Wilhelm: Hayes center celebrates 200th anniversary of President's birth
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The 200th anniversary of the birth of President Rutherford B. Hayes was this past Tuesday, Oct. 4, and the Hayes Presidential Library and Museums has begun a year of events to celebrate.
The observance started with the birthday kickoff weekend with more celebrations on Tuesday.
One hundred years ago, the City of Fremont joined the celebration that drew this comment in the Golden Jubilee Yearbook of the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Association: “Parades may come and parades may go, but the memories of this grand affair will endure for generations.”
The parade and celebration in 1922 were a great success, but apparently came only because of the determination of the mayor W.H. Schwartz and a committee of volunteers. The yearbook had this to say about that: “Little do those not in on the inside history of the struggle for the success attained by the city’s plan know of the trials and tribulations that were met with on every corner, nor the heartaches and the setbacks met in endless succession. The ultimate results of the victory were far reaching and after the event of the century in Fremont had passed on review, nothing but favorable comments could be heard on all sides…”
The mayor led the parade along with the safety-service director E. H. Russell riding in a “brand new Paige coupe.”
After a collection of dignitaries and military personnel came the “Black Horse troop.” This world-famous troop “is always in the line of march at Washington, D.C., when a new president is marching to the steps of the stately Capitol to take his oath of office. This troop was present in Fremont at the funeral of the late Rutherford B. Hayes in January, 1893, and also paid a hurried visit here in 1913 (after the flood). These facts were known to the many and as the 70 huzzars in gold-trimmed uniforms and clanking saber rode by on their spirited black horse … they drew much applause."
They were followed by groups of servicemen who had fought in World War I, the Light Guard Band of Fremont, the Woodman band of Fremont and the Odd Fellows who presented a float that “portrayed and conveyed the idea of the famous neutral cities of refuge along the banks of the Sandusky River…”
That was followed by more floats, many offering sketches of history. The Elks’ float depicted Betsy Ross making the first flag and several church floats depicted the early missionaries and church leaders. The Whittaker Family and the Kiwanis Club’s Battle of Lake Erie were among other floats that also included the Historical Society’s wagon full of 13 youngsters pulled by a yoke of oxen.
The city’s celebration went beyond the parade with ceremonies at the Spiegel Grove gates and the Soldiers’ Memorial Parkway and a tribute at the Hayes tomb.
During the invocation later in the day, these thought-provoking comments about the birth of Hayes were presented: “Men that fought with Washington, that helped to frame the constitution and establish the republic were living and active in affairs. The government was still an experiment — the world expecting its speedy collapse, even its friends doubtful of its enduring success.”
Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: 200th anniversary of Rutherford B. Hayes' birth celebrated in Fremont
