President Theodore Roosevelt speaks to the crowd at the Old
Orchard Beach train station, from the
back platform of the "Mayflower", on
August 26, 1902. The white-haired man next to TR
is Congressman Amos Allen. Courtesy McArthur Library
Item #1701
Updated 11-3-2022
I first started researching Theodore Roosevelt in 2010. As a volunteer at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, overseeing the
Narcissus project (Roosevelt was a passenger on the
Narcissus on August 18, 1914), I felt the need to learn more about Roosevelt's visit to Maine. That initial research piqued my curious nature to want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt.
Twelve years later, that seed of curiosity has taken root and blossomed, into the development of what is the: Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail: Connecting Maine Communities. Insight throughout the State of Maine is what this trail provides by tracing and describing Theodore Roosevelt's connections with each of these communities.
Each community is identified with a star with a number or
a moose with a letter. The key to the logo landmarks is below.
Each moose represents a community that has an indirect
connection with Roosevelt, meaning he may not have paid the
community a visit, but there is a meaningful connection to
Roosevelt in that community. The stars indicate a community
that Roosevelt visited and probably engaged with the people
and or the local geography. As research continues, other
communities will be added to the logo.
Over the ensuing weeks, each of these
communities/landmarks with its Roosevelt
connections will have a separate page describing
details of TR's connections. Each will also
have a link(s) to local resources/venues.
Today, we describe "Star 3" shown on the list (key) above - Old Orchard Beach
President Theodore Roosevelt looking at you while
he was in Old Orchard Beach. August 26, 1902
Houghton Library, Harvard University
While researching President Roosevelt's schedule for his two-day Maine visit during his 1902 tour of New England states, up popped the photo of TR on the platform of a train coach. The caption stating TR was addressing the crowd at the Biddeford train station caught my attention as Biddeford was not listed in the itinerary of Maine stops in the presidential schedule, for August 26 and 27, 1902.
Itinerary of scheduled visits for day one, August 26, 1902,
of President Roosevelt's train tour that included communities
in Maine. A stop in Biddeford was not listed. August 26, 1902,
issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal EXTRA 8:30 p.m.
Houghton Library, Harvard University
So, I visited Biddeford's McArthur Public Library to search through their extensive microfilm collection of vintage local newspapers. I located the story of the president's train unplanned stop and brief speech and in addition, read a feature story about a local Biddeford resident, Fred C. Watson, who was a cowboy working for Roosevelt in the Dakotas between 1884 and 1885. With much help from Renée L. Burkett, Archivist/Special Collections Librarian, more intriguing information about Fred. C. Watson was learned.
In addition to the Watson materials, Renée showed me the photo that is the first image at the beginning of this post. It is an original photograph within the McArthur Library archives. On the back of the photo, the description simply had Theodore Roosevelt's name with Congressman Amos Allen in Sanford 1912 written. This photo is also of President Roosevelt standing on the platform of a train coach with several others, including a gentleman with a white beard, who is identified as the Maine U S Congressman from Alfred, Amos Allen.
I'm somewhat familiar with the train stations in the Sanford-Springvale area. I looked at the photo and replied to Renée that Sanford didn't have a railroad station. Springvale has the railroad station for servicing Sanford and Springvale, and the background in the photo did not look anything like the area surrounding the Springvale railroad station, even back in the early 1900s. I continued and said that I didn't think that photo was taken in 1912 either. I said I would reach out to Harland Eastman at the
Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and see what he has to say.
I did share a copy of the digital photo with Harland and explained the caption. Harland replied, nope, TR had never visited the Sanford -Springvale area that he was aware of and that the photo was definitely not taken at the Springvale train station.
I compared the photo with other photos from TR's two-day presidential Maine tour and came to the conclusion that the train coach platform was unique and matched perfectly with other photos of the coach platform TR used while in Maine for those two days in August 1902. Further research found that Congressman Allen died Early in the year 1911. So, clearly, he could not be in a photo taken in 1912. In addition, I looked at period photos of the other train stations that TR's presidential train stopped at during his 1902 tour. The background in the McArthur Library photo was a solid match for the buildings next to the old Orchard Beach train station.
I shared my findings with Renée. She too had done some research and also felt the Old Orchard Beach Station was indeed the station in the TR photo with Congressman Allen. Renée then changed the description to what was now identified as the correct information on the file for the photo in the archives.
President Theodore Roosevelt was touring New England states during the summer of 1902. Before his train entering Maine for two days, there was a stop in Dover, New Hampshire later in the morning of Tuesday, August 26, 1902. Following the local activities in Dover, members of the Maine delegation would board the president's train to be with him as the train entered Maine traveling toward its first scheduled stop in Old Orchard Beach. Here is the accounting from August 29, 1902, Biddeford Weekly Journal, Friday Morning publication.
Biddeford Weekly Journal, August 29, 1902
The Presidential train of five beautiful cars makes a
scheduled stop at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, during the
New England Tour on August 26, 1902. President
Theodore Roosevelt on the end platform of the "Mayflower"
as he engages with a crowd of approximately 10,000.
