Presidential Visits and Heritage

Patch readers and Frank Barron both had great information on Branford's from two weeks ago: Tom knew the story of the old Summer White House on Davis Island, and Frank knew so much that I'm offering his response in full here:

Rutherford B. Hayes is connected to Branford because his grandfather was born in Branford in the mid 1700s-around 1756...you should also know that his grandfather is related to two other important Branford familes...the Russells and the Frisbies, too--so the connection has some deeply seated roots in the town's history. Both Presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes and William H. Taft, share Ohio roots but, Taft as a Yale student discovered the Thimbles at some point as an undergrad and probably visited there too, but actually had his summer White House home located in Beverly, Mass. However, his real Branford connection can be traced and revealed when he served our country in his last days-as a Supreme Court Justice. Taft was the 1st President to be buried in the Arlington National Cemetary and his headstone and monument marker was fashioned from Stony Creek, Branford granite by the famous American sculptor James Earle Fraser who was also famous for designing the "indian Head" nickle withe the "Bison" on the reverse side when it was minted and released in 1913.

Wow, Frank!

Jane Bouley of the Branford Historical Society concurred with Frank that the Summer White House is likely to be more legend than historical fact, but Taft did probably visit Davis Island (also called Elton or Big Pumpkin) with classmate John Elton when the president attended Yale. The Eltons, from Waterbury, owned the island from 1894 through 1958.

Hayes's history is certainly better documented: As Frank explained, Hayes's grandfather (Rutherford Sr.) was born in Branford. Hayes's great-grandfather, Ezekiel, built the old Totoket Hotel, which once stood on Main Street and had a blacksmith's shop on the north side of Branford Green. (Ezekiel crafted the bricks for the building himself and was a tool maker as well as a blacksmith.) At the time, the cost of the building was so extreme that it was locally mocked with the nickname "Hayes Follie." 

Ezekiel Hayes married Rebecca Russell, whose father was a longtime minister in Branford. They had Rutherford Sr., who moved to Vermont, where Rutherford Jr. was born. Rutherford Jr. moved to Ohio, where Rutherford B., future president, was born. In 1880, President Hayes visited Branford to see the Totoket Hotel; according to Bouley, "A large reception was held on the Green in front of the hotel where the president gave a speech and was presented with an axe made by his great-grandfather."

Totoket Hotel stood where is now located; the building, with various expansions, held a bookstore for over seventy years, until a fire in 1971 gutted the building. 

Thanks to the Branford Historical Society (www.branfordhistory.org) for the use of all the images for this article, and to Barbara Cangiano at the for her research help!