Presidential Visit

(c) Wayne County Historical Society

The year was 1905; The President was en route to the far southwest to spend six weeks’ vacation. President Theodore Roosevelt passed through Fairfield over the Southern Railway. April 4, 1905 was a Tuesday afternoon. A large crowd possibly numbering over 1000 people from town and country, including the Fairfield public schools, was at the depot to give the nation’s President a warm greeting.

As the train approached the station, the engineer slowed down, almost to a stop, slow enough to allow President Roosevelt to stand on the special observation platform of the train car and greet the crowd.

The train stopped just long enough for several men in the crowd to vigorously shake the hand of the President, before continuing on the journey.

Security precautions were in place, including a train that preceded the President’s train to see that the track was clear. In the President’s special train crew were three Fairfield men; Arthur Hill, and Zach and Lew Deem, proud of the distinction of helping.

President Roosevelt was on his way to San Antonio, Texas, to attend a reunion of his Rough Rider regiment, followed by some hunting out west. Roosevelt was 44 and brought a new excitement and power to the Presidency. No doubt his brief stop in Fairfield in the spring of 1905 was an exciting day.

Wayne County Record April 6, 1905 HS Scrapbook DGS 2/2022