Abraham Lincoln in Erie, PA 1861

Abraham Lincoln stopped in Erie, Pennsylvania at the bequest of the Erie County Republican Club in 1861. 

The club wrote a letter to Lincoln on February 1, 1861, which stated:

Hon. A. Lincoln, President Elect
Dear Sir,
As it is announced that your route to Washington will be through Cleveland & Buffalo, and consequently through this place we address you to ascertain if it would be convenient for you to make a short stay at Erie. Our city is connected with the interior of the State by the Sunbury & Pittsburg Railroads, thus enabling the people at the lines of those Roads an opportunity of meeting you which they could not have at any other point. Your reception here would not be partisan in its character, though the political sentiment of this part of the State is largely Republican- As the trains change engines here, you would be necessarily detained and if you could prolong your stay sufficiently to enable our citizens to pay their respects to you as the President elect, you would place them under many obligations. 

Please inform as whether this would be agreeable, and at what time you would reach here.

Very respectfully yours

R. F. Gaggin [Richard F. Gaggin]

A. M. D. Lyon [Alexander McD. Lyon, Yale graduate]

A. H. Caughey [Andrew H. Caughey]"

Citation: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916. Erie Pennsylvania Republican Club to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, February 01, 1861 (Invitation) 

Lincoln arrived in Erie, PA on February 16, 1861, on his way to his first inauguration, which took place on March 4, 1861. Erie Mayor Sherburn Smith was the chairman of the welcoming committee. The old Union Depot on Peach Street was decorated with flags. An arch was built over the railroad tracks and evergreens were wrapped around the pillars. 

"The train bearing Mr. Lincoln and suite and the Erie committee arrived at twenty minutes past twelve, announced by the booming of cannon and huzzas from the assembled multitude. Great enthusiasm was manifested as he passed from the car he occupied to the depot dining room." -Erie Observer, December 20, 1876.

Lincoln stopped in three communities in Erie County, PA.

"At Girard station several baskets of splendid fruit and flowers were presented to the Presidential family. No little sensation was produced at this point by the unexpected apparition on the train of Horace Greeley, equipped with a valise and his well known red and blue blankets. He was at once conducted into the car of the President, who came forward to greet him. He got off again at Erie, after traveling about twenty miles with the company.

At Erie quite a scene occurred, by the breaking down of a roof on which a large number of curious republicans had gathered. The sudden appearance of the whole group, and the scramble among the ruins, was most ludicrous. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt.

After dinner at Erie Mr. Lincoln addressed the people, excusing himself for not expressing his opinions on the exciting questions of the day. He trusted that when the time for speaking should come he should find it necessary to say nothing not in accordance with the constitution together with the interests of the people of the whole country.

At North East station a flag, inscribed 'fort Sumter,' was carried right up to where Mr. Lincoln stood, but he did not seem to take the hint, and made no allusion to it in his remarks. At the same station Mr. Lincoln took occasion to state that during the campaign he had received a letter from a young girl of this place, in which he was kindly admonished to do certain things, and among others to let his whiskers grow, and that, as he had acted upon that piece of advice, he would now be glad to welcome his fair correspondent, if she was among the crowd. In response to the call, a lassie made her way through the crowd, and was helped on the platform and kissed by the President." -New York Herald, February 17, 1861.

Lincoln's Funeral Train passed through Erie, PA on April 28, 1865 at 3 a.m. on its way from Buffalo, NY to Cleveland, OH.

Click here to read about the old Union Depot railroad station in Erie, PA.

President William Taft visited Erie, PA in 1911.

Enjoy more fascinating facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

President Taft at Strong Mansion in Erie PA

Front page of the Erie Sunday Herald, September 18, 1911.

President William Howard Taft visited Erie, Pennsylvania on September 16, 1911. He stayed with the Charles H. Strong family in their mansion at 109 West 6th St., better know today as Gannon University's 'Old Main.'

Taft stayed at the Strong mansion for two nights. It is rumored that he became stuck in a bathtub in this house.

Taft arrived by train at the old Union Depot on Peach Street at 9:12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, 1911. The headline of the Erie Sunday Herald stated, "Monster Crowd Greets President Wm. H. Taft." Taft went directly to the Majestic Theater, 18-24 West 10th Street, to a banquet hosted by the Erie Chamber of Commerce. "The Majestic Theater was decorated with flags and bunting and made an ideal banquet hall. A floor was built over the parquet seats on a level with the stage, thus providing seating arrangements for over 800 people...the President's table was almost in the center of the hall and he was seen and heard to the best possible advantage."-Erie Evening Herald, September 17, 1911.

While in Erie, Taft attended the Unitarian Church at 147 West 9th Street with the Strong family on Sunday morning, followed by a luncheon in his honor. "After luncheon, the President was taken for an auto drive in Mrs. Strong's automobile. In addition to the President were Mrs. Strong, Major [Archibald] Butt and Secretary [Charles] Hilles. In addition to driving about a number of streets, a stop was made at the Log Cabin west of the city...At 10 o'clock the President left the Strong residence being accompanied to his private car by Mr. Strong. His car left Erie at 1:21." -Erie Evening Herald, September 18, 1911.

The Herald published Taft's message of appreciation on Sept. 18th:
"It has been a great pleasure to meet the people of Erie. I am glad to have been the first President to visit this interesting and enterprising city. The police arrangements, due to the efficiency of the local police, supplemented by the National Guard, were perfect. The cordial reception by the people, who in great numbers lined the streets from station to auditorium, was very gratifying.

The audience at the Chamber of Commerce banquet, including the 1,600 members and the ladies who honored the occasion by their presence, were in a most hospitable and responsive mood, and encouraging in the highest degree to those whose good fortune it was to speak to them. I was delighted to find such a sympathetic response to the cause of Arbitration Treaties, which I improved the opportunity to present and urge. The Sunday's rest in Erie was grateful.
WILLIAM H. TAFT."

John F. Kennedy visited Erie, but he was a senator at the time, and was campaigning for the presidential election. Senator Kennedy spoke from the Lawrence Hotel, one building west of the old Majestic Theater.

Here is a photo of the Majestic Theater: Majestic Theater

Enjoy more historical facts and photos at: Old Time Erie

Union Depot Railroad Station 1925 Erie, PA

The old Union Depot railroad station in Erie, PA in 1925 before it was demolished.

-Erie Business Directory, 1868-69.

The old Union Depot was located along the railroad tracks at 14th St. between Peach and Sassafras Streets in Erie, Pennsylvania. "It was erected at an expense of $100,000. The building is of brick, in the Romanesque style, and is 480 feet in length, 88 feet in width, two stories high, and is surmounted by a handsome cupola, of the height of 40 feet." -Erie Business Directory, 1868-69.

The new Union Station replaced the old depot around 1927. It still stands and is now home to Amtrack, a restaurant and a brewpub. There was a time when there were several passenger trains each day the stopped in Erie and traveled to Chicago and New York City.

The Arts & Drafts Festival was held in the Station at Union Square Sept. 6-8, 2012, featuring a number of local artists, musical performers and short films in the park across the street.

For more old photos and history of Erie PA, check out Old Time Erie