President Taft’s massive yacht is still hiding in this harbor – it’s open to the public

Taft’s Eviction from America’s First Summer White House

President Taft had a rough time just trying to beat the heat.

In 1909, he set up America’s first summer White House in Beverly, Massachusetts, renting Stetson Hall on Woodbury Point.

She even cut his 14-room cottage in half and shipped it away by barge! Taft then moved to “Parramatta,” a bigger place nearby.

Meanwhile, his massive 273-foot yacht Mayflower sat in Beverly Harbor, where he worked and played. Though stories claim Taft summered on Connecticut’s Davis Island, he likely just visited as a Yale student.

But his landlord, Maria Evans, kicked him out after just two summers. Today, you can visit Rose Garden at Lynch Park where young Taft once housed his summer getaways.

Taft Set Up the First Summer White House in Beverly

In 1909, President William Howard Taft rented a 14-room house called Stetson Hall from Maria Evans in Beverly, Massachusetts.

He became the first president to run the country from a summer home away from Washington, starting a trend for future presidents.

Beverly’s wealthy Gold Coast area drew many rich Republicans and had ties to Roosevelt, making it a great choice.

Secret Service came with the Taft family, and government staff worked from offices in downtown Beverly during summer.

People Lined Up to See the 300-Pound President

Folks camped outside Stetson Hall’s gates hoping to spot President Taft and his family during their summer stays.

Reporters tracked everything the president did, writing about his social events and meetings with wealthy summer locals.

People were curious about Taft’s 300-pound body, which got lots of press attention.

Tourism in Beverly took off as visitors came to see the president’s summer spot. Local shops and restaurants made more money thanks to all the extra people in town.

Taft Used a Huge Yacht as His Floating Office

The USS Mayflower anchored in Beverly Harbor each summer with 200 sailors and officers.

This 273-foot luxury boat worked as a floating White House where Taft handled government business and hosted events.

Taft put two extra-large bathtubs on the yacht to fit his large body comfortably. The dining table seated 30 guests, perfect for meals with diplomats and social gatherings.

Musicians played on board, and the white-and-gold rooms provided an elegant setting for presidential meetings.

A Failed Murder Attempt Led to Taft Losing His Summer Home

After someone tried to kill New York Mayor Gaynor in August 1910, Secret Service added more security around Taft’s summer home.

The extra guards and security measures bothered landlord Maria Evans. The presidential getaway faced eviction even though it had worked well for two summers.

Evans got tired of the crowds, security issues, and constant noise on her property. She told the Taft family that 1910 would be their last summer at Stetson Hall.

The Landlord Split Taft’s House in Two After He Left

Maria Evans had Stetson Hall cut into two pieces after Taft moved out.

Workers loaded the building parts onto barges and shipped them across Beverly Harbor to Marblehead.

This showed there were limits to what a president could do on private property. The Taft family had to quickly find somewhere else to stay for their remaining summers in office.

Newspapers across the country ran stories about this unusual removal.

Taft Found a Bigger House Called "Parramatta" for His Next Summer

The Taft family leased “Parramatta,” an 18-room house in the Montserrat area of Beverly.

Their new home sat less than one mile inland from the original Stetson Hall spot. The house once belonged to merchant Henry W. Peabody and gave the president space.

The lease let them stay longer if Taft won the 1912 election. Presidential work continued without problems despite the move to a new house.

Maine’s Air Made Taft Think of “Champagne in a Prohibition State”

In July 1910, Taft took a 10-day cruise along the Maine coast on the USS Mayflower. His tour stopped in Eastport, Bangor, Ellsworth, Rockland, and Bar Harbor.

Taft compared the air in Maine to “champagne in a Prohibition state.” Local Republican leaders hoped the president’s visit would help them win the September elections.

The cruise served as both a vacation and a campaign tour.

Taft Got Stuck in a Sand Trap While Golfing

Taft played golf at the fancy Kebo Valley Club during his Bar Harbor visit.

The president took 23 strokes on a single hole after getting stuck in a sand trap. He also hurt his ankle during the same golf game, giving reporters more to write about.

At Biddeford Pool, the presidential yacht boat almost sank under the weight of the welcoming group.

Stories about Taft’s weight-related problems filled newspapers throughout his Maine tour.

Taft Handled Business and Pleasure at Exclusive Clubs

Taft spent time with rich summer residents at private clubs and estates. The president balanced his official duties with vacation time and connections with social elites.

He golfed with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Judge Robert Grant, and businessman Henry Clay Frick.

He joined the Myopia Hunt Club and Essex County Club, giving him places to meet important people. Government work continued from his luxury yacht while he kept up with his social calendar.

Yale Connections Led to Rumors About a Connecticut Island Retreat

Stories still circulate that Taft used Davis Island in Connecticut’s Thimble Islands as a summer getaway. The Branford Historical Society says this is more legend than proven historical fact.

Evidence suggests Taft probably visited Davis Island as a Yale student with his classmate John Elton. The Elton family owned the island from 1894 through 1958, which would have given Taft access during his college years.

No solid evidence shows Davis Island ever served as a presidential summer retreat.

The Summer White House Tradition Ended After Four Years

Taft left Beverly for the final time on October 26, 1912, after losing the election. The four-year Beverly summer White House tradition ended when his presidency did.

Later presidents like Kennedy adopted similar summer retreat practices. The USS Mayflower continued serving presidents until Herbert Hoover took it out of service in 1929.

Taft’s summer White House created a model for how future presidents would plan their vacations and work remotely.

Visiting Lynch Park, Beverly, Massachusetts

Located at 55 Ober Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, Lynch Park is easily accessible by car via Route 1A or by commuter rail from Boston to Beverly Depot, followed by a short taxi or bus ride.

The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, offering stunning ocean views, picnic areas, and the beautifully maintained Rose Garden, which stands where President William Howard Taft once spent his summers.

Check out the two iconic lion statues which mark the entrance to the garden (stand on the site of President William Howard Taft’s summer cottage) — they serve as subtle historical markers of the estate-to-park transformation.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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