Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star #5 - West Falmouth - 1914/1916

Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on No. 16 Clematis on
August 31, 1916, from Portland to Lewiston. Here the

Clematis is seen stopped at the West Falmouth station c 1925

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 5" shown on the list (key) above - West Falmouth 1914

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 (Narcissus) of the P.G. & L. (PLI) Interurban Line, which was waiting in front of the car barn on Middle Street (Lewiston). The start for Portland was made at just 4:20 P.M.

"...Just before reaching West Falmouth the train was again stopped to permit a woman to present Mr. Roosevelt with a large bouquet and a little farther on the stop was made at the West Falmouth station. The party arrived at the Falmouth Hotel in Portland at 5:10 where another large crowd had collected."

The stop at the West Falmouth station would have looked

similar to this scene at the Gray station a few minutes before

Roosevelt, in the Narcissus, stopped at West Falmouth.

No. 14, Narcissus, is currently under restoration at

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME.

O. R. Cummings Collection

The newspaper account of the unexpected stop before the West Falmouth station could have been near the waiting station in West Falmouth at Hurricane Road. Surely, there would have been locals around the station anticipating Roosevelt traveling to the area.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stuart at the PLI waiting station

on Hurricane Road at Gray Road, West Falmouth.

Photo courtesy of  Mrs. Joseph Stinson in The Falmouth

Historical Society

After service was discontinued in 1933, 

the West Falmouth waiting station that was on

Hurricane Road was relocated to

Mrs. William H. Spaulding's property

in West Falmouth, where it became a

seasonal sanctuary for her songbirds.

Image from the Former PLI Employees

Reunion Scrapbook (1938, '39, '40, & '41)

at the Seashore Trolley Museum Library.

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