On June 9, 1923, the only sitting president to visit Milford arrived to great fanfare. President Warren G. Harding and his wife, Florence, came to town so that the president could be inducted into the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.
“Milford has a metropolitan appearance today,” a report in The Evening Journal read. “The town is in holiday attire and at noon, all plans had been completed for the greatest reception to President Harding and party when they arrive at 5:29 o’clock standard time for the initiation this evening into Evergreen Forest Tall Cedar of Lebanon.”
The report continued that an elaborate reception was planned for the President and First Lady. More than 100 special officers were on duty and the streets over which the president would travel were roped off and thousands of visitors in the streets with hundreds more expected to arrive every hour in the business section of town.
When President Harding and his party arrived in Milford around 6 PM, it was estimated that more than 10,000 people lined the streets and that about 5,000 of them were Tall Cedars members from Delaware, Maryland and South Jersey. The plan was to have the president watch the Eastern Shore League baseball game, but he was only able to drive to the field, bow to the players and spectators and then drive to the home of Dr. Frank Grier.
Upon arrival at the Grier home, Dr. Frank L. Grier, Dr. Waler L. Grier, both members of the Evergreen Forest Tall Cedars, motored to the Plaza Theater with the president where the ceremony of the order took place. At the ceremony, President Harding was made a of the Evergreen Forest No. 43 Tall Cedars of Lebanon for life. The First Lady remained at the Grier home with the other ladies until the ceremony was over. At that time, the party was to head to Lewes to board the yacht, the Mayflower.
The party did not arrive in Lewes until 12:30 AM, but a crowd remained at the pier. President Harding made a short address of appreciation for the hospitality before boarding the yacht.
On August 3, 1923, less than two months after his visit to Milford, President Harding died at 7:20 PM of apoplexy as his wife read to him. Vice-President Calvin Coolidge was inaugurated as president after President Harding’s death.
