Rochester History on Rochester Today

Rochester served as the Western White House during a crucial time in our nation's history.

The monthly Rochester history program on Rochester Today with Andy Brownell featured an appearance by the Mayo Clinic's Matt Dacy. He works in Mayo's development area and has a passion for local history, particularly concerning his longtime employer.

During his discussions with Andy, Alan Calavano and John Kruesel, Dacy brought up the two visits to Rochester by then president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  His second visit was in 1938 and lasted about a week as his son was undergoing and recovering from surgery. While dealing with his family's situation, FDR was also busy monitoring and responding to the growing NAZI menace in Europe. Dacy indicated Roosevelt spent his time in Rochester living in a specially equipped rail car that was parked in an area across the river from the current government center site and carried out his responsibilities as president from an office inside the 1930's equivalent of Air Force One.

Baseball, and some very interesting Mayo Clinic connections to baseball, were also featured during the program. Matt brought along an audio recording from an interview was conducted on KROC-AM with baseball legend Lou Gehrig while he was in Rochester being diagnosed with ALS 75 years ago.

Click on play to listen to the interview.

Mayo has also produced a movie about the life of Dr. Archibald Graham, who is remembered by many as "Moonlight" Graham thanks to the hit movie "Field of Dreams."

After a very brief major-league baseball career, Dr. Graham spent the rest of his life as a dedicated family physician in Chisholm, Minnesota and closely collaborated with Mayo researchers through out his medical career.  He spent his final days in Rochester and his final resting place is in Calvary Cemetery.

Hear the trailer for the documentary narrated by Vin Scully by clicking on play.

The Real Moonlight Graham: A Life Well Lived will be shown throughout Mayo Clinic. Click here for the schedule of locations, dates and times in Rochester. Starting mid-July, DVD copies of the film will be sold in gift shops at each Mayo Clinic location. Proceeds support Mayo’s not-for-profit mission in patient care,education and research.

Dacy has been heavily involved in the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial Celebration, which will include another Open House during the Thursdays on First and Third on July 10. Everyone is invited to visit the Mayo campus that day and view numerous historical artifacts and informational displays about Mayo's long tradition of top notch medical care and research.

To listen to the entire program with Matt Dacy, click the play button below.