LIVING HISTORY
14
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MARTIN COUNTY PHOTOS
Cleveland and his wife became good friends with Hubert and Susan
Bessey, who managed the Danforth Hotel. Here they are sitting with them
on the hotel’s dock.
RUSTIC PREFERENCES
Believe it or not, Cleveland didn’t like living in the White
House. During his first administration as the 22nd president,
he bought a nearby farm, where he preferred to stay instead.
The press dubbed the place “Red Top” because of the color he
painted the roof of his farm house. Cleveland and his young
wife, Frances, tried to limit their nights at the White House to
months during Washington’s two social seasons, when custom
demanded their presence. He sold their farm for a handsome
profit after losing the 1888 election, but when voters
returned him to office as the 24th president four years later, he
rented another house in Washington called “Woodley.”
An article appearing in the Nov. 9, 1906, edition of the St.
Lucie County Tribune captured the essence of why Cleveland
instantly fell in love with Stuart: “Some years ago, when
Mr. Cleveland first came to the East Coast to fish, he came
to Stuart and wished to be recognized as a common citizen,
who came to fish and not be interviewed, to be on exhibition,
to be used as advertisement, and the people of Stuart have
respected his wishes. H.W. Bessey, of Stuart Stuart’s first
settler, has always taken Mr. Cleveland and his party out on
their fishing trips.” In Stuart, the former chief executive — so
weary of the public stage — could discard all the pretenses
that burden the powerful and be himself. He was a common
man at heart. >>
Cleveland spent most of his Stuart vacations drifting quietly on the river
fishing. He loved communing with nature so much he wrote a book about
fishing and hunting the year before he passed away.
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