Teddy Roosevelt Spoke in Erie PA

You wouldn't know that Theodore Roosevelt was a two-term ex-president by reading this ad for a speaking engagement in Erie in 1914. Roosevelt was heralded more for his role in the Spanish-American war than he was for his political acclaim as the 26th President, whose terms lasted from 1901 to 1909.

"With occasional bursts of vigor of former days, and with an old throat trouble weakening his voice, Colonel Roosevelt made his second entrance into the campaign in Pennsylvania yesterday, with three speeches in Erie county. He talked at Girard, Erie and North East. His audiences were typically Rooseveltian. He came here from Chicago last night and rested at Jamestown, where he re-entered a campaign in New York state.

Leaving a Lake Shore train at North Girard shortly before noon, in company with Hugh C. Lord and Henry Hinrichs, Jr., of Erie...Colonel Roosevelt launched immediately into a whirlwind five hour trip across the county. He talked to about 800 persons at North Girard and whisked through Girard, disappointing about 300 residents  gathered in a park to hear him.

Colonel Roosevelt arrived in Erie about 1 o'clock. He was immediately taken to private apartments engaged for him at the Lawrence Hotel, where he had dinner. By this time crowds began gathering and within a half hour it is estimated that four or five thousand persons were jammed in the streets and on the Academy grounds, originally selected for Mr. Roosevelt's speech." -Erie Dispatch-Herald, October 21, 1914.

Hugh C. Lord was the founder of Lord Corporation. Henry Hinrichs, Jr. was the president of the Erie Board of Trade and the owner of the Keystone Fish Company.

Enjoy more facts and photos of historic Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com