Theodore Roosevelt Timeline Parallel with STM Railway Collection Part 1 - 1858-1900

Theodore Roosevelt utilized rail transportation throughout
his life. August 31, 1916, TR was a passenger aboard

the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 16, Clematis.

He would also ride a PLI  interurban, No. 14, Narcissus,

August 18, 1914.  The Narcissus is currently undergoing

restoration in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the

 Seashore Trolley Museum's Town House Restoration Shop.

Updated 3-12-2023

Part 1 - 1858-1900

Click Here - Part 2 - 1901-1909

Click Here - Part 3 - 1910-1919

Theodore Roosevelt's Timeline and Parallels with

Seashore Trolley Museum's Historic Railway Collection 

(Excerpts in  part from Trolley Car Treasury, (1956) by Frank Rowsome)

      In the year of TR's birth, 1858, Philadelphia opened its first horsecar line.

Horse Railroads/Horse-drawn passenger cars (horsecars) on rails, first came onto the public transportation scene in the late 1820s. They evolved from the earlier horse-drawn omnibus, which was basically a city version of the stagecoach. Manhattan had its first horsecar line in 1832. By the early 1850s, horsecar lines had been spreading throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Horse Railroad of Fryeburg, Maine 1887-1917 - postcard above

postmarked October 22, 1909 Collection of  PWM

     Many forms of "horseless" cars were tried over many years, but the system that ultimately won out was the electrically-fed trolley car designed by Frank Julian Sprague and first put into large-scale operation in Richmond, VA beginning in January 1888.

     Seashore Trolley Museum's extensive collection includes railway vehicles and buildings that were built and were part of the fabric of public transportation throughout TR's life.

Trolley description details from the Seashore Trolley Museum website, A guide to the Seashore Trolley Museum Collection, and from Historic Cars by Ben Minnich.

Theodore Roosevelt's timeline info was taken from NPS Theodore Roosevelt's Timeline.

Theodore Roosevelt (Left)                               Seashore Trolley Museum Collection (Right)

Timelines (abridged)

Click Here for the 28th East 20th Street - site                             To see more details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's First Visit to Maine - site                        in the Museum's Collection Click Here

Click Here for the Island Falls Maine began in 1878 - site           and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                      To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places Click Here

Click Here for the TR visits MDI - site                                      To see more details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's wife Alice Lee related - site                      in the Museum's Collection Click Here

Click Here for the Dakota Territory related - site                         and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                         Click Here for a brief history of the Mousam River RR

                                                     To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places Click Here

Click Here for the Elkhorn Ranch - site                                    To see more details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's wife Edith Carrow - site                         in the Museum's Collection Click Here

                                                                                         and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                                   

                                           To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places Click Here

Click Here for the Rough Riders - site                                     To see more details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the Spanish American War - site                          in the Museum's Collection Click Here

Click Here for the Remember the Maine - site                          and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                  Click Here for a brief history of the Biddeford & Saco RR

Click Here - Part 2 - 1901-1909

Click Here - Part 3 - 1910-1919

                                                                                                                          

Resources 

Many Theodore Roosevelt-related Links are here - scroll down from here 

Following the guidance of the Maine Department of Education, these lesson plan units target the

2019 Maine Learning Results for Social Studies and Common Core State Standards:

English Language Arts Standards > History/Social Studies > Grades 6-8

The lesson plans in this companion to the curriculum explore a variety of topics including;

• The history of the trolley used in early 20th Century Maine
• Maine rural life at the turn of the century,
• The story of Theodore Roosevelt and his relationship with Maine
• World War One
• The flu pandemic of 1918-1920

Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson plan units inspired

by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These companion curricula State-standard-based

units for classroom use in grades 3-5 & 6-8 are now available as open-access

resources online through Seashore Trolley Museum's website

www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/ and online at

Maine Memory Network with other statewide K-12 lesson plans. 

