Story: President Hoover Pays Tribute to Thomas Edison (1929)

From the Detroit Free Press, October 22, 1929

Herbert Hoover turned aside from his worries over government and politics yesterday to pay the homage of the nation to Thomas Alva Edison, the indomitable spirit who freed humanity from darkness. It was the president's first visit to Detroit since he entered the White House.

Thousands of persons lined 30 miles of streets as the president drove into the city, and storms of ticker tape and paper, gave eloquent testimony of their feeling for the man who guides the nation in Washington.

The presidential party, which alighted from a train at Dearborn junction (near Greenfield Village) included the Secretary of War James W. Good, and dozens of operatives and 50 newspaper correspondents and photographers.

President and Mrs. Hoover were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford and Mr. and Mrs. Edison. They made a short journey to Smith's Creek station in Greenfield Village on a 3-car train behind the wheezing old "Sam Hill", which was a replica of the famous train which Mr. Edison was ejected from back in 1872. The "Sam Hill" gave a few coughs and snorts, the coaches groaned and the wheels creaked, and the party was on its way.

The train was just under way when Edison appeared with a basket of fruit. In his boyhood he was a news butcher on the same old route, and he peddled his wares to the presidential party. He did not give his apples away, but sold them, and many of his distinguished guests demanded the right change. He made the rounds with his basket and then returned with his bundle of papers. Reproductions of the Detroit Free Press dated October 21, 1862 were among those offered.

The crew of railroad old-timers on the short train included Conductor Ben Blakesley of Detroit who is rounding 49 years of service on the Michigan Central; Engineer William Black of Jackson; Flagman A.A. Bedell of Ypsilanti: brakeman H.J. Benson of Detroit, baggageman F.H. Kelly of Detroit and fireman A. Mebus of Detroit.

A distinguished group greeted the presidential party as the "Sam Hill" pulled into Smith's Creek station in the village. These included Governor Fred W. Green, Detroit Mayor John C. Lodge, John D. Rockefeller Jr., as well as ministers, judges and business leaders.

The party walked through the mud to tour through the replica of Menlo Park. Hundreds of Ford's men patrolled the grounds to keep others from gaining admission. Automobiles were barred from the muddy streets of the village. Miles of new heavy mesh fences had been placed and every few yards a secret service agent was on guard. It was also a big day for Dearborn police.

Hoover had lunch at Henry Ford's Fairlane estate and left for his tour through downtown Detroit. Other guests were served with a buffet lunch in the old Clinton Inn, one of the features of the village.

- From the Detroit Free Press, October 22, 1929 Page 13.