Crossing a waterway like this would be the experience
for Theodore Roosevelt when he was traveling in
North Penobscot in late summer of 1879. This image
is described as most likely being the Mattawamkeag
River circa 1921. TRC 560.12-0112
Houghton Library, Harvard University
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 28" shown on the list (key) above - North Penobscot
The Sewall House in Island Falls, Maine. Theodore Roosevelt
spent many a night with the Sewall family when he was
when he was visiting during three separate trips to the county
in 1878 and 1879. This image is c 1921 by Hermann Hagedorn
TRC 560.12-075 Houghton Library, Harvard University
TR's journal in 1879 describes his visit to the Northeast Piscataquis area during the late summer.
During the Mount Katahdin journey, he was joined by his cousin William "Emlen" Roosevelt, and a family friend, Arthur Cutler. Then, after returning from the Katahdin trek, TR and William Sewall together headed north to the Oxbox, where they would paddle down the Aroostook River to the Munsunguns and Chase Rivers. and back...then walk the approximately forty miles to Island Falls
Houghton Library, Harvard University
William Windgate Sewall (with an ax) and Wilmot S. Dow
(with rifle) at camp on Pratt Cove, Mattawamkeag Lake,
Island Falls, Maine. The file is dated circa 1921, however,
Wilmot died in 1891 (35 years old). So, this image is pre-1891.
TRC 560.12-053 Houghton Library, Harvard University
Katahdin trek
* Mount Katahdin is now within the Baxter State Park
* The trek across the East Branch of the Penobscot, Wassataquoik Stream, and on to Katahdin Lake and Sandy Stream are now all within the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Roosevelt writes...
Saturday, August 23 - Reached Mattawamkeag at 10 a.m. and drove over to Island Falls. With Dave Sewall. Emlen and Mr. Cutler are here, and I shall make a short trip with them to Katahdin.
Sunday, August 24 - Spent the day chiefly in preparations. I have 2 complete changes of clothes, & plenty of handkerchiefs & woolen socks. I dress in a flannel shirt & light, strong duck trousers & heavy underflannels; carry a heavy jacket & a blanket and have my necessaries in a small bag. I have taken both rifle & shot gun.
Tuesday, August 26 - Emlen, Arthur Cutler, Will Dow, Will Sewall & I started for Mt. Katahdin. Drove 23 miles; and carried our packs about 10, when we went into camp. I carried about 45 lbs, including my gun & cartridges. Crossing a stream I lost one of my shoes; fortunately, I had brought a pair of moccasins tied to my pack.
Wednesday, August 27 - Walked up the head of Katahdin Lake where we camped. I get along very well with my pack. Killed four ducks in a logan, after a rather neat stable; also picked up a couple of partridges. We caught a few trout. Black flies are pretty bad; but they do not bother us at night; it is very pleasant in the evenings, with the roaring logs of the camp fire.
Thursday, August 28 - After lunch we started for Katahdin; (before I had tramped about 5 miles after partridges). We caught about 100 trout at Sandy Brook; then got lost; and after tramping through frightful ground till after dark camped out by a small water hole; wet, tired and hungry - but happpy. There are plenty of fresh tracks of both bear & caribou, but we saw nothing living except the usual woodpeckers, chickadees, jay, &c &c.
Friday, August 29 - Started before daybreak, walking straight through the woods, & up then up Katahdin; it was very difficult walking, & both Emlen & Arthur gave out before reaching the summit, the view from which was beautiful. I find I can endure fatigue & hardship pretty nearly as well as these lumbermen. Coming back we followed a spotted trail which sometimes set at fault even the two skilled backwoodsmen. Reached our camp at Katahdin Lake about dark, having caught about 60 trout. It is railing & we are all soaked through but in excellent health and spirits.
Saturday, August 30 - In the morning walked half way round the lake but saw nothing; there are very few partridges and few ducks round here & larger game is not scarce, but almost impossible to get at. In the afternoon walked some distance down beside Sandy Brook; coming home killed a duck in Moose Pond. Trout of small size are very plentiful.
Sunday, August 31 - Loafed about camp, cleaning guns, mending clothes, bathing in the lake &c. You get pretty dirty in camp. Black flies have been very numerous this trip, and have been a great annoyance to the others; funnily enough they do not bother me very much. There are plenty of fish round here, game is very scarce; but I am enjoying myself exceedingly.
Monday, September 1 - Was up before sunrire and took a trip round barrens and bogs; crippled a duck in a logan, but it crawled off among the rushes. In the afternoon we shouldered our packs, broke camp & started for Island Falls. After crossing the Wissatocook went into camp for the night. Am in beautiful condition & find I can walk, wrestle & shoot with most of the lumbermen
Tuesday, September 2 - Started in good season, walking out to the East branch of the Penobscot, which we crossed, & then drove to Island Falls. I have enjoyed the trip exceedingly; the boys are most pleasant companions.
