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
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.
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
from Portland, Maine
I enjoyed reading about the TRIH in the book,
Moose Crossing, by Max J. Skidmore.
Moose Crossing, by Max J. Skidmore.
Hamilton Books, 2007.
Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.
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.
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
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project.
Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online
Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online
Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in Maine:
Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza
The Book Review, Falmouth
The Bookworm, Gorham
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by Jean M. Flahive
Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon
Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook
Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would run full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.
A resource for teachers
Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,
vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8
are available online as downloadable resources through
Seashore Trolley Museum's website
www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5. Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.
A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube
Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive
Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.
Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban) Click Here
Thank You!
the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,
circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell
Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum
L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the
Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in
Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee
Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.
See below for Donation options -
It starts with YOU
Your Donation Matters
Make a Donation TODAY
Please Help the Narcissus.
Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society
is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar
Museum in Lowell (MA).
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.
Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:
New England Electric Railway Historical Society
In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming
please write: PLI Education Fund 817
For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816
Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically each month. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.
Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card:
Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:
For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration
For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs
Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of
securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,
for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.
BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will
"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit
educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)
Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:
Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.
Thank You :)
Thank You for our Current Funding Partners
* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant
* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014
* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations
* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant
* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants
* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant
* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations
* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations
* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015
* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017
* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010
* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series
* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016
The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.
Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,
you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
PWM photo
Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.
Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the
Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR
was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!
Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this
National Historic Treasure at
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