by Drew Desmond, Historian for the Prescott Western Heritage Foundation, Inc.
It was 5:51 p.m., Oct. 13, 1909, when President Taft’s special train pulled into the Prescott depot. “There was tremendous cheering while the band up the street vigorously played Hail to the Chief,” the Arizona Journal-Miner reported.
Prescott planned long and hard to make this the perfect visit. Taft was in the middle of a route visiting the Southwest in what was the longest trip any president had ever made.
After the executive party left the train, they took seats in assigned automobiles and started a parade down Cortez Street to an awaiting throng of 8,000 in the Plaza.
On one side of the autos marched the Grand Army, a band of heroes of the Civil War. On the other marched the young regulars from Fort Whipple in full dress uniform.
Taft ascended a platform on the north side of Gurley Street, facing the crowd and the two-year-old Rough Rider monument. Facing him, adorning the Old Courthouse, was a large banner reading: “We Want Statehood.”
In front of it all were 1,000 school-aged children, the youngest in front, the oldest in back. This was no accident. Arizona’s reputation then was largely formed by cheap fiction that left the impression it was anything but a place for families. So moved was Taft that he quickly instructed the Secret Service to remove the rope barrier between the stand and the children.
“Let down the ropes and bring the people close to the stand,” he instructed.
Before the president spoke, he was told of the area’s famous Hassayampa water. “Those who drink the water from below the crossing (will) trifle with the truth, and those who drink of this water above the crossing thereafter will be celebrated for their truth and veracity. This water comes from ABOVE the crossing.”
The president drank it heartily and quipped that he would like a canteen full to take back to Washington.
Taft spoke for 15 minutes. The crowd applauded greatly when he declared that Arizona deserved statehood. “I observe even out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the desire for statehood!” he said.
On Feb. 14, 1912, Taft signed the bill making Arizona the 48th state.
For more history of Arizona and the Old West, visit the Western Heritage Center at 156 S. Montezuma St. Admission is free.
