Theodore Roosevelt utilized rail transportation throughout his
life. Here he addresses a crowd on August 18, 1914,
in Gray, ME. TR is aboard the high-speed, luxury coach,
in Gray, ME. TR is aboard the high-speed, luxury coach,
Portland Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus. The Narcissus
is undergoing restoration at the Seashore Trolley Museum's
Donald G. Curry's Town House Shop, in Kennebunkport,
Maine. Photo courtesy of the Gray Historical Society
Update 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.
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 B shown on the list (key) above - Kennebunkport 1914
On August 18, 1914, Theodore Roosevelt traveled by train from Boston to the Auburn train station. He arrived in Auburn a little after 2 p.m. He was campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates. He would travel by automobile to the City Hall in Lewiston where he made a speech, followed by a brief speech at the Empire Theatre. TR then was transported to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban station on Middle Street in Lewiston, where he would then board the Narcissus. TR would travel in luxury on the Narcissus to Monument Square in Portland, with stops along the way in Lower New Gloucester, Gray, and West Falmouth. Upon arriving in Monument Square in Portland, TR would be transported to the Falmouth Hotel for dinner prior to attending a reception at Portland City Hall prior to traveling to Union Station in Portland to take the train back to Boston later that night. Below are some newspaper clippings describing some of these activities.
Tuesday morning, August 18, 1914, Lewiston Daily Sun,
prepping readers for what's to follow that day of TR's visit.
"Roosevelt Here This Afternoon" clip - Ibid
"Roosevelt Here This Afternoon" clip cont. - Ibid
"Roosevelt Here This Afternoon" clip cont. - Ibid
The schedule for the day - Ibid
Lewiston Daily Sun, August 19, 1914 -
The last sentence in the opening paragraph
mentions TR boarding the
special car, Narcissus, on the day before.
As you can see, sometimes the scanning of
vintage newspapers leaves portions of the
text difficult to decipher. Ibid
Roosevelt, as a passenger on the Narcissus, departed
the PLI station on Middle Street in Lewiston at 4:20 p.m.
The total distance by rail to Monument Square in Portland
is 35 miles. There were scheduled and unscheduled
stops along the route to Portland. And once in Portland,
disembarked the Narcissus and traveled to the Falmouth
Hotel, where he arrived at 5:10 p.m. 50 minutes total
travel time to get to the hotel. The Narcissus had
four-90-hp motors and could reach speeds up to
78 mph, though during normally scheduled trips,
60 mph was the norm during the longer distances
between stops. Ibid
What's not reported in this clip above, is what transpires while TR is onboard the Narcissus while awaiting its departure to Portland from the PLI station on Middle Street in Lewiston. See the next clip below :)
Lewiston Evening Journal, page 5, "Of Local Interest."
After reading this clip, look at the photo below
with TR on the Narcissus speaking to the crowd
in Gray less than an hour later. Where do you think that
8.5-pound lake trout was kept in the Narcissus? :)
The caption for this photo in O. R. Cummings 1967
publication, Maine's Fast Electric Railroad, states in part;
Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, shown in the train door of
the Narcissus, addresses a gathering at Gray on August 18,
1914. At the left of Roosevelt and peering out of the coach
window in the conductor, Joseph N. "Joe Happy" L'Heureux.
Photo courtesy of the Gray Historical Society
On page 37 of his 1967 publication, Cummings mentions TR and the Narcissus when in Portland:
Upon (the) arrival of the car in Portland, the ex-President voiced his pleasure over the "bully" ride he had enjoyed and gave the motorman, Charles H. Mitchell, and the conductor, Joseph N. L'Heureux, better known as "Joe Happy," each a tip of $10, a not inconsiderable sum in those days.
Lewiston Daily Sun, August 19, 1914. After the
reception at Portland City Hall, TR travels to
Union Station and departs Portland for Boston.
The New York Times also had a short story published about Roosevelt's visit that day. Of course, the "special trolley" mentioned in the piece is the Narcissus. The portion of the piece about the girl tossing the bouquet into the rear of the car generated an interest in me to consider this interaction with Roosevelt to self-publish a national award-winning book, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride, by multi-award-winning Maine author, Jean Flahive. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus :) As the copyright owner, publisher, and distributor of the book, the proceeds to me are contributed to the Narcissus Project.
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.”
The Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is being restored at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Below is some historical background of the majestic coach.
O. R. Cummings 1967 publication
on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban history.
PWM Collection and photo
The Narcissus was built in 1912 in Laconia, New Hampshire, at the Laconia Car Company Works, for the Portland, Gray & Lewiston Railroad (PG&L), based in Lewiston, Maine. This high-speed, luxury, wooden interurban with its exquisite mahogany interior, resplendent in copious ornamental brass components, including forty ornate leaded stained glass windows, its center ceiling panels embellished with gold leaf fleur-de-lis, with alternating red and green interlocking rubber tile on the floor and it was all appointed by the intrepid builder of the PG&L, W. Scott Libbey.
Libbey also personally named each of the original six coaches after his favorite flowers. A seventh coach was purchased in 1920, which was named, Maine, in honor of Maine's Centennial. The 46-foot coaches had green plush Mohair upholstered, reversible seats, and a smoking compartment with two, six-foot-long, leather-covered bench seats, making the seating capacity 52 passengers. With its four-90 hp Westinghouse motors, speeds in excess of 70 mph were reached from time to time.
Artwork by Maine artist, Amy J. Gagnon
The most famous passenger to ride in the Narcissus was Theodore Roosevelt. The former President was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates, during a trip from Lewiston to Portland.
The Narcissus operated between Lewiston, Maine, and Portland, Maine on a thirty-mile, private right-of-way, interurban line that was built to steam railroad specifications. Construction of the line was seasonal from 1910 until finished in 1914. Operations commenced early in July 1914 and carried on until the line ceased operations late in June 1933. Just a few weeks prior to the opening of the line in 1914, the principal owner of the line, W. Scott Libbey, died. Within a couple of months, the management changed and so did the name of the line. It became the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad; best known as the Portland-Lewiston Interurban or simply the PLI.
After nineteen years of operating on the PLI, the Narcissus, along with the other equipment, was put up for sale, either as a fully operational electric railway vehicle or as a wooden body-only. Over the years, ultimately, the body of No. 14, Narcissus was the only surviving piece of the rail equipment.
The body was initially sold in the mid-1930s for use in Sabattus, Maine, as a diner near Sabattus Pond. It is unclear what happened, but the diner idea was abandoned.
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.
Later in the 30s, the body was resold to Mr. J. Henri Vallee. Mr. Vallee had the Narcissus moved a short distance to his property at Sabattus Pond, where he made the Narcissus his family summer camp. During the 1960s, members of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, approached Mr. Vallee with the idea of the Museum acquiring the body of the Narcissus. The Museum wanted to restore the Narcissus to operating conditions for two purposes; first, in order to preserve the sole-surviving piece of Maine's electric interurban railway history; and to have the Museum visitors experience the splendor of its beauty when riding as passengers in the exquisitely appointed, majestic coach.
A deal was struck with Mr. Vallee. The Museum, led by Museum member, Mr. William M. Dox, Jr., would arrange for a replacement home to be built for the Vallee family, and in exchange, the Narcissus would become the property of the Museum. The Narcissus arrived at Seashore Trolley Museum on October 31, 1969.
The body of 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban,No. 14,
Narcissus, arriving at the campus of Seashore Trolley Museum
in Kennebunkport, Maine, on October 31, 1969.
Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell Collection
Following years of financial support from generous Museum members, interested individuals, and organizations, and thousands of hours of work by skilled Museum volunteers and staff, a generous major gift from the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation was pledged in 2018. This major gift became the financial catalyst to propel the restoration of this National Register of Historic Places electric railway icon, Narcissus, forward. The project is still in need of significant financial support, but when the restoration is complete, the Narcissus will be the elegant operating representative of the finest and fastest electric railroad, not only in Maine but throughout all of New England.
For more info and photos, continue scrolling down the pages.
A portion of my collection of TR-related books :)
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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