On May 8, 1905, Albert Hopkins, a U.S. senator from Illinois, notified the city of Geneva that President Theodore Roosevelt’s special train would be stopping at the city’s train depot on May 10.

The president was returning to Washington, D.C., from a monthlong hunting trip in Colorado. Arrangements were quickly made to send large delegations from towns throughout Kane County, but on that day a violent and steady downpour of rain confined the estimated 3,000 in attendance to mostly Geneva residents. Among those welcoming the president were 482 schoolchildren and their teachers, each carrying an American flag, Grand Army of the Republic members and the Geneva Cornet Band.

The train arrived at 10:55 a.m. Roosevelt gave a 210-word, six-minute speech greeting everyone, and complimenting them in one way or another. The train pulled out of the station at 11:01 a.m. just as Roosevelt was giving the last words of his speech.

In honor of Election Day, the Geneva History Museum will share information about other political artifacts in its collection during its Brown Bag program, "Buttons, Banners & Bust," at noon Nov. 8. Advance registration is required. Visit www.GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.