a young jack and bobby kennedy swimming in the pool.
the land′s story may reach back centuries further: some historical accounts associate the property with daniel nimham, the prominent 18th-century wappinger leader, who is believed by some scholars to have been born on these lands.
for all its extraordinary provenance, the homestead′s quiet elegance remains removed from the busy world around it. hidden away in hopewell junction, just ten minutes from beacon and the taconic state parkway, the property unfolds with the quiet beauty and pastoral character of the english countryside.
the morgenthau homestead is more than a historic residence. it is a rare opportunity to become the next steward of a place that has quietly witnessed history—and remains every bit as compelling today.
