Ridgely Manor - First visit of Swami Vivekananda

Josephine and her sister Besse Macleod Sturges kept the discovery of their godlike man a secret for many months. That time Mr. Francis Leggett was courting Betty but they hid Swamiji from him too.

The entire winter these two sisters went religiously for Swamiji’s lectures, thrice a week at 11 a.m. in the mornings. As they were so regular, two front seats were always kept for them in the sitting room of the Swamiji.

They never spoke to Swamiji but one day He turned to them and said, “Are you sisters?”

“Yes” was the answer.

Then He said, “Do you come very far?”

“No, not very far, about 30 miles up the Hudson.”

“So far? That is wonderful!”

These were the only words spoken with Him. But Swamiji couldn’t be kept hidden for long from Francis Leggett. One day they both were dining with Mr. Leggett at Waldorf hotel which was on the same street where Swami Vivekananda lived. But before accepting the invitation they had told him, “We can dine with you but cannot spend the evening with you.” He said, “Very well, just dine with me.”

As the dinner was over, he asked, “Where are you going this evening?”

“We are going for a lecture” they answered.

“May I come?”

The answer could have just been “Yes” isn’t it?

Mr. Leggett went for the lecture, listened and when the lecture got over, he simply went to Swamiji, shook hands with Him and said, “Swami, when will you dine with me?” They became intimate friends instantly.

Thus that day the two sisters socially got introduced to Swamiji.

Soon after this Francis Leggett invited Swamiji to his country home, Ridgely. He had bought this country estate Ridgely as a place of recreation for himself and his friends and was very proud of it. In 1895 the landscape of Ridgely was still in a embryo stage and to the north not at very far distance were the rolling CATSKILL Mountains which is again a special place for us!

Though the property had many houses on it, Mr. Leggett had built a ‘Manor’ and a ‘Casino’ with a large playhouse equipped with bowling alleys and space for gymnastic and tennis court.

Mr. Leggett at that time was a prosperous businessman and president of a high-quality grocery firm founded by him and his brother. He was that time interested in Betty Sturges so she was invited with her two children, Alberta and Holister along with Josephine.

Swamiji must be surely relieved to get this invitation as he could get away from the noisy and soot filled city to the green countryside blossoming with spring. This was to be His first visit to Ridgely Manor.