The Town of Newcomb will celebrate its annual TR Weekend on September 5-7, 2014 with more events than you can shake a big stick at.  TR Weekend celebrates the town’s connection with Theodore Roosevelt, a naturalist, explorer, and historian from New York City who served as the 33rd Governor of New York State the 26th President of the United States.

TR was a leader of the Republican Party before helping to  found the Progressive Party. He is known for his energetic personality and his leadership of the Progressive Movement’s efforts to break corporate monopolies, regulate businesses (notably the food and drug industries), foster conservation, and expand public lands. His slogan “speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far,” is still widely quoted.

Following a stint in Cuba leading his self-organized Rough Riders (a group of Easterners and Western Cowboys) during the Spanish-American War, TR was elected Governor of New York State and then nominated by the GOP for Vice President under William McKinley. Roosevelt was a visitor to the Tahawus Club in Newcomb and climbing Mount Marcy when he learned McKinley, who had been shot on September 6, 1901, was near death.  He made a hurried and arduous overnight ride from Newcomb, through Minerva, to the train station at North Creek. While en route McKinley died and TR, just 42 years-old, became the youngest person to become president. 

TR Weekend in Newcomb features an appearance by TR reenactor Joe Weigand, free guided wagon tours to the Great Camp Santanoni Farm complex, tours of Tahawus and the Upper Works, a guided mountain bike ride to the newly acquired Essex Chain, a 5K run, kid’s fishing derby, golf tournament, a tour of the Huntington Forest, float plane rides, a guide boat flotilla, a magic show, ice cream social, a quilt show, fireworks, and much more.

For more info visit the full schedule online.