‘1909 Taft Day’ Plans Finalized

Final plans for the "1909 Taft Campaign Trail" are in place. Vendors will be in place before 9 a.m., when the entertainment will begin. The train carrying "President Taft" is scheduled to stop at 9:45 in Wills Point on the morning of October 31.

Amtrak has agreed to stop a train for 10 minutes at the Wills Point Depot to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of President William Howard Taft’s stop in 1909.

In October of 1909, the president, traveling east from Dallas, had changed his mind about a scheduled stop in Wills Point. Local residents took matters into their own hands, though, and cut the rope of the signal flag, causing the train to stop anyway.

As part of the event, buses will carry 148 train riders to Longview to board and ride back to Wills Point. The busses will depart from the First Baptist Church parking lot at 6 a.m., and arrive in Longview by 8 a.m. The trains will depart by 8:20 a.m. A photo ID will be required of adults after boarding the train.

Period entertainment will be provided along Commerce St. prior to the train’s arrival, beginning with gospel singing at 9 a.m., followed by a barbershop quartet and bluegrass music. The Wills Point High School Marching Band will greet the train’s arrival.

An actor will play the part of President Taft, and the re-enactment will include presidential aides, a conductor and others.

It will be the first time in approximately 40 years passengers will disembark in Wills Point.

Amtrak has also donated two round-trip tickets to anywhere the rail service travels to be given away. The Chamber of Commerce will have a drawing for the tickets on the morning of the Christmas Bazaar. Tickets for the drawing are $5, and all proceeds will benefit the chamber.