Community Corner

Eleanor Roosevelt Returns to Greendale with FDR for Village Days 2013

Eleanor Roosevelt visited Greendale in 1936 while pushing for working-class housing across the country. Now, she says it's 'still a thriving community.'

Eleanor Roosevelt says Greendale was "known as one of her babies."

At least, that's how impersonator Jessica Michna put it.

Michna, of Caledonia, along with local Franklin D. Roosevelt impersonator Dave Bruno, toured Greendale Wednesday evening during the opening night of Greendale's 75th Anniversary Village Days Celebration.

Wednesday night's festivities were retro-themed, with forties-era music and dancing, a vintage car show and a visit from the president and first lady.

Michna said FDR's first lady visited Greendale in 1936 while pushing a national initiative for better working-class housing — "And so, the community of Greendale was born."

"We really felt that good, clean housing was needed for the working class all over America," Roosevelt (Michna) said. "We decided that one spot that would be perfect was right here in Wisconsin."

See the video above for more of what Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt had to say Wednesday night.

Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Find out what's happening in Greendalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here