This is where former POTUS, Theodore Roosevelt,
while a passenger on the elegant Narcissus made
his stop in New Gloucester (Lower on the PLI Schedule),
August 18, 1914, while en route to Portland.
[Cobbs Bridge Road (N-S) Intervale Road
(E-W)]. The road, "Angle," is now Grange Hall Road.
Across from the former Grange Hall was the PLI
freight shed, passenger station, and Ray's freight
platform. There was track siding as well.
1927 Sanborn Map
Updated 2-5-2024
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 and his various visits to Maine.
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 "Star 7" shown on the list (key) above - New Gloucester 1914/1916
Thank you to Tom Blake, curator for the New Gloucester Historical Society, for help with research over the years :)
An interurban heading to Auburn. It
is passing C. E. Ray's General Store in
New Gloucester and about to cross
Intervale Road, where it will stop at
the passenger station on what is now the
Grange Hall Road. It will then
proceed to cross Cobb Bridge Road
and continue north.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Published by The Lewiston Daily Sun
8-19-1914
Lewiston, ME -
This entry follows in the final two paragraphs in the section titled,
At the Empire Theatre.
"....he was hurried to the special car (No. 14, Narcissus) of the P.G. & L. Interurban Line, which was waiting in front of the car barn on Middle Street. The start for Portland was made at just 4:20 P.M.
The first stop of the Roosevelt special was made in Lower Gloucester where the Colonel greeted the people from the rear of the platform of the car.
.jpg)
The stop in New Gloucester would have looked similar to this.
This photo was taken at the Gray station a few minutes after
departing New Gloucester. Roosevelt is seen here on No. 14,
Narcissus, which is currently under restoration at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME.
O. R. Cummings Collection
While reading the TR article of his stop in Kennebunk on August 18, 1914, in the August 19, 1914, issue of the Kennebunk Enterprise newspaper, there is a short mention of TR, while being a passenger on the Narcissus, being especially pleased when traveling through the area of Gray.
Kennebunk Enterprise,
August 19, 1914,
front page. Courtesy of
Kennebunkport Historical
Society
Here is an excerpt from a paragraph in the article shown above:
The trip from Lewiston to Portland was made by (a) trolley; a special car (Narcissus) being run, and all along the way men, women, and children greeted the hero of the hour. One thing that especially pleased "Teddy" was at Gray where there is a boys' school and the young lads had placed the American flag (some forty in number) along the fence and stood behind cheering for "Teddy."
The mention of "a boys' school" in Gray and the flags caught my attention. I wondered where that school was in Gray. Was the article referring to Pennell Institute? Pennell was not a "boys' school."
I sent an email to Karen Taylor at Gray Historical Society attached the newspaper article and asked if there was a separate "boys' school" in Gray. I paid a visit to the Gray Public Library and asked Darcel Devou. She replied that there was a boys' school in New Gloucester.
I sent an email to Tom Blake at the New Gloucester Historical Society and attached the newspaper article. Tom responded, yes, the boys' school in New Gloucester was named Opportunity Farm and he would do some research.
I too did some research and found an article in the August 18, 1914 issue of the Oxford Democrat, page 2, first column. This article talked about a new seal that the school had created and was distributing. I sent the link to Tom with the page and the article. Tom replied, that he was not familiar with the "stamp" mentioned and that he very much was interested in learning more about it. He would do some research.
first column at the bottom.
Excerpt from a Tom Blake email, 9-5-2022:
I dug into our Opportunity Farm material and was pleased to find a copy of their 1st Annual Report, which was dated 1914, but appears to primarily cover 1913 items. When describing its location, "The Portland, Gray, and Lewiston electric road passes within a half mile of the house," and "we are easy to reach by train or automobile and will soon have the added convenience of a trolley line."
We also have a copy of their newsletter from October 1914, but unfortunately makes no mention of Teddy. They do mention returning from the fairgrounds in Lewiston: "We rode home on the new electric road."
I have attached a copy of the back page of the newsletter which shows the "stamp" referred to in the article you sent. I would love to find one!
Tom
At the top of the page, the "stamp" refers to
in the Oxford Democrat article 8-18-1914.
The article in the newsletter above, states it
is a "seal" that they encourage placing after
your signature on a letter.
The back page of the October 1914 newsletter
issued by the Opportunity Farm in
New Gloucester. Courtesy of the
I enjoy collaborating with peers in the fields of local history and in local education.
In August 2023, I noticed a post on the Allagash Outpost Facebook site that included a photo circa 1900 of the Opportunity Farm in New Gloucester. Through the comment option, I asked about its location. I was happy to see a photo of the "farm" and through the comments was able to learn its location in relationship to the Portlnad-Lewiston Interurban right-of-way in New Gloucester.
Thank you, Josh Verrill :)
Opportunity Farm location.
The PLI right-of-way is highlighted
with red on the right. The boys
from the farm were able to
walk to the right-of-way with their flags
to wave at the former POTUS as he
passed by in the Narcissus.
The boys' patriotic activity was clearly
appreciated by Theodore Roosevelt.
A US flag with 48 states recognized in the flag.
This would be similar to the one gifted to the
Opportunity Farm and a few weeks later,
many of the boys from the farm would wave
to TR as he passed by while aboard
Narcissus.
One of the articles describing the flag
ceremony early in July 1914.
Another article on the flag ceremony.
Roosevelt did pass through New Gloucester in 1916.
Published by Lewiston Daily Sun
9-1-1916
Portland, ME -
Col. Roosevelt also stepped to the rear of the car (No. 16, Clematis) and waved coming through New Gloucester and again as the car came through the suburbs of Auburn.
.jpg)
one and a half miles north of the New Gloucester station.
Roosevelt was a passenger on the Clematis when he passed
through New Gloucester on August 31, 1916, waving to
the gathered locals as he went through town.
O. R. Cummings Collection
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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