Sometimes one comes upon little bits of information in old newspapers that takes one on a journey to discover more. For example, this bit in a Potter Enterprise from early June in 1939, written by my grandfather in his weekly column.
"Got within 17 miles of the King and Queen of England early this morning. That's the nearest we expect to get to their royal highnesses. They passed through Port Allegany. We rested in the arms of Morpheus."
I turned first to my 99-year-old mother (daughter of the scribe referenced above) who had no recollection of this visit, though she would have been 15 years old at the time. Anglophile/Librarian Teri McDowell, herself a resident of Port Allegany these days, also drew a blank. However, both remembered that the President Roosevelt served hot dogs to the King and Queen on that visit and indeed, it's true!
From the FDR Library and Museum website:
"Even more relaxing and informal was the following day's event - a picnic. FDR brought the couple to his new hilltop retreat, Top Cottage, on the eastern portion of his estate for an old-fashioned, American-style picnic. Much to the horror of FDR's mother Sara Roosevelt, the King and Queen of England were served hot dogs on the front porch of the cottage. Although the press made a great deal about the hot dogs (the picnic made the front page of the New York Times), the menu also included more delicate fare fit for a King and Queen."
More research led me to these gems: An announcement of the impending royal visit appeared in The Potter Enterprise several months before it happened.
It turns out that 2,000 turned out to observe the train as it stopped for water in Port Allegany at 1:00 a.m.
The train carrying the British Royalty passed through this area in the dark of night and a few local state policemen were called to stand guard.
Now I am wondering if there is anyone alive who remembers standing to watch the royal cars lumber by on the railroad tracks in northern Pennsylvania deep in the darkness of a June night.
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