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www.mybaycity.com September 18, 2011
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Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Building

Public, Dignitaries, Press Gather for Re-dedication

September 18, 2011       Leave a Comment
By: Stephen Kent

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On Sunday, Sept 18, The Bay County Historical Society celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the old Armory building, which now houses the Bay County Historical Museum. Members, the Public, Dignitaries, Staff, and the VFW enjoyed speeches and the presentation of commemorative documents. The ceremony concluded with the re-dedication of the refurbished flag pole and raising of an American Flag.

The remarks of Ron Bloomfield, Museum Director, tell the story of the building as well as anything:

Remarks by Ron Bloomfield:

One Hundred years ago to the day, the President of the United States played a visit here to Bay City. He arrived at 7:55 at the Michigan Central Railroad Depot downtown-- 15 minutes late as 30,000 of our neighbors in Saginaw kept him past his allotted time for their speech earlier that evening. President William Howard Taft received a rousing Bay City welcome from "tens of thousands" who were gathered at the Depot, along the presidential route (first street to Washington and south to this very spot).

He was greeted by a reception committee of the Bay City Board of Commerce including C.J. Bousfield, M.L. Davies, James E. Davidson, H.D. MacKinnon and an old college mate of the President's, Mr. Newell A. Eddy. All prominent Bay City businessmen of 100 years ago. Major Augustus Gansser was in charge of the military escort and detail. After President Taft's bodyguard thoroughly inspected Mr. W. L. Clement's automobile (on loan for the austere occasion), the president was whisked away down the parade route, just behind the 33rd Regiment band and an honor guard of Boy Scouts. Even 100 years ago the Secret Service trailed the procession.

Once the procession reached Washington Avenue, around third Street area, Bay City's population pulled out all of the stops. I'll defer to the Bay City Times reporter to sum up the presidential procession:

From that time until his destination at the Armory was attained there was continual applause and handkerchiefs were waved by the feminine spectators with a gusto that was captivating, even to the first man of the Land. And no one appeared to appreciate this ovation half as much as did this big man, big not only because of the exalted position which he has the honor to fill, but because of his avoirdupois, mentality and political fearlessness. For nine blocks Mr Taft stood up in his auto and bowed this way and that to his thousands of admirers, meanwhile waving his hands in response to the numerous personal salutations. It was indeed a most brilliant spectacle and the president could not fail to see that his first visit to the City as the chief executive of the nation was appreciated to the fullest degree. There was not a foot of space along the route which was not occupied and the street was brilliant with electric illuminations on both sides from Third to Ninth.

President Taft and his entourage entered the Armory building from the back and after a brief reception in a waiting room he entered the grand hall of the Armory to a wild roar from a capacity crowd. A double life-sized portrait of the President (when he was younger and his mustached curled a trifle more than it does today - according to the reporter), hung in the center of the platform. Now the reporter chose this point to digress on the physical presence of President Taft, and I again quote the Bay City Times:

Incidentally, it may be said that the president is a large man. He casts a very substantial shadow. But there is nothing Porky about him. He hasn't a bull neck. He carries his weight well, and he looks healthy and strong, and all the while good natured and contented. Few men could carry around all of that flesh and do it without dislodging pedestrians on the street. The President handles himself as easily as a boy in Knickerbockers.

Finally, sometime after 8:30, the presentation started. Charles J. Bousfield, acting president of the Bay City Board of Commerce made the opening remarks and introduced Mayor R.O. Woodruff. Mayor Woodruff welcomed the president to the City and gave a bit of background on the focus of the presentation - the new Armory. Which incidentally had been designed by Pratt and Koeppe (same firm who designed our grand City Hall) and started in 1910 on the site of the previous armory building. It was completed in 1911 and it now had the distinction of being formally dedicated by the serving President.

Mayor Woodruff then introduced Aaron V. McAlvay, justice of the Supreme Court who greeted the crowd and talked a bit about the Michigan National Guard and its significance. He then introduced President Taft - obviously to thunderous applause.

The President then took the podium and talked about the importance of the Army, the Panama Canal and its importance, the National Guard Militia and his belief that it should be upheld, and he also talked about the Philippine Islands and sugar imports (an issue of the day). He then lauded Congressman Loud of Bay City whom was a very good colleague of the President's.

Then he bade the audience an affectionate Good Night, promptly left the building and was driven to the Entrance of the Wenonah Hotel (where the Delta College Planetarium now stands) for a dinner in his honor given by the Bay City Board of Commerce, starting at 10:00 that evening. As most presidential visits go, the grass did not grow long under his feet as he was whisked away by train shortly after 1:00 am that morning for Sault Ste. Marie.

The Armory had one other brush with national fame and President Taft (or at least his supporters) less than a year later when it was the site of the Michigan Republic Convention where things became so heated between supporters of President Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, each vying for their candidates platforms to influence the Republican nomination for the upcoming presidential election, that the National Guard had to be called in to keep the peace. These contentions spilled over later that year to the Republican National Convention in Chicago after which the supporters of Roosevelt created the third-party we all heard about in history class - the Bull Moose Party. This had an influence on National Politics as it divided the Republican vote that year and Democrat Woodrow Wilson was elected president and would ultimately lead us into our involvement in World War 1, something the 128th Michigan Ambulance which was stationed here at the Armory would know a thing or two about.

After that, the rest is as they say, history - The armory was the hub of National Guard operations for years to come and also acted as a civic center that hosted many events from golden gloves competitions to dances, concerts and car shows. A new armory was built in the early 80s and In 1986, our friends in local and state government, along with our next speaker helped the Bay County Historical Society acquire this grand building and since then several renovations have made it what you see today.


Bloomfield concluded his remarks by introducing Brigadier General (retired) Richard M. DeMara, "who spent what probably seems like several lifetimes as a National Guard officer in this building and played a large part in the Historical Society acquiring the former armory as a Museum." General DeMara shared some memories of his time in this grand building.

Other dignitaries were then introduced and presented proclamations to Bloomfield and made comments on the building, its history and the significance to the community.

The Museum was then opened to the crowd. Refreshments were served and visitors were invited to view the new exhibits just opened on the second floor.

The Museum is open to the public daily. Besides the many exhibits, there is a bookstore and gift shop and a research library.

For more information be sure to visit the museum web site at www.bchsmuseum.org..


This photo shows a third of the crowd that gathered for the festivities.



Ron Bloomfield presents remarks as dignitaries wait their turn.



Brigadier General (retired) Richard M. DeMara presents remarks.
Bloomfield and Society President Leon Katzinger look on
.



Color Guard Presides at Flag Raising. .



The new American Flag is raised to dedicate the refurbished flagpole.



Quartet sings the National Anthem.



Riflemen fire salute followed by bugler




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Stephen Kent

Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations.

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