Joe Banavige trekked an estimated 200 or more miles by canoe and on
foot to retrace the steps of Theodore Roosevelt through the North Dakota
Wilderness, eventually concluding his journey at the Stark County
Courthouse Thursday morning. Photo by Ellie Porter/The Dickinson press
How appropriate, that I should receive this email of introduction from Sharon Kilzer, project manager at the Theodore Roosevelt Center, on Friday that kicks off the Memorial Day Weekend.
"Phil Morse, meet Joe Banavige. via a copy of this email, I am introducing the two of you. Phil, Joe has undertaken a new project to reproduce many of Theodore Roosevelt's adventures. You can read about his journey down the Little Missouri River and overland to Dickinson, retracing the capture of the boat thieves, in today's Dickinson Press: http://www.thedickinsonpress.
Joe's next adventure will be in Maine, canoeing the Aroostook River and Munsungan Lake. Joe has already connected with Bill Sewall's descendants, and I thought you might be helpful to him, based on your research on TR's journeys in that region."
Best regards to you both,
Sharon
I clicked on the newspaper story link. Read the story and then click on the link to learn Joe's Story.
I did a reply-all email to Sharon and shared my eagerness to help Joe in any way he might need my help making contacts for his trek here in Maine. Joe responded to my email on Monday. We hit it off right from the start:) When he told me that his brother-in-law, a retired Maine State Trooper from Palermo, ME, would be joining him on the trek here in Maine, I checked in with ThorntonAcademy's Chief of Campus Safety, Jim Trask (a retired Maine State Trooper). I asked Jim if he happened to know Gerard Madden, also a retired MST? Jim's response was, "Hi Phil, I know Gerry very well, we were classmates in the SP Academy of 1984. He is a friend. You will like him, he has a great sense of humor. Give him my best. Jim" Through Joe, I have passed on Jim's salutation. Here is more info and some links to what Joe is about. I hope you will consider making a donation to help Joe and the Semper Fi Fund he is dedicating his heroic efforts to support:
It was quite the strenuous adventure, and I really characterize it
as brutal. I've confirmed three of my upcoming events
(Lake Wanonia half-marathon (June 3) Tough Mudder (July)
and World's Toughest Mudder (August).
See the full schedule of 2017 events here
Joe is retracing "The Terrain of Theodore Roosevelt" and redoing many of TR's lifelong adventures. "I started a little while back and have recently completed activities in the White Mountains and also just completed a 200-mile Dakota Territory trek that focused on following the story where TR chased thieves over the Little Missouri River, caught them, and then drove them overland back down to Dickinson, North Dakota. An overview of my project, as well as a press article on the Dakota Territory piece, are below":
Click Here: For an overview of my project
Click Here: For Dakota Territory News Story
Click Here: For My Facebook Page which is somewhat of a blog for the overall effort
Click Here: Semper Fi Fund and Joe's Story
"I am now turning to Maine in mid-June and will be retracing a number of Tr's steps in the area around Mount Katahdin and Island Falls. I'll be focused on TR's August/September 1879 adventures and will summit Katahdin, canoe from Oxbow to Munsungan Lake, and will also do some canoeing around Island Falls. One interesting point of note is that TR was guided by William Sewall on these trips and Sewall went to Dakota with TR and was one of the men on the Dakota boat chase adventure. Sewall was basically a mentor to TR and a lifelong friend. I'm also getting assistance in Maine (Phil Morse is a great example and is a member of the Maine Theodore Roosevelt Association) and I'll be completing the adventures with my brother-in-law, who is a retired Maine State Trooper. I've also been coordinating with Bart DeWolfe (Maine Woods Forever), Donna Davidge (Island Falls, Sewall House) as well as others. Our family is also an owner of a house in Maine (Palermo), so we have had long ties to the area."
Joe Banavige
For those Narcissus Project Blog followers, you may recall, I have released a number of posts on Theodore Roosevelt and his connections here in Maine, including those that Joe will be retracing. For more on those particular posts, here are the links:
This first link probably summarizes TR's Maine visits and connections to Maine most comprehensively.
Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt and the Narcissus - Connecting Maine Communities
Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a young teenager
Click Here: - Two Accomplished Writers and a National Park Service Ranger from Sagamore Hill
Click Here: - Longfellow Square is Where the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway Begins
Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts Here in Maine
Click Here: - Bible Point - Island Falls, Maine & Theodore Roosevelt
Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor on Islesboro, Maine
Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award - Maine Woods Forever 4-15-2016
Click Here: - Teddy Roosevelt Days 2016 - Michael Canfield: "Theodore Roosevelt Field Notes"
Click Here: - Teddy Roosevelt Days 2016 - TR Artifacts and a Successful Event
Click Here: - A President Has Ridden in My House!
Click Here: - A Previously Unknown Image of Theodore Roosevelt in Maine - Resolved:)
Click Here: - 2017 Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award - Maine Woods Forever 4-7-2017
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-running 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 on a monthly basis. 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.
Patricia Pierce Erikson photo
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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