By Claudette Simpson
It is interesting to thumb through old newspapers, noting the time that this town "rose to the occasion." There were many such times, but one stands out head and shoulders above the rest. It was an occasion that united the people of Prescott and Yavapai County into one voice, one purpose, one ideal. It was the time that the President of the United States came to town. The date was Wednesday, October 13, 1909. The President was William Howard Taft.
People here, that day, did not honor President Taft as a Republican; they did not honor him as a man, or they did not really honor him as President. They honored him as the power that could make statehood a reality for the Territory of Arizona. Thus it was, when President Taft arrived in Prescott, he was greeted by thousands of people who thronged about him with one burning desire: Make us a state! The President's stay in Prescott was only an extended whistle stop. He was here about ninety minutes, enough time for a ceremony, a speech he delivered to the people and a very short tour of the town.
But, oh, the local planning and anticipation that went into those ninety minutes. There were committees, of course, working long hours behind the scenes to finalize plans and bring them to fruition. About a week before the President's arrival, the newspapers began carrying stories that let all the population know what the plans were and how everyone was needed to help swell the ranks. The town rose to the occasion.
The first big story in the Journal-Miner was a frontpage banner headline article about a Prescott woman who, forty years before, had been one of the President's teachers when she taught in the Cincinnati, Ohio schools. Her name was Mrs. Mary R. (nee Ray) Cullumber. A retired school teacher usually doesn't stand on ceremony when it comes to former students. At least she didn't. The headlines quoted her referring to the President as "Willie" Taft.
This is what she had to say, in part: "Willie Taft was not unlike other boys, but in one respect he did differ from any of the hundreds that I was assigned to teach. He had that smile that has made him famous all over the nation. I can recall the day as of yesterday, when I saw him in the school room of the sixteenth district of Cincinnati and after forty years have passed, I see again the old reflection of that smile that will not efface from memory.
"He was such a good natured boy and in all the large class membership that one distinctive feature in his facial expression has followed him down through all these years and to me it is just today as when he was twelve years of age.
"There is nothing assumed in that facial expression he is noted for, it is simply inherent and I don't care what other people may say to the contrary. It is an absolutely lifelike portrayal of his true nature. That is one of the strongest characteristics I knew of him when he was a pupil in my department and the other was his careless and unconcerned manner all tempered with an excellent disposition."
Mrs. Cullumber was an invalid, due to a three month illness, at the time she gave this interview. Still it was her hope, and the hope of the town, that she would be at the speaker's platform to greet the President when he arrived one week hence. Sadly, she and the President did not meet, but more about that later.
President Taft was to arrive by train about six o'clock Wednesday evening. He would be escorted from the train depot in a presidential parade up Cortez Street to a speaker's platform built on the corner of Union and Cortez, facing the Plaza.
From the newspaper: "Already the city is becoming gay with flags and bunting in honor of the visit of President Taft. The work of decorating the business houses commenced yesterday and tomorrow night Cortez Street will be garbed in the colors of patriotism and the pictures of the chief executive will greet the guest of honor at every hand.
"The structural part of the speaker's stand at the corner of Cortez and Union Streets was completed yesterday under the direction of Chairman Joslin of the committee of arrangements and the upper part is encircled with a string of incandescent lights. It is a substantial structure in every respect, the underpinning being of railroad ties, while the floor is composed of two-inch planks, the dimensions of the stand being 30 by 25 feet and capable easily of seating 15 persons. Today the decoration committee will take charge of it and garb it in the national colors and other patriotic insignia.
"A good suggestion is made that the people mass themselves solidly on the sidewalks on both sides of Cortez Street from the depot to the stand in order that some proper idea may be conveyed to the presidential party as to the population of Prescott. As the president will not have an opportunity to see the town and note its size, a concentration of the crowd as proposed, will serve to produce a desirable impression."
More plans were made. For example:
-All soldiers quartered at Fort Whipple were ordered to be in dress uniform.
-The Santa Fe made special excursion rates to Prescott from all points on the lines to lure a large crowd of outsiders to town to help greet the President.
-An electric "Star of State" was built along Cortex, designed to impress upon the President the crying demand for statehood.
-F.W. Murphy ordered a large quantity of flags from New York, which would be distributed, to anyone who desired to greet the President in a patriotic demonstration.
-All places of business were ordered closed at 4:30 on the day of the President's arrival and all automobiles and other vehicles were ordered off Cortez Street during the President's stay.
-The Courthouse was to be outlined with electric bulbs.
-All businessmen on Cortez Street were asked to light their businesses and decorate them as much as possible.
-Someone suggested burning red fire along the line of march, but that scheme seems to have been squelched.
-There were to be 40 regular soldiers from Whipple Barracks assigned for duty on the line of march. They were given a position on one side of the procession and the militia was to be stationed on the other side.
-Grizzled Civil War veterans were to line up along the parade route.
-Extra lights were installed on the part of the Plaza facing the speaker's stand.
-In front of the speaker's stand , a space 40 feet wide was roped off, and through this avenue the six automobiles containing the president's party were to pass, stopping long enough to let the occupants disembark.
-The Wednesday afternoon school recess would be omitted and school dismissed at 3:30 so that all public school children and students of St. Joseph's Academy could assemble at the speaker's stand at 5:30. They would line up under the direction of their teachers and would be protected from the crowd by a detail of the National Guard. They would all wave flags. After the ceremony, the children would be turned back to their parents.
-The President's car would be escorted by 14 mounted men, under the direction of Sheriff Smith.
-The Prescott Brass Band would lead the procession, staying 50 yards ahead. The band would play "Hail to the Chief" when the President stepped out of the train.
-When the train was in sight, the big whistle at the electric plant would give the signal for all whistles in the whole city to blow. The whistles were to blow a minute or two and then stop abruptly when the electric plant whistle stopped, which would be timed just as the train reached the depot.
Everything was ready. The plans were all being carried out. One item remained: what gift should the people of Prescott give to a United States president? You would never guess what valuable memento was decided upon. It was a drink of water. Not ordinary water. This was special. Memorable water from the Hassayampa River.
Local legend had it that the waters of the Hassayampa River contained special qualities. Those who drank of the water below the crossing would thereafter be noted for their ability to trifle with the truth and those who drank of the water above the crossing would thereafter be celebrated for their truth and veracity. The water that Prescott planned to offer to the President came from above the crossing.
(Claudette Simpson, a feature writer with the Courier in the 1970s and 1980s, is currently a Prescott Public Library employee.)
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(po1485p)
Reuse only by permission.
William Howard Taft, President of the United States, signs the Arizona Statehood bill, February 1912.