'Theodore Roosevelt' is returning to the old Pine Grove this weekend during Old Olcott Days

OLCOTT — A familiar face is returning to Krull Park for the next part of Newfane’s bicentennial celebration.

This weekend, Old Olcott Days will highlight a notable piece of town history — a visit to the hamlet by then-New York Gov. Theodore Roosevelt, who gave a speech at Olcott’s Pine Grove. To mark the occasion, Joe Weigand, a Roosevelt re-enactor, will recreate the speech at the newly reconstructed Krull Park Amphitheater.

“It’ll be the first time Teddy Roosevelt will be in town since 1899,” town supervisor John Syracuse said.

Saturday’s event in the park will also mimic the long-running “Pioneer Picnics” hosted by the Niagara County Pioneer Association from 1877 until the 1940s at what is now Krull Park.

According to town historian Bill Clark, the group would host several prominent figures of the day at their annual outing, which was what brought a future President of the United States to Olcott.

“It’d become a kind of influential and powerful gathering of Western New York politicians,” Clark explained. “It was like a who’s who of important people in the area. And so, Teddy Roosevelt as governor wanted to come out and connect with those people because he had a policy and agenda he wanted to deliver and promote.”

Soon after Roosevelt’s visit at the turn of the century, Olcott became a quickly-growing favorite regional destination as the International Railway Company extended an electric trolley route from Lockport to Newfane and the Olcott Beach Hotel was constructed.

“Back then they did things fast. Within a year or two, the whole trolley was put in and the hotel was built,” Clark said.

Weigand, the re-enactor, will be brought into the hamlet by carriage, harkening back to the way that Roosevelt himself would’ve been brought to the park after he arrived at the train station in Burt in August 1899.

At noon, he will speak at the Krull Park Amphitheater, which is the approximate location where Roosevelt delivered his speech.

“That little ravine or gully towards the east end (of the park) there, that was where Teddy Roosevelt spoke in 1899,” Clark said.

Following the speech, there will be historical displays at Ye Olde Log Cabin and free narrated trolley rides around Olcott, and Olcott Lions Club will offer free hot dogs and water, all until 5 p.m.

On Sunday, as a nod to the hamlet’s history of hosting amusement parks, The Carousel Organ Association of America will host a band organ rally, featuring about 15 to 20 band organs of all sizes throughout Olcott. Again there will be free trolley rides from noon to 5 p.m.

“Teddy Roosevelt” plans to make other appearances in various places around Olcott throughout the weekend, Clark added.