Monadnock Moment No. 115

Era 7: Emergence of Modern American - 1890 to 1930

A President Visits Cheshire County

On the afternoon of October 10, 1912, the residents of Cheshire County were awaiting a visit from the President of the United States, William Howard Taft.

The President and Mrs. Taft were making a brief tour through the area from their summer home in Beverly, Mass. On the day of the visit, Taft spoke to a large crowd in Newport, New Hampshire before heading south into Cheshire County. Soon after leaving Newport the group came upon a detour sign which indicated that the highway was closed. The sign had been left there by accident, but the President's party detoured into South Acworth before discovering the mistake. The group finally arrived in Marlow, more than two hours late, where they were greeted by a crowd of 200 residents. The President spoke briefly from his automobile and did the same for 100 well wishers in Gilsum.

Eight thousand people had gathered in Keene's Central Square by the time the President finally arrived at ten minutes before seven. The crowd cheered long and loud upon his arrival. Taft was met by Mayor Charles G. Shedd and escorted into the Cheshire House hotel. The President soon appeared on the second floor balcony of the hotel and gave a brief speech to the 8,000 people below.

He soon traveled on to Marlborough and then to Dublin where he stayed the night and gave a speech the next morning. There may still be a few local residents who remember seeing President Taft during his 1912 visit, the first visit to Keene by a U.S. President during his term of office.