Longfellow Square is Where the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway Begins

This postcard states State Street from Longfellow Sq., Portland,
Me. This is the starting point of the 4,060 miles of the

Theodore Roosevelt International Highway.

Collection of PWM

      New in 2022 - First Post for the Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail June 16, 2022

      First Look at Logo - "My Debt To Maine" - Logo - Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail 6-15-22

     Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, as he campaigned for the Progressive Party candidates between Lewiston, Maine, and Portland, Maine. As the volunteer project manager overseeing the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus, at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, I have done a fair amount of research on Theodore Roosevelt and his connections to Maine throughout his life. This blog post was originally released in 2015  after a few updates and conversations with some folks, it seemed timely to release the updated version. Enjoy :)

     The Seashore Trolley Museum's Theodore Roosevelt event on July 31 through August 2, 2015, is named, Teddy Roosevelt Days: Celebrating the Naturalist and the Narcissus. The weekend event honors TR's passion for observing and understanding nature, his vigor for an active outdoor life, his commitment to conservation, and his connections to Maine, including the Museum's 1912, Portland Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus.

     Henry Wadsworth Longfellow may best be known as an iconic American figure in literature. He is honored in numerous ways throughout his hometown, Portland, Maine. I was surprised to learn that he has a Maine connection to Theodore Roosevelt, through more than just their shared passion for literature.  For me, these unexpected findings are like walking into a "surprise!!", moment. Being caught totally off guard. In a good way. And feeling that instant rush of exhilaration. It's pretty special, for me.

     In a previous Trolley-related research project I had come across Seashore Trolley Museum artifacts that have a connection to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). The connection is through his nephew, Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow, Jr. (1854-1934). Alexander was the architect of the original way stations of the Boston Elevated Railway. Seashore Trolley Museum has one of those buildings on campus and a switching station that was constructed during the same time, 1901. Northhampton Street Station and Tower C switching station. 

     Now Henry Wadsworth Longfellow connects us to Theodore Roosevelt. The bronze statue of Longfellow seated in the heart of Longfellow Square was dedicated in September 1888. Originally, State Street passed the statue on both sides. That no longer is the case. State Street, heading northwest from the square is where the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway (TRIH) began its long and winding trek through the northern border of the United States and even into Ontario, Canada for a stint. That Canadian segment gives the highway its international flavor.  The TRIH comes to an end, 4,060 miles from the Longfellow statue in Portland, Maine, to a statue of Theodore Roosevelt at Park Avenue in Portland, Oregon.  The route takes one along the northern border between the U.S. and Canada.

     Growing up and living in southern Maine, I had not heard of the TRIH. However, over the years, when driving westerly on Route 302 from Portland to say, Windham, I would see various addresses with Roosevelt Trail as the destination. So, I wondered what connection there might be between TR and that road in Maine. In my research, I have acquired a few vintage postcards found a couple of maps that refer to the TRIH, and also found a link to the 1921 map of the TRIH in the State of Montana.

Roosevelt Trail through Fryeburg, Me. No description on the back.

Postmark is not legible Collection of PWM

..on the Theodore Roosevelt Highway between North Conway
and Bartlett. Feb. 1936 - Collection of PWM

Roosevelt Trail on Armenia Mountain, Troy, PA.

Long's Pond and Roosevelt Trail Troy, PA - Col. of PWM

Souvenir Folder of the Roosevelt Highway and Sullivan Trail

Route - July 1953 - Col. of  PWM

Foldout page from the souvenir folder July 1953 Vol. of PWM

St-79 Standing Stone Narrows on Roosevelt Highway and

Sullivan Trail -Towanda, PA - PWM

Deer Trail - 18 miles west of Wellsboro, PA on

Roosevelt Highway

This is a 1927 map - the legend shows the 

Theodore Roosevelt International Highway as #30

30 is not the route number...it seems that there

was no specific route number assigned to the

TRIH...it had the name and used the various

existing route numbers in each state.

#30 starts in Portland and heads towards the Great Lakes.

#30 weaves up into Ontario, then into Michigan

then back up into Ontario where it then

enters Minnesota and heads west.

And #30 continues west to Portland Oregon.

     1926 Road Map, U.S.A. - This map was used by my great, great, grandfather, great, great, grandmother, great-grandfather, grandfather, and his younger brother when the family drove their auto from Kennebunk, Maine to Los Angeles, CA in 1926. The promotional materials around the border are wonderful to read. The key to the map shows the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway as #39 (this does not represent any route number) I do not know if the vehicle pictured is the one used in 1926 - PWM

Frank O. Morse, Jr., Harry Lovett, Allen B. Morse (14),

Harry G. Morse (12), Frank O. Morse, Sr.,

Elizabeth J. Wells Morse c 1919 - PWM

The legend has 39 listed as the

Theodore Roosevelt International Highway -

Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon

Follow 39 from Portland, Maine

heading to Niagra Falls, NY - PWM

Follow 39 into Ontario

Follow 39 back into the U.S.A. - PWM

39 travels north through Michigan and back into Ontario.

39 then runs west and enters Minnesota at Duluth.

39 runs west through Minnesota and into North Dakota.

As 39 continues west through ND, it is north of TR's ranch

 and now Theodore Roosevelt National Park near

Medora, ND

39 continues west through Montana and into Idaho.

Follow 39 to Portland, Oregon. At the end of the

Theodore Roosevelt International Highway - 4,060 miles
from Portland, Maine

I enjoyed reading about the TRIH in the book,
Moose Crossing, by Max J. Skidmore.

Hamilton Books, 2007.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 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 of 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

the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 the Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive