Above: L-R, Theodore Roosevelt, Elliot Roosevelt, Maud Elliott,
Corinne Roosevelt, John Elliott. Cousins began a reading club while
living in Dresden, Germany. The summer of 1873 was the summer after TR
would first visit Maine. He traveled to Moosehead Lake Region.
TRC 520.12-018 Houghton Library, Harvard University
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
He would return to Maine in early September 1878 when he was a junior at Harvard University. This was one of three trips, over the next 12 months, to Maine guide, William Sewall’s, Island Falls home, in Aroostook County, Maine.
TR, late in his sophomore year at Harvard, ca 1878 May
His first visit to Island Falls, Maine was in September 1878
TRC 520.12-003, Houghton Library, Harvard University
Theodore would again visit Maine during the summer of 1880. He would stay with a friend at Schooner Head in Bar Harbor and explore what is now Acadia National Park.
Throughout his adult life, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, expressed how much he treasured his visits to Maine as a young man and in particular, how he truly valued the friends he made in Island Falls, during those visits.
View in Acadia National Park.
PWM image
Throughout his adult life, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, expressed how much he treasured his visits to Maine as a young man and in particular, how he truly valued the friends he made in Island Falls, during those visits.
“I owe a personal debt to Maine because of my association with certain staunch friends in Aroostook County; an association that helped and benefitted me throughout my life in more ways than one.” (Theodore Roosevelt, Maine My State, The Maine Writers Research Club, 1919, pg. 17, a letter dated, Sagamore Hill, March 20, 1918)
Theodore Roosevelt, William Windgate Sewall, and
Wilmot Dow ca March 1879 somewhere in the Island Falls area
TRC 520.12.-016 Houghton Library, Harvard University
February 28, 1879 - Island Falls - TR's second visit to Island Falls, Maine, with guides William Sewall, and Wilmot Dow - arrived at Mattawamkeag train station at 11 a.m. and took a sleigh to Island Falls with William Sewall.
William Windgate Sewall (with an ax) and Wilmot Dow (with a rifle)
at camp on Pratt Cove, Mattawamkeag Lake, Island Falls, Maine
the file list ca 1921, however, Wilmot died in 1891
TRC 560.12-053 Houghton Library, Harvard University
August 1879 - Island Falls - TR's third, and final trip, to Island Falls, Maine, with guides William Sewall, and Wilmot Dow - on August 26, TR struck out for Mt. Katahdin. He reached the peak on August 29.
image from a postcard, PWM
Chimney Pond on Mt. Katahdin, image from a postcard, PWM
August 1902 - As President - TR traveled via train, through Augusta, Waterville, and several other communities in ME, and on to NH.
On Wednesday, September 3, 1902, Open Car No. 29 of the Pittsfield
Electric Street Railway, struck President Roosevelt's open landau carriage,
and his New England tour came to a tragic end in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Secret Service agent William Craig was thrown directly in front of the trolley
and was killed instantly. Craig was the first Secret Service agent to have
died in the line of duty serving a president. President Roosevelt did
receive what was reported then as minor injuries. Later reports have him
bothered by a leg injury received in the accident, for much of his life.
Image from Berkshire Street Railway, 1972, by O. R. Cummings
Then on August 18, 1914, Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Lewiston, Maine by train and after an enthusiastic crowd attended his speech at a Progressive Party rally, TR boarded the Narcissus for Portland.
Lewiston Daily Sun, August 19, 1914 -
The last sentence in the opening paragraph mentions TR boarding the
special car Narcissus the day before.
Published by The Lewiston Daily Sun
8-19-1914
Roosevelt Enters
Published: August 19, 1914
8-19-1914
Lewiston, ME -
This entry follows an introduction by the Hon. Halbert P. Gardner:Roosevelt Enters
This was the signal for Col. Theodore Roosevelt to step forward from the rear of the platform and also the signal for a great demonstration that lasted for exactly 20 seconds. The great mass of cheering people stood, threw their hats in the air, clapped their hands, and shouted long and loud. Someone gave the call of the Bull Moose. This was noticed at once by Col. Roosevelt who said; "That's the real thing. I like to hear it!"
A second demonstration followed which lasted 10 seconds. Then Col. Roosevelt stepped to the front of the platform and said; "At the outset, I want to say that I am glad to be in the home of the Bull Moose. It did me good to hear an old friend."
This entry follows in the final two paragraphs in the section titled,
At the Empire Theatre.
"....he was hurried to the special car (interurban)of the P.G. & L. Interurban Line, which was in waiting in front of the car barn on Middle Street. The start for Portland was made at just 4:20 P.M.
The first stop of the Roosevelt special was made in Lower Gloucester where the Colonel greeted the people from the rear of the platform of the car. At Gray, a big crowd was waiting and demanded a speech. The Colonel was again compelled to address the gathering. Just before reaching West Falmouth the train was again stopped to permit a woman to present Mr. Roosevelt with a large bouquet and a little farther on the stop was made at the West Falmouth station. The party arrived at the Falmouth Hotel in Portland at 5:10 where another large crowd had collected."
