In August 1924, Henry Ford’s 202-foot steel, steam yacht Sialia slid into an old dock at the South End of Portsmouth, NH. Its captain, PT Stacks, did the fancy navigating in the dark in the often tricky Piscataqua River. The 61-year-old Ford, a pioneering and controversial figure, appears to have been stumping for the election of Calvin Coolidge, whom he had visited in Vermont by automobile only the day before.
The following report from the Portsmouth Herald is so rich in detail that it is worth reprinting below. After meeting with the newspaper editor, likely FW Harford, Ford and his wife entertained inventor Thomas Edison, Edison’s wife, and Harvey Firestone and his son aboard his luxury yacht. The guests all arrived by car.
Editor Hartford, who would buy up and close all but one local newspaper, appears to have been over- the moon about a visit by the nation’s wealthy industrialist. Ford was reportedly impressed with New Hampshire’s only seaport and its historic sites. Ford was presented with a rare copy of the NeInside “The Nation’s Oldest Newspaper” w Hampshire Gazette, first published in 1756. Hartford then owned the Gazette. Ford bought local antiques and then accompanied the Firestones to Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter.
FW Hartford was already a fan of Coolidge, a Republican, who was pro-business and supported less government intervention. It was widely believed that Ford might run for president in opposition to Coolidge, whom he then supported. Coolidge would go on to win reelection in the 1924 election. – JDR
SEE: 20-millionth Ford comes to town
FORD IS PLEASED WITH PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth Herald front page
August 20, 1924
That Portsmouth was one of the most interesting cities he had visited in New England was the opinion of Henry Ford as he talked with the editor of The Herald this morning and he stated he would surely come here often and stay longer as he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the city and the many places of historical interest. He also promised that he would come here soon for the purpose of looking over the Atlan-tie Corporation property.
Mr. Ford had just stepped from his beautiful yacht, the Sialia, and wearing a jaunty yachting cap was a true picture of a man enjoying a carefree and happy vacation, but the interest he took in everything about him showed that while he may be on a vacation, his mind is ever alert to matters pertaining to business, this faculty having made him one of the foremost business men in the world today.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford entertained on the yacht last night, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone, and son. The men of the party came by automobile last night from Plymouth, Vt., where yesterday they visited President Coolidge at his father’s home. They arrived late in the evening. Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Edison made the trip from Boston to Portsmouth on the yacht.
The yacht Sialia, under command of Capt. P. T. Stukes, is one of the handsomest and probably the costliest pleasure craft that has ever entered the local harbor. The boat, which was anchored off the South End docks near buoy No. 13, is 214 feet long and of wonderfully beautiful lines.
Captain Stakes did fine work In bringing his yacht up into the upper harbor in the darkness last night, as it was his first visit here and he did not know the new bridge had been erected as it did not appear on his chart. Mr. Ford said that he was greatly Interested in Portsmouth and would be sure to come here again and spend some time. He evidenced great interest in the fact that Portsmouth is the home of the oldest newspaper in America, the New Hampshire Gazette, and he is to be presented with one of the original copies for his Wayside Inn at Sudbury, Mass.
Mr. Ford said that the greatest need at the present time is to have a man of old New England stock like Calvin Coolidge at the head of the Nation for the next four years and he talked at some length on this subject. He said that the country had a wise leader in President Coolidge and that he was doing his work well and he hoped that the people would keep him in the White House.
On returning to Portsmouth and its wealth of historical places, he spolce of his knowledge of the Thomas Bailey Aldrich house and said: “You are cer-tainly rich in antiques in your beauti-ful old city. I will try to come here again within a week or so.”
Mr. Ford was told of the anniversary and pageants at New Castle and evidenced much interest and said that he would have been greatly pleased to visit the island town at this time had not previous plans interfered.
Mr. Ford, Mr. Edison and Mr. Firestone were easily recognized through their resemblance to the many newspaper pictures that have been published, and there was no mistaking their identity.
Mr. Ford spent a part of the morning going through the antique shops of the city and some of the old houses and purchased several valuable antiques which will grace the Wayside Inn.
The Edisons and the Firestones left here shortly after 11 o’clock by automobile for Bretton Woods, making a short stop at Exeter where the younger Firestone was formerly a student at Phillips Exeter Academy. Mr. Ford accompanied them as far as Exeter, but returned to this city about 1 o’clock and left at 3.30 o’clock on his yacht for Seal Harbor, Me.
After a short stay at Sea Harbor, Mr. Ford will proceed to Montreal. The visit to this city completes the annual vacation trip of the party.
On returning from Exeter, Mr. Ford again met ex-Mayor F. W. Hartford and told of the great pleasure he derived from his visit yesterday with w President Coolidge. He lald special stress upon the simplicity of the man and his earnestness and said that he believed that great majority of the American people liked Mr. Coolidge for his simplicity and democracy.
Twenty-Millionth Ford Wows Port City