Unveiling a pioneer's statue. Springfield Massachusetts November 25, 1887.

Unveiling a pioneer's statue. Springfield Massachusetts November 25, 1887.

The Puritan statue erected on Stern's Park in honor of Deacon Samuel Chapin, one of the first settlers of this place, was unveiled and presented to the city yesterday.

It is the gift of the late Chester W Chapin, who was president of the Boston and Albany railroad company. It is a bronze, and is the artistic work of a Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

Chester W. Chapin, Jr., formally presented the statue which was received by Mayor E.B. Maynard. Many descendants of Deacon Chapin were present, including HL Chapin, president of Beloit College, Wisconsin, who delivered an appropriate address.

Taft Visit to Cedar Falls Iowa in 1908

Obama’s C.F. stop sets century-old record

The last sitting president to stop in a non-election year was Taft in 1908.

CEDAR FALLS, IA

— President Barack Obama’s visit to Cedar Falls Wednesday marks the first time a sitting president has come here in a non-election year in more than 100 years, according to Courier files, local historians and records.

Several sitting presidents have visited during election years —
Ronald Reagan in 1984, George W. Bush in 2004 and Obama himself
in 2012. No surprise there, given Iowa’s first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses.

However, it’s been more than 100 years since a president came
to the metro area out of season, so to speak.
According to records at the Grout Museum, President
William Howard Taft found his way to Waterloo on Sept. 28,
1911.

According to the application for Lincoln Park’s inclusion in
the National Register of Historic Places, Taft delivered a speech
in the park.

He also took an automobile tour of the city and had
dinner at a private home on Leland Avenue.
He also visited Cedar Falls during his 1908 presidential run.