(L-R) - Theodore Roosevelt, William "Bill" Sewall,
and Wilmot S. Dow in the area of Island Falls, ME
March 1879. TRC 520.12-016
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 30" shown on the list (key) above - Oxbow March & September 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. Andrew's book was a resource for this post.
Theodore Roosevelt's first, of three trips, to Island Falls within twelve months, beginning in September 1878, would lead to a life-long, endearing friendship with the Sewalls and Dows (Wilmot S. Dow was Sewall's nephew and also a guide for TR), and also with Maine.
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.
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
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
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.
This post will use excerpts from Roosevelt's 1879 journal describing his two visits to the Oxbow area.
March 1879
(L-R) - William "Bill" Sewall,
Wilmot S. Dow, and Theodore Roosevelt
in the area of Island Falls, ME - March 1879
TRC 520.12-015 Houghton Library, Harvard University
In his 1879 journal, TR describes his winter visit to the Oxbow area with William W. Sewall and Wilmot S. Dow. Only entries that relate to the geography and people are referred to in these excerpts. Roosevelt writes...
Thursday, March 6 - Sewall, Dow and I started with a pony and a shaggy, lean horse for a logging camp 30 miles distant, reaching it after dusk. When we started the thermometer was 10 below zero, but I was too well wrapped up to heed the cold. The roads were frightful; none but a backwoods horse could stand them.
Sunday, March 9 - I like these lumbermen very much and get on capitally with them - great, rough, hospitable fellows. I am great friends with one, in particular, Charley Brown. It rained a little and then froze, improving the snowshoeing greatly, and making the forest look beautifully, each tree covered with glittering icicles.
Tuesday, Match 11 - Started back for Island Falls. It was warmish, sleeting, and raining, and the roads were frightful. Several times the horse floundered off the track into the deep snow drifts we had to unharness him and drag the sleigh ourselves for a hundred yards or so. It was fatiguing work, as we walked all the time, and got wet through and cold and hungry. The road was chiefly through the woods, with every now and then clearings, with the shaggy black cattle and sheep crowding around the barns - the pictures of bleakness. Heard some snow buntings singing beautifully. Reached Island Falls in time for tea.
(Charley Brown is mentioned in the March 9 entry - Charles Russell Brown's older sister, Nancy Clemens Brown, married Samuel Trask Sewall, William W. Sewall's brother. (Thank you to Annette Stevens with the Island Falls Historical Society for locating the family details on Charle R. Brown :) Roosevelt mentions Mr. Brown in his "My Debt to Maine" letter dated March 20, 1918. Roosevelt also introduces Mr. Brown to the audience in Portland, Maine on August 31, 1916.
September 1, 1916 issue of the
Lewiston Dialy Sun - page 6, describes
TR introducing Charles R. Brown to
the audience in Portland on
August 31, 1916.
September 1879
His 1879 journal describes his September visit to the Oxbow area while with William Sewall. Only entries that relate to geography and people are referred to in these excerpts. Roosevelt writes...
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 & some flour; we have a shelter tent, two blankets & some cooking utensils; & one complete change of clothing each. 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 at 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.
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.
(The "Star 29" - Northeast Piscataquis post has TR's Munsungun Lake(s) and Chase Lake journal entries)
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!
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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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