Theodore Roosevelt Day at the Maysville Museum
Front panel of the tri-fold brochure released
Updated June 13, 2026
Presque Isle Historical Society celebrates Roosevelt's birthday every year (October 27) by displaying the Roosevelt collection for public viewing at the Maysville Museum, 165 Caribou Road, Presque Isle, Maine, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on that day.
FMI, contact the Society at 207-762-1151 or email at pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.
The photo at the top of this panel had William W. "Bill" Sewall.
Theodore Roosevelt and Wilmot Dow in Island Falls, Maine, in
March 1879.
Click Here: for the post of TR visiting Island Falls
Theodore Roosevelt's birthday - October 27th
Description of the three TR artifacts in the collection donated to the
Presque Isle Historical Society from John A. Dow. Wilmot S. Dow's
grandson.
Photos of each of the three TR artifacts in the collection.
Photo of John A. Dow on the back panel. Below is some
Dow Family genealogy :)
Dow Genealogy courtesy of Presque Isle Historical Society:
The two Maine Guides who worked with Roosevelt and became lifelong friends were William Wingate "Bill" Sewall and his nephew Wilmot Sewall Dow.
William Wingate Sewall had a sister, Pauline.
Pauline Wentworth Sewall married Oliver Smith Dow on April 18, 1853
- had five children, including Wilmot Sewall Dow (he was William "Bill" Sewall's nephew)
Wilmot S. Dow and his wife, Lizzie, had three children. Their first child,
Wilmot E. Dow, b. 08/12/1886 (Badland Baby), married Katherine Stevens in Presque Isle.
Wilmot E. Dow owned a drug store in Presque Isle.
Wilmot E. Dow and his wife, Lizzie, had three daughters and two sons. The two were
Wilmot S. Dow and John A. Dow, b. 1917
It was John A. Dow, who lived and worked in Presque Isle, served as Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, and left the Historical Society the three TR artifacts.
It was John A. Dow, who lived and worked in Presque Isle, served as Chair of the Chamber of Commerce, and left the Historical Society the three TR artifacts.
Mirror from Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota.
Wilmot S. Dow's grandson, John A. Dow, donated this
TR artifact, along with two other precious, personal TR items,
to the Presque Isle Historical Society. John Dow's father,
Wilmot E. Dow was a "Badland Baby". Wilmot E. Dow's father,
Wilmot S. Dow and William Wingate Sewall were Maine guides
who became lifelong friends with Theodore Roosevelt.
PWM photo with the reflection of (l-r) TR, Wilmot, and Bill in
Island Falls in March 1879 from the TR Collection
in the Houghton Library, Harvard University
William Windgate Sewall (with an ax) and Wilmot S. Dow
(with a rifle) at camp on Pratt Cove, Mattawamkeag Lake,
Island Falls, Maine. The file is dated circa 1921. However,
Wilmot died in 1891 (35 years old). So, this image is pre-1891.
TRC 560.12-053 Houghton Library, Harvard University
The Book of Dow: Genealogical Memoirs, by Robert Piercy Dow,
was released in 1929. Thank you, Tom Dow, for sharing with me
portions of the Dow Family genealogy (see below). Tom, like me, is
also a member of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport,
ME. Tom has Dow family connections to the Trolley Museum
and also with Wilmot S. Dow.
Here are Tom's Dow Family connections:
Wilmot Sewall Dow's father was Oliver Smith Dow (Born 12/3/1827)
Tom Dow is a descendant of one of Oliver Smith Dow's brothers,
John Emery Dow (Born April 13, 1811).
Oliver and John's father was John Dow of Oromocto (Born 1784)
In the Book of Dow: Genealogical Memoirs, Tom's grandfather,
Sterling T. Dow (Born 1869) contributed to the Book of Dow.
Beginning in 1909, Sterling T. Dow was an administrator at the
Atlantic Shore Line Railway in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The Seashore Trolley Museum operates its historic electric
railway cars along a segment of what was the Atlantic Shore Line Railway.
Sterling T. Dow's intro in the John Dow of Oromocton segment in the
Book of Dow. Courtesy of Tom Dow
The Wilmot S. Dow write-up in the Book of Dow. Courtesy of Tom Dow
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Sun Journal - July 17, 1885
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Sun Journal - May 27, 1891
In the Wilmot S. Dow write-up in the Book of Dow, the permission
from Theodore Roosevelt to use his (TR's) comment about Wilmot.
Courtesy of Tom Dow
Here is a screenshot of the permission from Theodore Roosevelt
to use his (TR's) comment about Wilmot. Courtesy of Tom Dow
Portland Press Herald - July 2, 1940
Portland Press Herald - August 22, 1940
Thank you, Presque Isle Historical Society, Kim Smith, and
Tom Dow for sharing the Dow Family materials with me. :)
Bill Sewall released this original book in 1919. It definitely
shares the significant positive connections with TR, Bill, Wilmot,
and their families. PWM Collection
Click Here: to access Joe Banavige's wonderful Substack post on the American Tribute to William W.
"Bill" Sewall, who shares the positive connections with TR.
In March 1918, TR wrote, "My Debt to Maine,"
letter to the publishers of the Maine My State. TR's letter also
shared the significant positive connections with TR, Bill, Wilmot,
and their families. PWM Collection
Click Here: for My Debt to Maine post
Andrew's book also does a wonderful job of sharing
the significant positive connections with TR, Bill, Wilmot,
and their families. PWM Collection
Click Here: to see the post on TR's first visit to Maine when he was 13 years old in 1872
The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. The Narcissus is
currently being restored at the Seashore Trolley Museum.
Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on
August 18, 1914. TR was campaigning between Lewiston and
Portland for the Progressive Party candidates. Jean also did
a wonderful job of sharing the significant positive connections
with TR, Bill, Wilmot, and their families. PWM Collection
Click Here: for Millie Book Resources
Click Here: for seeing TR's photo while on board the Narcissus, August 18, 1914
A portion of my collection of TR-related books :)
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Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View
We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts
Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem. This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents first captivates, fascinates, then generates interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!
Click Here: Donation Options
The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition narratives.
Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban
The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.
Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project
Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
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