Theodore Roosevelt addressed a crowd on August 18, 1914,
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
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 6" shown on the list (key) above - Gray 1914/1916
Former POTUS Theodore Roosevelt was in Maine on August 18, 1914 campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates. He spent a little time in Lewiston before boarding the luxury, high-speed electric coach, No. 14, Narcissus, of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) Railroad at the Middle Street carhouse. He would depart for Portland where there was a political rally he would attend.
Roosevelt would once again be a passenger in one of the luxury PLI coaches on August 31, 1916. This time riding in No. 16, Clematis, from Monument Square in Portland to Lewiston. Again, it was a political campaign visit, this time on behalf of the Republican candidates.
Below are newspaper accounts of the two visits involving the stops in Gray.
August 18, 1914
Theodore Roosevelt entered Maine on the morning of August 18, 1914, while aboard the private Pullman car, "Hester." Roosevelt's train made a stop at the Kennebunk railroad station and engaged with locals who had traveled to the station in hopes of catching a glimpse of the former POTUS as his train passed through Kennebunk, or maybe even shaking his hands with him if his train made a stop.
August 19, 1914, issue of the Kennebunk Enterprise, includes a piece on Gray and how Roosevelt, while a passenger of the high-speed, luxury, coach, Narcissus, of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, was pleased to see the flags on display that boys attending a school in Gray had on display on a fence.
The Narcissus is currently being restored to operating condition at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport :)
Front page of the August 19,
1914, Kennebunk Enterprise.
Courtesy of Kennebunkport
Historical Society.
Here's a story that was not reported in this newspaper headlines about Roosevelt's visit when he was in Lewiston, onboard the Narcissus while awaiting its departure to Portland from the PLI station on Middle Street in Lewiston. See the clip below :)
Lewiston Evening Journal, August 19, 1914, 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? :)
Click Here to access the August 19, 1914, online issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal through Google News Archive Search.
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 story published about Roosevelt's visit on August 18. 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 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 over 70 mph were reached from time to time.
Artwork by Maine artist, Amy J. Gagnon
August 31, 1916
Colonel Roosevelt made another summer visit to Maine on August 31, 1916. As he did two years earlier, he again was a passenger on one of the majestic Portland Lewiston Interurbans. This time traveling from Portland to Lewiston onboard No. 16, Clematis. The newspaper reports mention in several places that "moving pictures were taken" and "movie men" were on the scene. Of particular interest is the report below that mentions a movie being taken of TR entering the "special" interurban, Clematis, before departing Monument Square for Lewiston. How I would love to see that footage. One other anecdotal observation is, while in Gray, he calls out from the rear of the interurban, for the whereabouts of the young girl who gave him a bouquet of sweet peas two years earlier. That story is below. (These points and the actual name of the young girl that gave TR the bouquet are also included in the award-winning book, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by multi-award-winning Maine author, Jean Flahive :)
Published by Lewiston Daily Sun
9-1-1916
Portland, ME - (Thursday, August 31)
by the committee. Ibid
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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