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. 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.” 

Linda and Ward Stanley.
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 Paigeand Cliff Platt.
Natalie Brown, Steve Rikert of Rikert’s Auto Body and Joanne Fredenberg.
Joe Gelb,Joyce Gelb, Betsy Sarles, Monique Segarra and Scott-Martin Kosofsky.
Attorneys Avery Gilbert and David Waltzer with Zaya Waltzer, Moses Bendiner and Tina Shaffer.
Daniel Newsome, Jenifer Udell, Robin Cherry and Chelsea Streifeneder of Body Be Well Pilates. 
Chuck Olbricht, board member Chuck Hewett, Karin Dalton and board memberBrian Dalton.
Sharon Caughlan and board member Caroline Carey.
Regina Brown, Hank Brown, Hudson Valley Vintage owner Risa Getman and Kevin McCarty.
Events committee member Robin Waxenberg, longtime volunteers Duane and Linda Watson, board member and director of the events committee Colleen Bloxham and docentMarion 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.)
The view from Wilderstein.
Wilderstein. 

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Written by

Jamie Larson
Jamie Larson
After a decade of writing for RI (along with many other publications and organizations) Jamie took over as editor in 2025. He has a masters in journalism from NYU, a wonderful wife, two kids and a Carolina dog named Zelda.
Rare Calvin and Hobbes Illustrations and the Art of Revolution Shape NRM 2026 Schedule
New Tavern Sign (Colonial Sign Painter), 1936. Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 22, 1936. pp. 18-19. Oil on canvas. Private collection. ©1936 SEPS: Curtis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN. All rights reserved, Illustration from, The Indispensible Calvin and Hobbes. © Bill Watterson
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Rare Calvin and Hobbes Illustrations and the Art of Revolution Shape NRM 2026 Schedule

By Jamie Larson •