09/10/2021
Julie Weiss researcher extraordinaire wrote this wonderful piece.
One-hundred-twenty-one years ago yesterday, September 8, 1900, Theodore Roosevelt visited Benton Harbor on a campaign tour as President McKinley’s running mate in the 1900 presidential election. A number of years ago someone gave me a photo taken of TR sitting in a carriage at the Benton Harbor Union Station. I did some investigation of the event in conjunction with my research for the book on the Klocks and Jean Klock Park. A small excerpt: “One of the most significant stories J.N. [Klock’s] Evening News ever covered was Roosevelt’s campaign whistle stop in Benton Harbor in September, 1900. ... Arriving by train at the Union Depot, a festooned carriage met him and made its way up Water Street to Main where he stood and bowed to the cheering thousands assembled. From there he went up Main to Sixth Street and to a tent set up on what a reporter called the “city park.” Ten thousand people had come to see him. Null’s Band played the Star Spangled Banner, Republican leaders preened before the honored war hero and statesman, and T. R. spoke on the gold standard and American might. He lost his voice in several spots and bantered with the audience, and they loved him for it. T.R.’s standing in Benton Harbor was supreme.”
