By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-893322.mp3
Albany, NY – There's a push to save the cottage on Mt. McGregor where President Ulysses S. Grant spent his final days - more from Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas.
0n June 16th, 1885 the 18th president of the United States traveled from his New York City home to spend his final days in the Saratoga County cottage owned by Joseph Drexel. Ulysses S. Grant was nearly broke and went to Mt. McGregror to finish his memoirs, so his family would have financial security. Grant died of throat cancer on July 23rd, four days after his final proofreading. The cottage is deteriorating, and a group is taking action to preserve it: Lance Ingmire is President of the Friends of US Grant Cottage. He says The Friends are concerned about water problems plaguing both Grant's cottage and the nearby visitors center. The cost to repair the visitors center is estimated to be around 25-thousand dollars, and at the cottage itself 100-thousand dollars or more. Grant's cottage opens for the season on May 29th. The group's website provides a brief chronology of Grant's life plus information on how to donate or become a member of the organization.