Content Areas and Strands:

* Social Studies - Civics & Government

* Social Studies - Geography

* Social Studies - History

Duration: 8-18 days

Time Period: 1851-1920

Bicentennial Themes:

* Living in Maine

* The Business of Maine

* Maine Leads

* The Maine Character

Intended Outcomes:

• Students will practice the skills involved in researching and analyzing primary sources.
• Students will practice historical research skills.
• Students will be able to identify different modes of transportation historically used in Maine
• Students will be able to answer why the use of the trolley system was innovative and efficient.
• Students will be able to identify different types of trolley cars that were used in Maine.
• Students will be able to describe the history of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and the Narcissus.
• Students will be able to describe the shift from small family farms to commercial farming in ME.
• Students will be able to identify the major agricultural industries and products historically associated with Maine.
• Students will be able to describe life on an early 20th-century Maine family farm and how life has changed in Maine since the early 1900s.
• Students will be able to describe the difference between attending school in the early 20th century and attending school today.
• Students will be able to explain Theodore Roosevelt's connections to Maine and the people of Maine.
• Students will be able to describe the work and accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt.
• Students will be able to describe the platform of the Bull Moose Party.
• Students will be able to explain the role and duties of the president of the United States.
• Students will consider what qualities and skills would make a person a good candidate for President of the United States.
• Students will be able to describe the lives, work, and contributions of Americans on the home front during World War I using primary resources.
• Students will be able to explain what propaganda is and how it was used by the U. S. government during World War I.
• Students will be able to describe what many soldiers faced during World War I.
• Students will be able to describe the impact of the 1918-1920 flu pandemic on World War I and the people in Maine.

Titles of Companion Lesson Plan Units

* "Clang, Clang, Clang, Went the Trolley..."

* Then and Now: Life in Maine

* Maine Agriculture

* The Narcissus and the PLI (Portland-Lewiston Interurban)

* Teddy Roosevelt in Maine

* President Theodore Roosevelt 

* World War l Letters

* United States Home Front and Propaganda during World War l

Vocabulary (Word banks and Reading activities) for grades 3-8, along with grades 6-8 ELA and History/Social Studies unit lesson plans are available now at www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/

Links to blog posts that include materials related to Lesson Plans above - More will be added over time

* "Clang, Clang, Clang, Went the Trolley..."

Click Here: Destinations Travel Times by Trolley "In-State" and to "Out-of-State"

Click Here: Field Guide to Maine Trolley Car Types - the 1870s-1930s

Click Here: Poetry Inspired by Trolleys and Operators 1898-1940

* Then and Now: Life in Maine

Click Here: Mildred Knowles Obrey 1908-2007 Oral History Transcript

* The Narcissus and the PLI (Portland-Lewiston Interurban)

Click Here: Narcissus and the PLI 

Continue to scroll down to see links and resources People, Places, and Events in Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride.

Click Here to go to the People, Places, and Events online resource post

Theodore Roosevelt
His Life and Times on Film -  Timeline - Library of Congress
Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - World War I  Theodore Roosevelt Center
Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - The Life of Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - Brief Biography Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - Connections to Maine Narcissus Project Blog
TR - 26th President of the U.S. Whitehouse.gov
TR - Rough Rider in the White House (43a) USHistory.org
TR - Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt (First Wife) Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - Alice Lee Roosevelt (First Daughter) Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - Edith Carrow Roosevelt (Second Wife) Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - Spanish-American War Theodore Roosevelt Center
TR - "Remember the Maine!" (44c)  USHistory.org
TR - Spanish-American War and Its Consequences (44d) USHistory.org
TR - 1912 Presidential Election (43f) USHistory.org
TR - Amazon Expedition/River of Doubt-Videos Library of Congress
TR - Malaria MentalFloss
TR - Panama Hat President1906
TR - My Debt to Maine (TR's letter) TR Maine Heritage Trail post
TR - Sagamore Hill National Park Service
TR - Sagamore Hill Friends of Sagamore Hill
TR - Died January 6, 1919/Young Memorial Cemetery-Video Library of Congress
TR - Quotes ("Feet on the Ground...") Goodreads
TR - General Wood  First World War

