I was up early on July 11, 2013 and rarin’ to go. The goal on that day was to see Harding’s birthplace in Blooming Grove, Ohio; then pay a visit to the Amish in Berlin, Ohio; and end the day in Canton to visit William McKinley. The weather was perfect – blue sky, slight breeze out of the north, and no chance of a tornado. Or at least I had hoped!
Located about 24 miles from Marion, Ohio, we found the tiny community of Blooming Grove. If I could have blinked, I might have missed the town entirely as we drove through. The little community might have had 20 houses and a gas station; but what it lacked in size, it gained in historical significance. After all, this was the birthplace of our 29th President Warren G. Harding.
Harding was born in a farm house that was located on this site on November 2, 1865. There was no known record of when the farm house was demolished. Besides a historical marker and a flag pole, I am pictured standing alongside a granite slab and plaque that was put in place to remind generations to come that a President was born at this site.
Following the 15-minute stop at Blooming Grove, we hit the back roads for over 50 miles until we arrived in Berlin, Ohio. What Presidential sites are in Berlin, you might ask? There are none. But once in awhile my photographer and chauffeur had to stop at a site that his wife would enjoy; and she loves Amish shops. Berlin was a true Mecca for the Amish and we saw an abundance of horse-drawn carriages in town. There was a moment, however, when I was in the center of Berlin that I thought of John F. Kennedy as he delivered his historic speech in Berlin, Germany on June 26, 1963. “Ich bin ein Berliner” said JFK; which when translated meant “I am a Berliner”. Well, I wasn’t a Berliner and I’m not Amish; I just was happy that I didn’t get set down in a warm road apple. Finally finished in Berlin, the next stop was a tad over 30 miles away. Canton, Ohio, which was the home and burial site of President William McKinley, was slated to be our final stop of the day. Canton was also home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame; but it was unlikely that I would set my base inside.
I am standing above some of the 108 steps that lead up to the tomb of 25th President William McKinley and his wife Ida. The McKinley National Memorial is located in the eastern section of West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio.
President McKinley died at the age of 58 on September 14, 1901 from a gangrenous infection after being shot twice in the abdomen by Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York on September 6th. I would’ve loved to have been photographed standing on McKinley’s sarcophagus, but it was too high to reach; plus there was not a suitable lower ledge to safely stand on.
Although this was only the third Presidential tomb that I had visited, it easily became my favorite. Standing near the entrance to the memorial was my photographer’s wife Vicki. While I stood there envisioning a vibrant President who was cut down in the prime of his life by an assassin’s bullets, Vicki was likely envisioning the Amish quilt that she didn’t purchase back in Berlin.
I was awestruck by the overall beauty of the McKinley National Memorial and it was hard for me to leave. But it was getting late in the day and I had one site yet to visit – the Saxton McKinley House that was located less than two miles away.
The Saxton McKinley House was built in 1841 and was the childhood home of Ida Saxton – William McKinley’s wife. Since 1998, the home has been the First Ladies National Historic Site. Following William and Ida’s wedding on January 25, 1871, their wedding reception was held inside this house. From 1878 to 1890, the future President and his wife lived in the house when William was an Ohio Congressman. Unfortunately the home was closed by the time we got there; which meant that I will have to come back at some point to tour the interior.
Our Presidential sites, and Amish sites, were finished for the day. We stayed at a hotel on the southeast side of Canton in preparation for our drive to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the next morning. Although there were no Presidential sites in Pittsburgh that I knew of, we had planned to visit Tom McGrew; a friend and former co-worker of my photographer. I wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to meet anyone named Tom!
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
4 thoughts on “3: CANTON-BOUND WITHOUT A FOOTBALL”
A very entertaining and interesting blog, I really have enjoyed reading about your journey, and I’m looking forward to reading more.
A very entertaining and interesting blog, I really have enjoyed reading about your journey, and I’m looking forward to reading more.
Thank you for reading and enjoying Jefferson’s travels. The best is yet to come! Stay tuned!
Tommy
So far very educational
And awesome thus far
Good job bro!!!
Plumber, thank you for taking the time to look and give feedback. Please feel free to share the blog with others. Again, thank you very much!