Mattawamkeag Railroad Station was constructed in 1871
Photo: Ralph E. Gasner Collection and info from
the 1986 publication; DOWNEAST DEPOTS:
Maine Railroad Stations in the Steam Era by Robert F. Lord
Updated 2-7-2024
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.
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 23" shown on the list (key) above - Mattawamkeag 1878/1879
I first learned details of Theodore Roosevelt's trips to "The County" (Aroostook County, ME) to stay at the Sewall House in Island Falls, with Maine guide William Sewall, from multi-award-winning Maine author, Andrew Vietze. Andrew's 2010 book, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President.
Roosevelt's account of his three trips to the Sewall House in Island Falls all includes stopping at the Mattawamkeag train station. On his first trip in 1878, he was accompanied by two cousins (Emlen Roosevelt and James West Roosevelt), a friend (Will Thompson, and an adult teacher/mentor (Arthur Cutler). Upon disembarking the train in Mattawamkeag, the group boarded a horse-drawn buckboard and made their way together the fifty miles or so, along the rough roadway to the Sewall House in Island Falls.
The next two trips to Island Falls would have a Sewall family member meet TR (and the others in his party in the August '79 trip) at the Mattawamkeag railroad station and then travel the approximately fifty miles to the Sewall House in Island Falls.
Theodore Roosevelt was an active writer starting at a very young age. He kept a journal for many years. Many of those journals are now in the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University. They were a resource for this post.
In his 1878 journal, Roosevelt writes...
Friday, September 6, West, Emlen & myself took the 8:15 train from Boston, en route for the Maine woods where we intend to pass three weeks.
Saturday, September 7, We traveled last night, reaching Mattawamkeag at 10:30, and from there took a buckboard and reached here Island Falls at 8 pm.
Thursday, September 26, Drove in a wagon to Mattawamkeag where we took the night train for Boston...
In his 1879 journal, Roosevelt writes...
Thursday, February 27, I the evening started by 7 pm train for Island Falls, Maine, where I intend to spend a couple of weeks.
Friday, February 28, Reached Mattawamkeag at about 11 am, where I found Will Sewall waiting for me in a sleigh. From there it is 36 miles to Island Falls, where I am now, and it was nearly ten when we arrived here. It is bitterly cold, but still, and we were well wrapped up, so enjoyed the ride very much. The road was hardly broken out, in places.
(In Andrew Vietze's book, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President, page 47, he has a side note on this sleigh trip from Mattawamkeag to Island Falls. The note is based on TR's description in a letter to his older sister Anna; The snow was about three feet deep in most places, drifting to six, and the road in those days often saw so little traffic in winter that the drivers essentially had to plow it themselves, which made for a slow and bumpy ride.)
Saturday, March 15, Started for Mattawamkeag in a sleigh at 5 am. It was a very pleasant day. Took the night train for Boston.
Saturday, August 23, Reached Mattawamkeag at 10 am 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.
When Roosevelt left Maine after his summer 1879 excursion, he took the train to Boston from the Kingman Railroad Station.
Some details on Roosevelt's ride from Mattawamkeag with William Sewall's brother, David Sewall was brought up in a conversation with a newspaper reporter on August 31, 1916...
In the September 2nd edition of The Lewiston Saturday Journal, there is a nice side story of Roosevelt while having a meal at the DeWitt Hotel in Lewiston, with his long-time friend from Island Falls, William W. Sewall, on August 31, 1916.
Ibid
Ibid
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 great source of information for the railroad
stations in Maine. 1986 publication by
Robert F. Lord - PWM Collection and photo
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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