1897 programme for the Riverton Park Theatre. The original
1896, restaurant and casino, is seen here. The building was
enlarged in 1898. Image courtesy of the
Portland Maine History 1786 to Present.
A resource for educators
Maine Historical Society has created companion lesson plans inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans are for classroom use in grades 6, 7, and 8. The lesson plans and companion vocabulary and reading activities are available as free downloads through the Seashore Trolley Museum's website at www.trolleymuseum.org/eleganttide or Click Here
The eight Social Studies/ELA units were also uploaded to the Maine Memory Network and are available with other statewide lesson plans K12.
The audiobook is now available Click HERE to go to the Audible page. the eBook is available Here
This blog post was created specifically to support the new lesson plan titled:
* Then and Now: Life in Maine
Objectives:
* Students will practice the skills involved in analyzing primary sources.
* Students will be able to describe life on an early 20th-century Maine family farm and how life has changed in Maine since the early 1900s.
* Students will be able to describe the differences between attending school in the early 20th century and attending school today.
Primary-source oral history interviews will continue to be added to this blog as research resources:
Here is a personal accounting, by Gladys Plummer Anderson (1889-1983) of Cumberland Center, of her recollections from visiting Riverton Park in Portland, Maine as reported in an op-ed:
Cumberland Center, Maine
May 18, 1978
Landmarks Observer
Portland, Maine
Dear Sirs,
When I read your article about Riverton Park it brought back happy memories of my childhood
days, and later. I started going to Riverton Park in 1898 when I was ten years old. I will be 89 in
September and I doubt if there are very many people living now who can remember Riverton as
it flourished in those days. It was a real summer Paradise for both old and young, especially for
summer guests who came to Maine.
days, and later. I started going to Riverton Park in 1898 when I was ten years old. I will be 89 in
September and I doubt if there are very many people living now who can remember Riverton as
it flourished in those days. It was a real summer Paradise for both old and young, especially for
summer guests who came to Maine.
Trolley cars were the main attraction (no autos) and the fare was only five cents from Portland,
and that included a free ticket to the outdoor theatre where there were large stone steps and
a tree here and there for shade. I can still visualize the boys in white jackets, carrying large baskets
of hot buttered popcorn, peanuts, saltwater taffy, cold beverages, etc., for five cents each.
and that included a free ticket to the outdoor theatre where there were large stone steps and
a tree here and there for shade. I can still visualize the boys in white jackets, carrying large baskets
of hot buttered popcorn, peanuts, saltwater taffy, cold beverages, etc., for five cents each.
We would carry our lunch and eat it in one of the large four-passenger swing chairs, where
we could listen to music from the Merry-Go-Round. With twenty-five cents in our pockets, we could
enjoy two trolley car rides, buy a bag of popcorn, a cold drink, (and) one ride on the Merry-Go-Round,
besides all the free attractions.
The casino looked like a mansion to us kids with its carpeted floors and a spacious dining room
where delicious meals were served for $1.00. And that was a lot of money in those days.
To the left of the grand Riverton Park Casino, you can see
the Boathouse and Pride's Bridge (but not the Presumpscot
River). Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_107
The dining room in the casino of Riverton Park. Circa 1919
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_108
The Red Room in the casino at Riverton Park. One of
several rooms that would be used for private parties or
any number of groups that may meet at the casino
for weekly or daily gatherings.
From the Collection of Seashore Trolley Museum.
and the names of the two girls with me, also the date was August 14, 1898. A four-leaf clover
is in the center. That was nearly 70 years ago and I am still carrying it in my purse. The two
girls have passed away.
Handheld mirror souvenir of Riverton Park
showing the casino and bandstand.
Image courtesy of the
Portland Maine History 1786 to Present.
it so it couldn't be removed, and thousands of people drank from the same cup which was never
washed, and I never heard that anyone died from germs, which would be called unsanitary today
I was at Riverton Park the day President McKinley was shot and it was announced
over a speaker. It cast (a) gloom over the park for the rest of the day.
I have never forgotten a song that I heard a fifteen-year-old boy sing on the show. He had a
lovely voice and the three of us 13-year-old girls fell in love with him but kept very quiet about
it and didn't screech and act silly as the young girls do today when they see a good-looking
boy. Girls in those days were more ladylike in public. The name of the song he sang was "Among the Pines of Maine" and it was a beautiful song about Maine. I've often wondered why it never became popular. Too bad we didn't have tv
then.
One of the very early electric trolleys from Westbrook
has arrived and discharged its passengers at Riverton Park.
Bridal shower parties, card parties, and other private groups
could hire a trolley car to transport their group. The bandstand
in this image was one of the many attractions at the park.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_092
After automobiles replaced the trolley cars, Riverton Park ended, and the lovely casino
was made into a skating rink. Even though it is restored it will never be the same to us oldsters
without the rustic theatre and trolley cars, but may help curb juvenile delinquency which is so prevalent today. In those days we didn't hear very much about the young folks getting into
trouble, they were having too much good clean fun at Riverton Park. Bus rides could never
take the place of trolley cars with the nice rides around the BeltLine for a dime or the rides to
Old Orchard Beach for fifteen cents.
Only us Senior Citizens of 75 or older can remember the good old days when 25 cents
could mean an entire day's pleasure for both old and young at Riverton Park
/s/ Gladys P. Anderson
was made into a skating rink. Even though it is restored it will never be the same to us oldsters
without the rustic theatre and trolley cars, but may help curb juvenile delinquency which is so prevalent today. In those days we didn't hear very much about the young folks getting into
trouble, they were having too much good clean fun at Riverton Park. Bus rides could never
take the place of trolley cars with the nice rides around the BeltLine for a dime or the rides to
Old Orchard Beach for fifteen cents.
A trolley ride around the North Deering BeltLine was a
popular outing in Portland for many years. The trip took just
one hour from Monument Square to the return at the same
point. Shown here in North Deering, No. 151, a 12-bench,
double-truck, open car which was built in 1899 - Photo from
the collection of Charles D. Heseltine - Courtesy Seashore
Trolley Museum Library: O. R. Cummings Collection
2009_2_31_042
Description of PRR trips from a 1910 brochure. PWM
Only us Senior Citizens of 75 or older can remember the good old days when 25 cents
could mean an entire day's pleasure for both old and young at Riverton Park
/s/ Gladys P. Anderson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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