The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-19

west of Pittsburgh, and Q fe' line, you will find WestMl, famous by this years Repu' it was In West Mlddlogex that Governor Landon first saw the light Of day September Q, 1887, and lt is here that ho will open hls presidential campaign with on address on Saturday.
 West Mlddlesex, population i,- iOi, ic Q sleepy little borohgh los cated in the heart of Q prosperous farming community. ft has Q dozen or % stores, numerous gas stations, one restaurant and saloon combined, Q national bank, no hoe tel, and It does not support Q newspaper. But the patrons of the three barber shops make up for that deficiency.
 At the entrance of the borough on Route ie, there iB Q slgn.- THIS IS THE BIRTHPLACE or ALF LAND0N." I stopped at the first gas station:
 "DhaIl I Rlll her up2"
 "Flve gallons Is enough"
 "You're . stranger In town"
 "Yes."
 "Did you know this was the birthplace Of 0Ov All Lnnd0n3 Yes, He was born over ln that house across the street. You will see Q sign on la Walk over and sec it while I am fllllng 'eF up."
 Landon's Nurse
 "Do yOm know Land0n2"
 "Oh no, don't know him, but there are some people here who do. There is An old lady here who acted As nurse At the time OR his birth. Bhc Pemen1s bers him. Her name b Mary BAlrd."
 "DOes she live here In town"
 "NO, about three miles west. Go down the hill, cross the bridge, and out about three miles you will strike another concrete road. Turn to the right. It Is the first house on the left" Mary Baird
 Following directions, l soon are rived ct the farmhouse md in. quired of the lady who was sweep. ing the steps, Does Mary Baird live here2"
 "YeU, she is my daughter. She ha iRaalAA thA hOtae,O
 A very attractive young lady of about 2i years stepped to the door.
 "Ahem, guess there must be . mistake, or else your looks belle your years. You weren't the nurse at Gov. LAndOn's bIrth2"
 "T should say not" was the laughing reply. It must have been the gas station man In Mlddlesex that sent you here. He Is always doing things like that. I don't know why Last week he sent . family from To. peka, KanS,, here on tho same mission. My name ls Mary Baird, but Che one you want Is an old lady, Q widow, about ob years old, Q distant relative oG our family, She lives on West Main street, just Rt the end Of the pavement Go and zee her. She is . delightful old lady" Just An Ordinary Baby
 Following the now directions, we found the original Mary Baird in . plain but BcrupulouSly neat home. Despite her 90 years she has very good health, and iB Bpry and active. She lives alone, does her own housework, tends her own vegetable garden, and this year has TaiSed Q wealth of beau- tiful flowers.
 "YeS," she said. T was the nurse at the birth Of Ale Lans don. The LandOns lived In the of country near Marietta, OhlOy at that time, but Mrs. Land0n was here visiting her parents when Alf was born.
 "I remember the occasion we'll" continued Mrs. Baird. "He was just an ordinary child. Kicked and cried and Equailed just like any other child, and lhere was nothing at that time to impress one that he might some day be President of the United States"
 "IIe 10 Q nice man, though. I hear from him occasionally. On each birthday he sends me two dozen roses, and I have Q letter from him stating that when he Is out this way he is going tO call on me. I am l0Ok- Ing forward to meeting him on Saturday. It ls going tO be . great day for West Mlddlesex, and It is going to be tho event of my life, I must conserve my strength 90 as to be on hand that day"
 Old Town Excited
 Tho whole town of West Mid- dlegex Ig agog with excitement. Homes are being painted, the wo- men.folk are washing windows and tidying up the yards, and the men are meeting daily at gen- eral headquarters on Nah street, where plans are being worked out to handle the crowds. They ex- pect at least 100000 and are pre- pairing to take care of fully iO0,-