Join Us in Welcoming the President of the United States to Jacksonville

Finally, the day the citizens of Jacksonville have been waiting for has arrived. During the previous couple of weeks, one could feel the energy and excitement building all over town. The President of the United States will arrive tomorrow morning, and in preparation the roads have been smoothed, the electrical lighting tested and the bands have practiced in the Plaza. Local women’s groups have created nearly 60 artistic banners which have been hung along the drive to the city, welcoming both the President and his First Lady. As a showing of our gratitude, the Mayor will present the First Lady with an orange tree (in full bloom). To the surprise of the press corps, the President and his entourage are not traveling by usual method, but have decided instead to take a specially assembled set of private train cars without Secret Service escort. The entire trip will take over 25 hours, including a short stopover in Georgia.

It was an exciting day back in February 1888 when President Grover Cleveland and his new bride started their lengthy trip toward Jacksonville. For nearly ten years, Jacksonville had dominated the country as the winter destination city. The tremendous St. James Hotel (located on the present site of the new city hall) and other similar resort hotels of the day only opened for three to four months per year.

This entire visit was orchestrated in response to a new state rivalry. California instituted an overwhelming public relations campaign to dominate seasonal vacationing and bring winter travelers to its state. Not to be outdone, Florida state representatives, charged with bringing more travelers to the state, arranged for a dynamic event never seen before in the United States – all to take place in the city of Jacksonville.

The idea of a Sub-Tropical Exposition was born. It would combine the state’s flavors in horticulture, farming and seafood under one roof. To better understand the look of this major attraction, imagine a cross between a large fair and Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival held annually in the Spring. To attract visitors from the entire country, an eye-popping architectural wonder would be constructed as its center piece. And, who better to kick off this once in a lifetime event but the United States President and his wife.

The American public admired President Cleveland and was just warming to the idea of a young First Lady. President Cleveland had entered the White House as a bachelor (only two in history) and married 21 year old Frances Folsom in June 1886. This is the only historically recorded wedding of a President in the White House.

The special train configured for the couple was made up of one train engine, a baggage car and a lavishly appointed drawing room car. The President and the First Lady traveled with no security detail and were joined by his secretary, Mrs. William C. Whitney (wife of the Secretary of the Navy), Colonel and Mrs. Daniel S. Lamont (Colonel Lamont was a close personal friend and held the position of Private Secretary to the President), “Sinclair” the President’s valet and Mrs. Cleveland’s maid.

The train departed Washington, D.C., at 11:25 a.m. on February, 21, 1888, and arrived in Savannah, Georgia (The Forest City), at 8:30 a.m. the following morning. Upon entering the city limits, the train was saluted by the Chatham Artillery’s cannon fire. This was the signal for all trains, factory engines and shop engines to unleash their loudest sounds for respect of the President’s arrival. The President’s party entered a carriage and were driven around town flanked by U.S. Army Calvary soldiers. Small children and onlookers ran from street to street to catch first one then another view of the famed couple. The honored group stopped momentarily while Mrs. Cleveland unveiled a statue of Revolutionary War Hero Sergeant William Jasper (Jasper, Florida, and Jasper County, Georgia, are named after Sergeant Jasper). After exactly 64 minutes, the President and entourage boarded the train to Jacksonville, arriving at 1:00 p.m. on February 22, 1888. As they departed Savannah,six thousand onlookers gathered and joined voices in a “Confederate Yell.” To hear the Rebel Yell, click here: http://26nc.org/History/Rebel-Yell/rebel-yell.html.

The New York Times (February 23, 1888, issue) described the arrival of President Cleveland and his wife as the “Greatest Event in the History of Jacksonville.” Every street, sign post, and open space seemed to be covered with some reminder of the state of Florida. Everywhere one would glance there were palm branches, palmetto fronds, stacks of Florida moss and bright orange-colored fruit and flowers.

