In March of 1991, I had the honor, as mayor of Elmira, to present the Key to the City to Helen Hayes, “The First Lady of the American Theater.”It was a special thrill for me, as we both shared the experience of performing in the play “Harvey.”
She portrayed Vita Louise, and I, Vita’s brother Elwood P. Dowd.
Of course, when she did the play on Broadway, Jimmy Stewart played Elwood.I played the Clemens Center.
Helen Hayes was in Elmira to attend the premiere of the Elmira College production of “Crimes in the Old Brewery” by Tim Kelly, the winner of the college’s third Play Writing Contest.Hayes was a special guest because she was an honorary alumnae of the college.She had received a Doctor of Letters degree in 1937, noting that“nothing has touched my heart as much as that first degree” (Star-Gazette, March 8, 1991).
The June 15, 1937 Burlington (Vermont) Free Press reported: “Helen Hayes, actress, became Helen Hayes doctor of letters here today and confessed herself ‘terribly frightened but awfully humbled' by the experience.She blushed self consciously as President William S.A. Pott read the sonorous claim on which Elmira College awarded the honorary degree:
‘By your activity and your devotion to the highest standards of your profession, you have ennobled and enriched the American stage and screen and at the same time furnished the young womanhood of America a conspicuous example of how a great career may be combined with the greatest of all professions — that of home-making.’"
Hayes said afterward that "it was worse than a first night.But I wish I could have every one of those beautiful words tattooed on me …”
In her letter of acceptance to Pott, Hayes wrote, “I shall come to Elmira on June 14th to receive the degree in person.Nothing would keep me away.Will you be so kind as to let me know well in advance just what I am to do during my visit to the College.And may I offer up a prayer that no speeches are required.”
Lou Henry Hoover
On June 9, 1930, the Star-Gazette reported,“The first institution to grant degrees to women conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws today on the First Lady of the Land.Mrs. Lou Henry Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover, was granted the honorary degree by the trustees of Elmira College at their annual session this morning.”
The newspaper reported two days later that “unfortunately Mrs. Hoover, owing to recent injury, was unable to come to Elmira to personally receive the degree.Mrs. Jennie C. Fassett would act as proxy for Mrs. Hoover when the degree was conferred and would personally convey the parchment to Mrs. Hoover in Washington, a mission which she accepted with her accustomed grace.”
The paper noted that “Mrs. Hoover … has been actively interested in work among young women, a work which has been rewarded with excellent results.Long has she been a counselor and guiding spirit in the Girl Scout movement, and at every available opportunity she has aided in the advancement of young womanhood.”
On May 11, 1932, Lou Henry Hoover was finally able to visit Elmira.The Star-Gazette reported that a “big crowd stands in drizzling rain to greet First Lady.”Upon arrival, she said, “I am glad that I belong to Elmira.”
She was welcomed by Frederick Lent, president of Elmira College; and Emily Hull, president of the Student Government Association.A tour of the campusincluded visiting some classes,followed by a “chapel” at 11 a.m.
Various presentations were made, according to the Elmira College Weekly of May 11. The publication also reported that Hoover “advised students on their leavingElmira not to get so attached to the little things that they will not find time for the bigger things.” A reception at Cowles Hall was next.
Hoover, with Lent, planted a “new elm sprig” next to the pond on campus below Cowles Hall.Jane More, a local girl scout, presented a bouquet of roses to the first lady.
Following her visit,Hoover wrote to Lent, “I can feel now that I am really a member of the Elmira alumnae, having taken part in its life, even though for so short a time.”
Mary Lord Harrison
The story of Mary Lord Harrison, Elmira ’79, widow of U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, is very interesting. Of our three ladies, she is the only one who actually attended Elmira College.She was a student in the English Preparatory program from 1875-76.She is considered a member of the Class of 1879.
Mary Lord Harrison lived a long life, 1858-1948.She was the widowed niece of Benjamin Harrison’s wife, Caroline.
Mary’s first husband, Walter Dimmick, had died in 1882. She had been living in the White House for two years when her aunt Caroline died of tuberculosis in 1892.
According to the Presidential History Blog: “Mary Dimmick and Benjamin Harrison had no blood between them but they had grown close during those White House years …Four years after Caroline died, in 1896, the former president married Mary Lord Dimmick.He was in his middle sixties and she in her late thirties.
"Russell and Mamie, Harrison’s children and Mary Dimmick’s blood first cousins were scandalized … They declined to attend the wedding … A year later, when Harrison and his new bride had a baby, the estrangement … was complete and permanent … Russell and Mamie never spoke to their father again.”When Harrison died in 1901, his children did not attend the funeral.
Harrison also active in Elmira College alumnae activities, honorary chair of an alumnae fundraising effort with Helen Hayes and appearing at events with Lou Hoover.
In the Elmira College archive files is a handwrittenbut unidentified letter with a description of “Mary Lord Harrison.”
It notes, “when we think of her we still smile, as she always smiled at us.She was so friendly-so interesting, so gay.It was not her manner-it was herself.”
Jim Hare is a former history teacher and mayor of the City of Elmira. His column appears monthly in the Star-Gazette.
More Elmira history:New York Gov. Sulzer visited in 1913, the same year he was impeached and removed
More Elmira history:The Battle of Chemung: Drunken Civil War soldiers caused deadly fracas downtown
More:Back-to-school classic: Summer slips away on a yellow school bus
