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Theodore Roosevelt and wife Edith Kermit Roosevelt rode the Roswell Railroad to visit his mother’s childhood home on October 20, 1905. People were excited in Chamblee, Dunwoody and Roswell, lining the streets to try and get a glimpse of the President. The President and First Lady would be exiting the passenger car at Roswell Station, which sat on a hill south of the Chattahoochee River. The remainder of the trip would be made by horse and carriage, crossing the Chattahoochee River by way of the covered bridge.
Theodore Roosevelt’s mother was Martha (Mittie) Bulloch of Roswell, and his father was Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. of New York. They married at Roswell Presbyterian Church in 1853. The President heard his mother tell stories of the place she grew up and in 1901 began thinking of a visit. Bulloch Hall still stands today, owned by the City of Roswell and supported by Friends of Bulloch, Inc.
This image of Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia is held by the Library of Congress.
The two engines for the Roswell Railroad, Dinkey and Old Buck, were both attached to President Roosevelt’s Southern Railway car for his trip to Roswell. Ike Roberts, engineer of the Roswell Railroad for all of its 40 years (1881 to 1921), drove the train slowly that day. The crowds of people who gathered along the railroad tracks cheered as he blew the train whistle and rang the bell. The train came along what is now Chamblee Dunwoody Road and passed by the Dunwoody Depot. The Depot sat in the area between where CVS and Chevron are today.
The train arrived at the Roswell Station at 6:00 a.m. A carriage met the train to carry the President and First Lady to Roswell, accompanied by mounted police. The Marietta Band provided music for the event and played “Home Sweet Home”. (Franklin Garrett, Atlanta and Environs, Volume II)
Senator Alexander Stephens Clay of Georgia and wife Sara Frances Clay joined the President and First Lady for breakfast. Warren Crockett, who fought along with Theodore Roosevelt in Troop D of the Rough Riders was also there and shook hands with his comrade. (Roswell Railroad Maps of Michael Hitt and Chuck Brown)
Bulloch Hall was owned at the time by Mrs. J. B. Wing, and she greeted the President and First Lady when they arrived at his mother’s childhood home. The next stop was Roswell Presbyterian Church for a reception. (roswellhistoricalsociety.org)
The Cherokee Advance Newspaper of Canton, Georgia reported that thousands gathered in Roswell to watch. Roosevelt commented, “You have no idea of how much it means to me to come back to Roswell, to the home of my mother and of my mother’s people.”
This photograph of Theodore Roosevelt addressing a crowd in Atlanta has a on October 30, 1905, but was probably taken on October 20 Roswell is held by the Library of Congress.
Catherine King Baker, daughter of Barrington King, lived at Barrington Hall at the time. The story goes that she would not attend the festivities that day, expecting President Roosevelt to visit her in her home. He made that his last stop before leaving Roswell and heading on to Atlanta.