William "Bill" Sewall, a dear friend to Theodore Roosevelt,
with his hand on the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet on
September 5, 1921, on the Good Will-Hinckley trail.
A stone from Sagamore Hill,
Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, NY, is tucked in
between the three larger stones of the monument.
Photo courtesy of
Update: 04-10-2023
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.
Logo: "Designs by Reece" - Reece Saunders
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.
Key by "Designs by Reece" - Reece Saunders
Today, we describe Moose D shown on the list (key) above - Fairfield 1921
A more recent close-up photo of the memorial tablet located
on the Good Will-Hinkley trail in Fairfield. Edith Roosevelt,
Theodore's widow selected the top stone used for the memorial
from Sagamore Hill property, Roosevelt's home.
PWM photo
George W. Hinckley is seen in this image with the
Roosevelt Memorial. Hinckley was the founder
of the Good Will-Hinckley Home for Boys and Girls
in Fairfield and served orphans and other needy children.
The school opened in 1889 and Hinckley ran it until 1919,
when G. W's son, Walter took over. G. W. Hinckley continued
to be actively involved in the school for many more years.
This photo was taken from the same steps where Mr.
Hinckley is standing in the photo above.
PWM photo
The trail where the Roosevelt Memorial is
located begins at the Dartmouth Trail field stone
entrance. The fieldstone entrance was constructed
in 1915 with funds from the Outing Club of
Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Trail "D"
on the map key. The Roosevelt Memorial is on
the Dartmouth Trail. There are nearly 3-miles
of trails. PWM photo
To visit the Roosevelt Memorial at the Good Will-Hinckley
To see the network of trails and daily schedule
The L.C. Bates Museum
Inspiring Wonder
At Good Will-Hinckley
14 Easler Rd Hinckley, ME 04944
207-238-4250 gwh.org/lcbates
Email: lcbates@gwh.org
Thank you to Deborah Staber, Museum Curator at
the L C Bates Museum for her continued help with this project.
PWM photo
Benches facing back of the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet.
PWM photo
A. Newton Plummer, a former resident of Good Will Farm, became a well-known financial writer in New York. Mr. Plummer stayed connected with Good Will Farm and provided leadership and financial support to promote the organization. Mr. Plummer also had great respect for Theodore Roosevelt. Following the death of Theodore Roosevelt in 1919, it was Mr. Plummer's idea to erect and provide financial support for a memorial tablet to honor Mr. Roosevelt and to also erect a similarly designed bird bath in the newly proposed thirty-acre Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary. Both would be located within the Good Will Farm trail system.
Below are various communications concerning the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet and the Bird Bath in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials below are in the collection of the L. C. Bates Museum on the campus of Good Will-Hinckley in Fairfield, Maine, courtesy of Deborah Staber, Museum Curator.
Below is: a handwritten response to Mr. Plummer from Edith Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt's widow, on her willingness to work with him to supply a stone for the memorial.
Below is: The typed note from Newton Plummer detailing Edith Roosevelt's response to his request.
Below is: Good Will's summary report of the dedication of the Roosevelt Memorial on September 5, 1921.
On pages 231 and 232 of the Good Will Record dated October 1921.
Below is: A more recent photo of the plaque on the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet stone.
The monument was created by a former Good Will Farm
resident, A. Newton Plummer. Plummer reached out to
Mrs. Roosevelt with the idea for the monument to her
then-recently departed husband. Mrs. Roosevelt hand-picked
the stone used in the monument from Roosevelt's estate,
Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY. PWM photo
Below is: The text on the memorial plaque. On page 230 of the Good Will Record dated October 1921.
Below is: The description of the activities with Bill Sewall after the dedication. On pages 183 and 184 of the Chronicles of Good Will Home 1889-1989.
Below is: a handwritten letter from Bill Sewall to Newton Plummer.
Below are Newspaper clippings and a photo of the monument of the dedication. Numerous newspapers throughout New England and in the Northeast published this release. Notice it mentions "...part of a movement to mark the places visited in Maine by Roosevelt when he was a young man." Hmm...one hundred years later, this blogger is rekindling that movement's desire :)
Below is: The letter from Hermann Hagedorn, Director of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and Theodore Roosevelt biographer, to Mr. Plummer.
Below is: A letter from then, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, III, the Assitant Secretary, of the U.S. Navy and son of the former POTUS, to Mr. Plummer
Below is: TR, III's letter to Mr. Plummer mentioned on pg. 62 of the Good Will Record dated March 1922.
Below is: The letter from Hermann Hagedorn, Director of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and Theodore Roosevelt biographer, to Mr. Plummer, stating that the photo of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Tablet will be added to the Association's Permanent Collection.
Below is: A letter from Corrine Roosevelt Robinson, Theodore Roosevelt's sister, to Mr. Plummer.
Below is: A letter from Good Will Home Association to Mr. Pummer, with a copy of a photograph enclosed of the newly constructed Bird Bath placed in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary at Good Will Farms.
Below is: A series of four clippings describing the Bird Bath. The source and dates will follow when they are confirmed.
Below: Are two Photos of the newly constructed Bird Bath in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary on the trails of the GoodWill Farm. Dates to follow soon :)
Below is: One recent photo of a view while on the Good Will-Hinckley Trail.
Click Here to see the Trail Map
Signage identifies the various
species on the trail. PWM photo
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.
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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