Published: August 19, 1914
Copyright © The New York Times
ROOSEVELT GREETED BY CROWDS IN MAINE
PORTLAND, Me., Aug. 18, -
Waves the Farmhouse Bouquet.
Col. Roosevelt left Boston at 8:55 o’clock this morning and got to Lewiston at 2:30 o’clock. As soon as the train entered this State crowds began to appear at all of the little way stations and at several of the stops the Colonel went to the rear platform to shout a few remarks. Lewiston was alive with interest and on the streets and at the meeting, the Colonel was hailed repeatedly as “Our President in 1916.” The enthusiasm seemed to “get to” Col. Roosevelt and make a new man of him.
There was a big overflow meeting at Lewiston, but Col. Roosevelt only had time to say a few words to the crowd before he took a special trolley car for Portland. He was expected all along the route and was given many cheers. As the car slowed up for a curve near a farmhouse a pretty girl ran out and tossed a bouquet of flowers into the rear of the car. The Colonel jumped from his seat and ran to the platform. The last picture that the little family in front of the farmhouse saw was Col. Roosevelt, his face wreathed in smiles, waving the bouquet above his head. Halpert P. Gardner, the Progressive nominee for Governor, exclaimed to THE NEW YORK TIMES correspondent;
“They will talk about that at milking time for months to come. If the Colonel could make a tour of the State like this the Progressive Party would sweep both old organizations out of power.”
Click Here to read about an Award-Winning Maine Author Writing a Book about the Young Girl
Click Here to read about an Award-Winning Maine Author Writing a Book about the Young Girl
Image from, Maine's Fastest Electric Railroad, Portland-Lewiston
Interurban, 1967, O. R. Cummings
Colonel Roosevelt made another summer visit to Maine on August 31, 1916. As he did two years earlier, he again was a passenger on one of the Portland Lewiston Interurbans. This time traveling from Portland to Lewiston. The newspaper reports several places where "moving pictures were taken" and "movie men" were on the scene. Of particular interest is the report below that mentions a movie being taken of TR entering the interurban. How I would love to see that footage. One other anecdotal observation is, while in Gray, he calls out from the rear of the interurban, for the whereabouts of the young girl who gave him a bouquet of sweet peas two years earlier. That story is below.
8-31-1916
Special PLI Cars
Lewiston, ME -
Off to meet the Colonel. Promptly at 10 minutes of 2 Thursday afternoon, the reception committee, which went to Portland to meet Col. Roosevelt, marched out of Lisbon Street to Union Square, where they boarded the two special cars of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban road and went to Portland.
This will make the third visit that Col. Roosevelt has made to Lewiston. The first was in 1902 when he toured Maine, and the second was in 1914 when he spoke here on behalf of the progressive cause.
Published by Lewiston Daily Sun
9-1-1916
Portland, ME -
a passenger in while traveling to Lewiston
from Portland. Ibid
Girl with the Bouquet (Ibid)
When the car approached Gray it was called to the Colonel’s attention that two years ago when he visited Maine a little girl at the Gray station threw him a bouquet of sweet peas. The little girl whose name he did not learn, was in her mother’s arms. When the Colonel took the bouquet and threw a kiss at her, the little miss burst into tears. The Colonel remembered the incident and when the car pulled into the Gray station he was at the rear end. Waving his hat.
He asked: Where is the little girl who gave me the bouquet of sweet peas two years ago? Is she here? I would like to see her”. She evidently was not there, but, many others waved and cheered as the car moved slowly through the station.
Col. Roosevelt also stepped to the rear of the car and waved coming through New Gloucester and again as the car came through the suburbs of Auburn.
There was a large crowd in Union Square to meet the special car which reached this city at 5:15. The car proceeded as far as Park Street. Several salutes were fired as Col. Roosevelt and his party left the car and were again subjects for the movie men.
Theodore Roosevelt made one last public trip to Portland (ME) on March 28, 1918. He would, however, make his final trip to Maine later in 1918.
As detailed in Chip Bishop's book, Quentin & Flora: A Roosevelt and a Vanderbilt in Love during the Great War, Theodore, and his wife would travel to the community of Dark Harbor, in Islesboro, ME, in August of 1918, to grieve the loss of their beloved son, Quentin. Quentin was a pilot during World War I. He was mortally wounded in an aerial battle and his plane crashed in France.
TR himself would die six months later at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, NY - in January 1919.
Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing
Theodore Roosevelt made one last public trip to Portland (ME) on March 28, 1918. He would, however, make his final trip to Maine later in 1918.
As detailed in Chip Bishop's book, Quentin & Flora: A Roosevelt and a Vanderbilt in Love during the Great War, Theodore, and his wife would travel to the community of Dark Harbor, in Islesboro, ME, in August of 1918, to grieve the loss of their beloved son, Quentin. Quentin was a pilot during World War I. He was mortally wounded in an aerial battle and his plane crashed in France.
TR himself would die six months later at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, NY - in January 1919.
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 in 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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