Munsungun Lakes Trek
Thursday, September 4 - Spent the day preparing for my Munsungun trip; I shall go in a canoe, alone with Sewall. For provisions I took pork and hardtack and some flour; we have a shelter tent, two blankets & some cooking utensils; & one complete change of clothing each. I take 50 cartridges for the rifle and 100 for the shotgun. I shall only use moccasins.
Friday, September 5 - Started out at 5 a.m. in a rough wagon to drive to the Oxbow of the Aroostook River - 46 miles distant. We reached it 6 p.m. and are staying in a regular backwoods house - fare and sleeping accommodations being both primitive to a degree. The route all day long was through a sparsely settled, thickly wooded country & for about 3 miles through a dreary waste of burnt land.
Saturday, September 6 - Started in fair season in a pirogue or dugout. It stands rough work better than a birch canoe. We went about 20 miles up the Aroostook, paddling sometimes, but poling most of the way. The scenery is very beautiful and wild; I saw no trace of man - but also no trace of game. Trout are plenty, however. Pitched a camp before dark, to cook the bread, trout & partridge. Black flies, mosquitoes & midge pretty plentiful; I don't mind them much.
Sunday, September 7 - We started as usual, as there was no use of laying up; but I compromised by not shooting or fishing. We poled up the Aroostook (River) till lunch time, when we were near the mouth of the Munsungun; up this we had to wade, dragging our boats - the water now up to our ankles, now to our hips. It was heavy work; moreover it was raining heavily; and towards dusk we pitched camp, drenched through & tired out. Midges bad.
Monday, September 8 - Rained hard all day. We started early; for several hours it was rapid, shoal water, through which we waded, dragging the heavy dugout over the rocks and shallows; then we got into deeper, dead water, but this was nearly as bad owing to the beaver dams and log jams which we had to cut through or pull round. There were some falls we had to get up, taking everything out of the boat; then we poled up through more dead water; then paddled through the lowe rMunsungun Lake, & halfway up the middle one, where we camped. Tired out, & wet through, hungry & cold - but am having a lovely time. But no trace of game.
Tuesday, September 9 - Rained all day; but we paddled up the middle lake and then walked (through most frightfull ground) to the head of the upper one (Chase Lake). On the way I saw a few partridges; an old moose track; a recent bear track; and a few old signs of deer and caribou. On the lake are a few loons and fish ducks. As game is so scarce I shall go right back to Island Falls, instead of staying up here, as I had intended. Am wet through, as usual, and rather tired, but, although the work is very hard, I am enjoying the trip greatly.
Wednesday, September 10 - Rose before daybreak & started before sunrise, down the lake. Paddled through the lake and dead water, running that falls, then waded down through the Munsungun quick water, lunching where we camped Sunday night; then we poled, (making fine time down the swift waters and only occasionally having to get out and wade) until early in the afternoon we reached our Saturday camp where we are now. I am very fond of the evenings round the camp fire, beneath the shelter tent.
Thursday, September 11 - Started in fair season, paddled down stream in great style; on the way I shot a wood duck. At the Oxbow we disembarked and walked about 15 miles (half of the way across country) to a rough backwoods house, where we are now. Fare pretty rough, but plenty of good milk, and we have shot our own meat - as, besides the duck, I killed a rabbit and a partridge on the way.
Theodore Roosevelt made several visits to Maine. Yes, there were times, when he was older, that those visits would have been made as necessitated by his politics. However, the majority of his visits were for personal gain. I speak of personal gain in the sense of his own personal health and well-being. We know Maine as, "Vacationland", or as, "The Way Life Should Be". Maine has long been known as a place to "re-create", renew one's self, and contemplate one's purpose or direction. Whether being near the ebb and flow of the mesmerizing coastline or taking in its breathtaking vistas along so many beautiful rivers and mountains, this great state of Maine has drawn many a soul in seeking fresh air and perhaps inner guidance to a fresh start.
TR, late in his sophomore year at Harvard, ca 1878 May
His first visit to Island Falls, Maine was in September 1878
TRC 520.12-003, Houghton Library, Harvard University
Throughout his adult life, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, expressed how much he treasured his visits to Maine as a young man and in particular, how he truly valued the friends he made in Island Falls, during those visits.
William "Bill" W. Sewall - Bio
William W. Sewall - Theodore Roosevelt Center, Dickinson State University, ND
Bill Sewall & Wilmot Dow - The National Park Service
image from a postcard, PWM
Chimney Pond on Mt. Katahdin, image from a postcard, PWM
I strongly recommend you acquire a copy of Andrew Vietze's book, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President. Great reading for all ages.
Hardcover first edition copy
of Andrew Vietze's "Becoming Teddy
Roosevelt" PWM Collection
A great resource for TR's diaries
1877-1886 - A Most Glorious Ride
Edited by Edward P. Kohn
PWM 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!
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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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