Found in the Archives

Log of the Houseboat, Larooco

In 1924, FDR and friend, John Lawrence, purchased a second-hand houseboat that the two named, the Larooco. FDR, at that time still coming to terms with his polio diagnosis, hoped that the fun and relaxation of seasonal houseboat life in the warm waters of Florida would benefit his health and recovery. Trusted friend and adviser, Louis Howe, presented FDR with this light-hearted gift of an artistically enhanced ship log to commemorate the Larooco’s first voyage:

10-01-1 — The cover of the ship log reads, "Log of the Houseboat Larooco; Being a more or less truthful account of what happened (expurgated) for the very young."

Roosevelt made three trips in all aboard the vessel, his last in 1926. The Larooco washed inland during a hurricane and was later sold as scrap in 1927. As FDR wrote to his mother, “So ended a good craft with a personality.”

FDR with prize catch, aboard ship in Florida, 1924. — Here is FDR, pictured with a prize catch aboard the Larooco. Florida, 1924. NPx 48-22:3983(5)

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