Millie Book Resources

Welcome to the Educator Resources page for: 

 Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride

These companion curriculum State-standard-based units for

classroom use in grades 3-5 & 6-8 is now available as

open-access resources online through Seashore Trolley

Museum's website is www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/ and

online at Maine Memory Network with other statewide K-12

lesson plans.


Click Here to see the QR Code list for the Homeschoolers' Convention - April 2023


Updated 1-5-2025

Independent Book Publisher, Phil Morse, with
2020 Gold Winner Plaque for The Eric Hoffer
Book Award in the Middle Reader category for
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive.
Bronze winner - 2020 Moonbeam Children's
Book Award, Silver winner - 2019 eLit Award 
2020 Notable Book - Bluseink Starred Review

A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube 


Resource for Classroom Teachers and Homeschool Instruction.

Unit Development:


Vocabulary Activities (Grades 3-8) are based on Tier Two vocabulary words extrapolated from

Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride text using the Maine Department of Education

online Academic Word FinderAdditional grade-level vocabulary words are identified and marked using the

Wordsmyth Vocabulary Inventory (WVI) grade-level band identifier. These are now available as

open-access resources online through Seashore Trolley Museum's website

www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/


Vocabulary and Reading activities include grade-specific Tier Two words from

Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride, including; words to define, crossword puzzles,

word search, chapter discussion questions, figurative language activities, etc.

Appendix of vocab words in their sentences, in alphabetical order, with chapter, page,

Tier Two/WVI band identifier noted. These are now available as open-access resources

online through Seashore Trolley Museum's website

www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/ 


Social Studies Units (History and ELA)

Woven into the Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ridestory are topics that provide opportunities

to help students discover and expand their use and understanding of history, social studies,

language arts, and science. 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, farm and rural life at the turn

of the century, the story of Theodore Roosevelt and his relationship with Maine,

WWI, and 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 the 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
Click Here: Barbara Wilson 1923-2020 Oral History Transcript
Click Here: Rose A. (Goulet) Lange 1908-2002 Oral History Transcript
Click Here: Rosemary E. Davis 1924-2011 Oral History Transcript
Click Here: Elizabeth Megquier Whitney 1918-1921 and Miriam Bisbee 1922-   and
Charlotte Verrill Frost 1920-
Click Here: Ross W. Stahl 1912-2002 Oral History Transcript
Click Here: Walter R. Jackson 1904-1989 - 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.

The ebook is available through Amazon Kindle Click HERE

The audiobook is now available Click HERE to go to the Audible page.

2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook below

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

An image of an original porcelain advertising artifact that was
displayed at the ticket purchasing desk in Lewiston Carhouse
of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban on Middle Street.

 
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride Read along as young Millie grows up in rural Gray, Maine, early in the 20th century. Award-winning Maine author, Jean Flahive, tells us a story through the life and times of Millie and some of her experiences, over several years, with certain people, places, and events that we now know are woven into our common local and national history. Jean's storytelling skillfully rekindles the local romance for the elegant electric interurbans. The original six, each named after a flower, carried passengers on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban from 1914 through 1933. Lewiston businessmen, W. S. Libbey, and Henry Dingley brought them to serve the cities of Portland, Auburn, and Lewiston, and the more rural communities of New Gloucester, Gray, West Cumberland, and West Falmouth, during some of the early years of the 20th century. Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, is currently restoring the Narcissus, the only surviving electric interurban from that storied line. 

For me, one of the real treats will be as readers of this heart-warming story become familiar with and hopefully endeared to the Narcissus. Readers will learn that they can follow the progress of the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places Portland-Lewiston Interurban icon, Narcissus, to its completion over the next two years... and then...come to Seashore Trolley Museum, in Kennebunkport, Maine, and go for an actual ride on the Narcissus! My sense is, that many readers will find this opportunity to be a very appealing extension of the lovely story. One that they and future readers will be able to enjoy for many, many years.

Initial plans for the ribbon-cutting celebration activities started last year with planning continuing to evolve this year into very exciting events over several days. Readers of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride will learn from Millie about her deep, life-long connections to the Narcissus, and will literally, be able to experience the "elegant ride" themselves!

Throughout Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride there are references made to various People, Places, and Events that are woven into the everyday lives of the characters as they experience the early years of the 20th century. Below are links to online sources to assist in conducting research concerning these major people, places, and events mentioned in Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The person, place, or event may be a separate listing or it may be included within a grouping of a related topic. This is the initial post and the expectation is that over time, the resources listed on the page will continue to be edited and new ones added.