The President and his entourage disembarked from the train at what was known as the “Waycross Station” at exactly 1:30 p.m. After exiting to a 21-gun salute by Wilson’s Battery, the women were escorted to the ladies’ room which had been completely renovated for this special occasion. Its floor was covered with fresh cut jasmine. The smell was sweet and almost chokingly odorous. Harmless small bees that were charmed by its succulent scent arrived to witness the procession.

Six large flawlessly black matching horses (like sextuplets) pulled a newly painted black carriage to the doorway for the party to enter. It was trimmed with orange flowers and accented by giant magnolia flowers. The driver directed the carriage through crowds of onlookers around the St. James Plaza (now Hemming Plaza) and stopped at the front doors of the St. James Hotel. Yelling their support and throwing flowers, people were draped over balconies the along the entire procession route. Nearly 10,000 people were counted in the Plaza area alone. At the doorway, the President and First Lady were greeted by its owner and directed to their suite. Soldiers had galloped ahead of the procession with their luggage and made sure that it was neatly in place for their arrival.

Like the city itself, the rooms were adorned by hundreds of oranges, palmettos, palm branches and jasmine. Azaleas and pansies added to the beautiful presentation. Chairs and tables were decorated with masses of steamed grey moss (steamed to remove bugs). Only three large welcome baskets were allowed in the suite itself. They were from Colonel F.S. Darsey (of Jacksonville), Mrs. J.D. Mead (of Mandarin) and the finest rose basket of all from the citizens of Tampa. Tampa’s Hillsborough County gave the President the largest number of votes of any county in Florida.

Freshened and wearing a new dress for the occasion, Mrs. Cleveland returned shortly to rejoin the party. After lunch with dignitaries at the hotel, the Parade Marshal greeted the President and his party in order to escort them to the Sub-Tropical Exposition. In the front marched the Jacksonville Police in well-organized platoons. Next came the Police Marshal (Sheriff) and his aides followed by the First Florida Battalion Band and the First Florida Battalion soldiers.

Midway through the procession were the carriages of the President’s Entourage and President’s party. Then finally, the President and his wife followed the group pulled by the six black horses. Wilson’s Battery flanked the Presidential party and was followed by the Second Florida Battalion. Carriages carrying the Congressmen in attendance were next closely followed by Press Association carriages and the carriages of honored guests.

Following behind the honored guests marched the “Key West Band, of colored men; the uniformed Knights of Pythias; the Independent order of Red Men; the Perry Guards of the colored state militia; the Duval Guards of the colored State militia; the Jacksonville Typographical Union, No. 162; and the Jacksonville Fire Department.” Additional carriages representing other clubs and organizations followed.

Over 100,000 Florida residents and visitors dressed in “holiday attire” witnessed the amazing event. When the President finally reached the Sub-Tropical Exposition, another 21-gun salute volley was fired welcoming him. President Cleveland gave a rousing speech which received a five minute applause. After touring the Sub-Tropical Exposition, the entire group proceeded back to the St. James Hotel where they were to greet invited guests. Later that evening, they were graced by the illumination of newly installed electrical lights. The hotel owner proudly showed off a total of six bulbs: four in the lobby and two outside on the porch.

The next morning, the President and his entourage returned to the train to visit the city of St. Augustine. Jacksonville would remain aglow in the euphoria of a Presidential visit for four more months until the summer of 1888 when the Yellow Fever, delivered by mosquitoes, would kill over 4000 residents and paralyze the city until late October. Florida’s publicity appeal would be crushed by a Federal Quarantine on the entire city of Jacksonville. Even Jacksonville’s Mayor, who proudly welcomed the President and First Lady, died in its wake.

The Secret Service, mentioned in the opening paragraph, were not charged with guarding the President of the United States until 1901.

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Joseph Miller is a life-long resident of Jacksonville, Florida, and an active member of the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville. As a historian, he recently completed his first book on the Founder of Rotary, Paul P. Harris, titled “That Paul Harris.”

Joseph can be reached at JaxHistory@gmail.com.