President McKinley’s visit to Decatur

​President William McKinley, the nation’s 25th president visited Decatur via train on May 3, 1901, one of several U.S. Presidents to visit here over the years.  The combined populations of Decatur and New Decatur (later Albany) at the time were about 7,500.  Virtually the entire population of both towns turned out at the then depot (replaced by the current depot in 1905) to greet the President and his wife Ida. 

The President arrived “Amid Showers of Flowers” proclaimed the New Decatur Advertiser newspaper.  McKinley is the last President to have served in the Civil War/War Between the States, beginning that war as a private and ending it as a major in the Union Army. 

His speech here was one of appreciation for and reconciliation for the South and was warmly and enthusiastically received by the townspeople.  After his brief speech and after introducing various members of his cabinet, the train began to pull out. 

The townspeople learning that Mrs. McKinley was also aboard the train warmly and loudly insisted that she appear.  The train was stopped and she did appear and received several gifts from the town and its warmest greetings.  
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Two notable achievements of the McKinley administration were the U.S victory in the Spanish-American War under his leadership and the annexation of the Territory of Hawaii in 1898 which later became our 50th state.  Sadly, President McKinley was assassinated in September, 1901, only about four months after his visit to Decatur.