Let's See the Deed!

On March 18, 1913  when the house where Grover Cleveland was born became the property of  the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Association, there was a huge celebration in Caldwell.  It was the kind of occasion people remember all their lives and tell their children about. Do you have any family memories of the day?

The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Association of the time published a record of the celebration which we have in the library.  Reading it is  like taking a trip in a time machine.  

Back now to 1913... 

Excerpts from Grover Cleveland’s Birthplace: Proceedings at the Passing of Title to the “Old Manse”, Caldwell, New Jersey, March 18,1913, published in 1913 by the Grover Cleveland  Birthplace Memorial Association

 page 7

                “At three o’clock in the afternoon on March 18, 1913, a great company of people was gathered around the “Old Manse” at Caldwell, N.J, the house in which Grover Cleveland was born.  It was the seventy-sixth anniversary of his birth, and the company included not only residents of Caldwell and its vicinity, but many friends of Mr. Cleveland who had come from New York and remoter places….”

From pages 8-10

                “As the moment drew  near for the beginning of those ceremonies the scene was one long to be remembered.  The day was almost perfect.  The sun shone brightly, and the wind, though a little keen, was not strong enough to be cold.

                The Old Manse was all a-flutter with flags and bunting.  Across its front a spacious platform had been built, but the seats were  quickly filled, and many of the visitors were compelled to stand…”

                Rev. and Mrs. Nelson B Chester, the occupants of the Manse, had invited a number of the older ladies to take shelter within doors.  These filled the windows upstairs and down.  Two elderly ladies had enthusiasm and courage enough to climb out of an upstairs window to a point of vantage on the roof of the porch over the front door.

                From the edge of the platform out to the street, and spread widely on either side was the great throng of people packed closely together, but too interested to be conscious of inconvenience.  The children from the public school and those from the parochial school, massed at the Arlington avenue side of the platform, had small flags and kept them waving in time to the music of the band, which filled the moments of waiting.  Down in front of the platform at tables prepared for them, the reporters for the city papers sharpened their pencils in readiness for what was to come. And over all, here, there, and everywhere—from the ground, from chairs, and from ladders placed against trees and telephone poles—the camera squad and the moving picture men brought their batteries to bear on everything and everybody in sight.

                At three o’clock, Mr. John  H, Finley as President of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association, addressed Mr. John Espy, the Mayor of the Borough of Caldwell, and said:

                ‘Mr  Mayor,  I have the honor and pleasure to inform you that we who have gathered here this afternoon, have come wishing to make this little plot of ground, where Mr. Cleveland was born, a “national reservation,” not to take it away from the church or this town, bit to give hundreds and thousands elsewhere a share in its ownership with you.  In their behalf I ask your welcome.’”

 page 14

 “Once more Mt Finley  turned to Mayor Espy.

‘Mr. Mayor, I present to you Thomas A Buckner Esq., to whose initiative and energy the raising of this fund is primarily due.  He will now give to the Chairman of the Trustees of the Church of which Mr Cleveland’s father was pastor, a check for what is due on the property, the full purchase price being $18,000….’.”

page 16

“As Mr. Finley received the deed and the key from Mr. Canfield, someone in the audience called ‘Let’s see the Deed! ‘  Mr. Finley held it up for an instant so that all could see it and then replied to Mr Canfield:

‘Mr. Canfield, In behalf of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace  Memorial Association, I accept the Deed to the place of birth of the great, honest, fearless man, who child of this village, became Mayor of a great city, Governor of a great State, and President of a great Republic.  We shall need the contributions of many to keep this house against the ravages of time and the elements, but our gratitude will conspire to keep it always a sacred spot whatever change the elements and time may work.’”

page 17

“Turning now to Richard F, Cleveland, Mr. Finley called him by name, and the son of the great President  arose, facing Mr. Finley who held out the old brass key to him and said:

‘And the key I give to you, of the same name as your grandfather, who daily went in and out of this house for years ,  that you may be the first to open it as a house of the peoples’s memory of your father.’”

Richard Cleveland taking the key, opened the door, the great company applauding.

Then Mr. Finley addressed Miss Ester Cleveland:

‘And we wish to have you enter  first, Miss Esther Cleveland, the ‘White House child,’ to carry to the room in which your father was born, the flowers which are to give token of our affection for him, and devotion to his memory.’

Miss Cleveland received the beautiful bouquet of roses, and carried them into the Manse through the door which her brother had just opened.  On her return she was most warmly received.”