Photo courtesy of Ralph Duquette
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Excerpts Ibid (autocorrect disconnected - kept as written:) :
Half an hour after noon the special train bearing President Roosevelt and party crossed the line between Maine and New Hampshire and began its trip down through the Pine Tree state. The weather still held perfect, though a trifle warm, and the brilliant sun falling on the long stretches of green fields and pine woods enabled Maine to present herself at her best.
At Dover, the presidential train was boarded by congressman Amos L. Allen of the First District, Adjutant General N. B. Farnham, Colonel E. B. Sangers, Col. E. C. Dill, and Lieutenant Colonel Francie Keefe, all of the staff of Governor John F. Hill. Accompanying the governor's official representatives was Captain Parker of the United States army.
The first stop of the train in Maine was scheduled for Old Orchard Beach at 1:15, but owing to a hot box on the engine a stop was made at Biddeford which was reached about one o'clock.
Although it was not part of the programme to include North Berwick in the itinerary of the tour, the residents had occasion to feel honored even though a stop that was incidental to the train service only was made. The station platform was covered with men, women, and children, while nearby board piles and boxes, shed roofs and other points were dotted with those who had gathered for the privilege of waving hats, handkerchiefs, and parasols.
Answers and updates on the Biddeford portion of TR's two-day presidential Maine tour are in the post:
The Old Orchard visit was published on August 29, 1902, in the Biddeford Weekly Journal, Friday Morning publication.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Fred C. Watson was born in North Saco
and was a Biddeford resitdent. As
the story mentions, that Watson worked for
TR at TR's Elkhorn Ranch in
the Dakotas in 1884 and 1885.
Ibid
More on Fred C. Watson's life and relationship with TR is here in the
Star #1 - Biddeford 1902 post.
Roosevelt's presidential train tour moved on to Portland next.
The Biddeford Daily Journal’s President’s speech in Old Orchard Beach on August 26. 1902:
(autocorrect disconnected - kept as written:) :
My Fellow Citizens, men and women of Maine:
Of course we are not to be excused if we do not get through the nation the best laws that can be obtained. Good laws can do some good but we must never deceive ourselves into the belief that the law will do more than let the man after the law has been put upon the statute books work out his own salvation.
It is indeed a pleasure to me to have the chance of visiting your great and beautiful state, and I thank you from my heart for the greeting which you have extended to me.
In almost every meeting I see veterans like you (pointing to a veteran) like you over there and you with the boy in your arms there, who wear the button that shows that in the time that tried men's souls you proved your truth by your endeavor.
In those days Maine was a lesson to all for the way her sons bore themselves in war.
Since then and now she is a lesson to us because of the high average of citizenship that shows within her borders, and I think that it is the same reason in the one case as in the other.
The fact that here you have remained on the whole true to the Old American theory of treating each man on his worth as a man without regard to the incidentals of his position.
Now you over there, (pointing) you were in the great war. When you went to war and moved into battle you took an immense interest in what the man on your right hand and your left did, but you did not care the least bit in the world whether they were bankers or lumbermen or farmers or what, if they stayed put. (cries of “That id right!”) That is what you wanted. (Cheers and cries of “God bless you.”)
What you wanted was to know that the man had the right stuff in him, (a voice, “That is it”) and if he had, you were for him (a voice, “Yes sir”) and if he did not have you were not for him.
You can have got to have the same principle in citizenship. You have got to apply the same principle in civil life that you made succeed in the days when you fought because the nation called to you in her direst need.
The state can do much, but it cannot begin to do everything. The state can do something for all of us, but not as much as we can do for the state. (A voice “Amen”) That is what is going to count in the long run. (A voice “That’s business). The government, national and state, can mighty easily spoil chances for all of us.
Bad law will work badly enough but it is hard by the best laws to do more than shape conditions so as to give each man a square and fair chance and then he has got to work out his future for himself.
It is a much easier thing to tell people that you have got a patent recipe that will save them from having to take trouble themselves than it is to tell them perfectly plain, homely truths.
It is an easier thing to make the promise but it is a much uglier thing afterwards to carry out the promise and on the whole it is not worth while making a promise if you have got to feel ashamed of yourself for breaking it afterwards. (Cries of “Good.”)
August 14, 1914
Theodore Roosevelt also made a brief stop in Old Orchard Beach at the train station on August 18, 1914. He was campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates during this trip to Maine. He made a brief speech in OOB from the train platform before he was on his way to the Auburn train station where he would then speak in Lewiston before boarding the high-speed luxury interurban, Narcissus, en route back to Portland.
Click Here to access the August 18, 1914, online issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal through Google News Archive Search.
Lewiston Evening Journal, August 18, 1914 -
page 9
Ibid
Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun,
August 19, 1914.
Biddeford Weekly Journal August 21, 1914 pg 7
A portion of my collection of TR-related books :)
We continue the
restoration work on the 1912,
Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
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!
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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