TR - African Safari - 1909

Suffrage/Women's Rights
Maine and national  Maine Suffrage Centennial
Women's Suffrage At Last (42-c) USHistory.org
Florence Whitehouse - suffragette/publicist Red Cross - Maine items - Maine Memory Network
Federal Suffrage amendment - Maine and National resources Maine Suffrage Centennial
TR quotes in support of Women's Rights Theodore Roosevelt Association
TR at Sagamore Hill with Suffragettes Library of Congress video
19th Amendment to the Constitution Interactive Constitution

TR Children WW I - library of congress videos
Sons in Regiments - WWI-Video Library of Congress
Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt, Jr (First Son) Theodore Roosevelt Center
Kermit Roosevelt (Second Son) Theodore Roosevelt Center
Archibald (Archie) Roosevelt (Third Son) Theodore Roosevelt Center
Quentin (Fourth Son) Military.com
Ethel Roosevelt (Second Daughter) Theodore Roosevelt Center

TR and the Badlands/Dakota Territory
Timeline  Theodore Roosevelt Center

William (Bill) W. Sewall
William W. Sewall Theodore Roosevelt Center
Bill Sewall & Wilmot Dow - National Park Service
Mattawamkeag, Maine (train station) Mattawamkeag Facebook page
"The County" - Aroostook County

TR's visits to Island Falls 1878 & 1879 TR Maine Heritage Trail post

Politics
Bull Moose Party Britannica.com
Bull Moose Party Progressivism Sweeps the Nation 42 USHistory.org
Progressive Party - Student-Teacher Resource Study.com
Progressive Party U-S-History.com
Republican Party - 1916 UCSB.edu
Conservative/Progressive wings of Republican Party 1916 Library of Congress
Democratic Party - 1916 UCSB.edu
William McKinley (25th President of the U. S.) Whitehouse.gov
William Howard Taft (27th President of the U.S.) Whitehouse.gov
Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the U.S.) Whitehouse.gov
Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom-43g USHistory.org
Charles Evan Hughes ConstitutionCenter.org

A portion of my collection of TR-related books :)

We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 110+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Restoration work continues on the Narcissus at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The only surviving interurban of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.

     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.

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

     The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project. 

Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online

Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online

Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in Maine:

Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza

The Book Review, Falmouth

The Bookworm, Gorham

Letterpress Books, Portland

Maine Historical Society Store, Portland

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland

Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk

New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester

Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland

Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport

Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations

Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester

Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride

by Jean M. Flahive

Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon

Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook 

     Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would-running full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.

A resource for teachers 

Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,

vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8

are available online as downloadable resources through

Seashore Trolley Museum's website

www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/

Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5.  Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/

Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.

A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive

Click Here to watch the video on YouTube 

Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive

    

Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.

     Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban)  Click Here 

Thank You!

Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing

the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.

Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society

The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,

circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell

Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum

L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the

Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in

Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee

The Narcissus in the restoration shop in 2022 PWM

   Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.

See below for Donation options -

It starts with YOU

Your Donation Matters

Make a Donation TODAY

Please Help the Narcissus. 

Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:

The New England Electric Railway Historical Society

is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar

Museum in Lowell (MA). 

The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.

Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:

New England Electric Railway Historical Society

In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming

please write: PLI Education Fund 817

For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816

Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum

              P. O. Box A

              Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you

may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card

automatically on a monthly basis. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.

Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card: 

Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type in: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.

Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:

For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration

For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs

Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of

securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,

for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.

BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will

"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit

educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)

Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:

Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.

Thank You :)

Thank You for our Current Funding Partners

* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund

* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant 

* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014

* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations

* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant

* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants

* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant

* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations

* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations

* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015

* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017

* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010

* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations

* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations

* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series

* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI

* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation

* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations

* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations

* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016

* Seal Cove Auto Museum

The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.

Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.

Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,

you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.

PWM photo

Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.

Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the

Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR

was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.

Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson

The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.

Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!

Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this

National Historic Treasure at

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.