People, Places, and Events in Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride with online links to resources

Auburn, Maine
Auburn -  City Website  City of Auburn, Maine
Auburn & Lewiston - Court Street, PLI sites, maps, etc. Narcissus Project blog
Auburn - Androscoggin River City of Auburn
Auburn - Court Street  City of Auburn
Auburn - Deer Rips (Dam)  City of Auburn  - W. S. Libbey and Henry Dingley were the businessmen behind the construction of the Deer Rips Dam. There is a reference to the construction of the dam in the biography of W. S. Libbey that was written by his grandchildren - Click Here to read the biography in the Narcissus Project Blog
Auburn - North Bridge  City of Auburn
Additional online resources for Auburn:
Androscoggin Historical Society
TR Visits to Auburn - TR Heritage Trail post

Camp Fire Girls
Handbook Outsideonline.com
Dr. Luther Gulick and Charlotte Gulick Cornerstone Books
Camp Wohelo  wohelo.com at Sebago Lake
Camp Fire Girls  Ames History Museum
Boy Scouts  Boy Scouts of America
Red Cross  Red Cross

Dark Harbor/Islesboro, Maine

TR's visit to Dark Harbor TR Maine Heritage Trail post
Additional online resources for Islesboro and Dark Harbor:
Dark Harbor map  Town of Islesboro
Islesboro, Maine  Town of Islesboro
Islesboro Historical Society

Henry Dingley - W. S. Libbey and Henry Dingley were business partners for many years. There is a reference to how they met and their early business dealings together in the biography of W. S. Libbey written by his grandchildren - Click Here to read the biography in the Narcissus Project Blog

Gray, Maine -
Gray  Town of Gray
Civil War monument in Gray Town of Gray
Book resources for Gray:
Images of America - Gray, Maine (Antonio's Store, Armistice Parade, Cobbs Hill, Colley Hill Farm, Gray Corners, Gray Town Hall, Hancock School, Osgood's Ice Cream Parlor, Pennell Institute, South Gray Elementary School, Sweetser General Store, Week's Hill, Yarmouth Road,
Online resources for Gray:
Gray Historical Society

Grippe, Influenza, Spanish Flu, Epidemic, and Pandemic
Maine Timeline for Pandemic Maine.gov (Capt. Lawry - Secretary of State Senate (Maine) visited Camp Devens, got sick, and died)
Camp Devens - history U.S. Army
U. S. Surgeon General William Gorgas U.S. Army

Island Falls, Maine
Island Falls VisitMaine.com
Other online resources:
Island Falls Historical Society (Facebook Page)
Theodore Roosevelt visits Island Falls - TR Maine Heritage Trail post

Indian Tribes - Maine
Wabanaki Nation Four Direction Development Corp
Abbe Museum Abbe Museum

Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston  City of Lewiston
The Lewiston Walking History tour  City of Lewiston (Lisbon St., Pecks, Leadbetter's, Libbey Mill, etc.) Lewiston and Auburn Narcissus Project Blog (Lisbon Street, PLI sites, maps, etc.)
TR Visits to Lewiston - TR Maine Heritage Trail post

W. Scott Libbey - Various blog posts on the life of W.S.Libbey:
The Man and His Mill - Click Here for the blog on the biography by the Libbey grandchildren

McGuffey Reader
McGuffey Reader (School book) PDF Gutenberg.org

Narcissus
What is a Narcissus? Gardenia.net
Newspaper story on how W.S. Libbey chose the names of the original interurbans is here...Lewiston Evening Journal...must scroll to Friday, June 26, 1914 - Front Page "Inspected The Libbey Road: Railroad Commissioners' Official Trip Over P, G, & L, Friday - to read the full story, you will need to scroll to page 11 News.Google.com

New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester - Map Town of New Gloucester
Other online resources:
New Gloucester Historical Society

Portland, Maine -
Portland City of Portland
Map - Downtown (Current) City of Portland
1909 Portland street map Maine Memory Network/Maine Historical Society (Streets: Commercial, Crn.Free & Brown, Exchange, Federal, India, Middle, Monument Square, Temple, (waterfront, wharves, seaport)
Falmouth Hotel - Lobby 1900  Maine Memory Network/Maine Historical Society
Grand Trunk Railroad Station Maine Memory Network/Maine Historical Society
S. S. Kresge Company ("Five and Dime") Maine Memory Network/Maine Historical Society
Lincoln Park City of Portland
Union Station (Railroad Station) DigitalMaine
Porteous Department Store - (Christmas Store) Maine Memory Network/Maine Historical Society
Other online resources:
History of Trolleys in Portland (Monument Square) Narcissus Project Blog
Maine Historical Society

Portland-Lewiston Interurban was originally named the Portland, Gray & Lewiston Railroad 
Map details that show areas mentioned in the story...rivers, various stops, etc...reference to cow tunnels, gates, etc., - newspaper story:
Click Here for the link to the Lewiston Evening Journal story of the June 26, 1914 inspection trip by the Maine Railroad Commissioners with many details of the line. When opening the link, the first newspaper, June 23, 1914. You must scroll to the front page of June 26, 1914. The beginning of the article starts on the front page. You must scroll to page 11 (Inspected the Libbey Roads) to read the remaining article.
Click Here for the link to the Lewiston Daily Sun story of the June 26, 1914 inspection trip as reported on page 6 on June 27, 1914. When opening the link, the first newspaper, June 26, 1914. You must scroll to the June 27th edition and go to page six. the complete summary is on this single page.

Seashore Trolley Museum
Seashore Trolley Museum TrolleyMuseum.org
Kennebunkport, Maine Town of Kennebunkport
Other online resources:
Kennebunkport, Maine  Kennebunkport Business Assoc
Kennebunkport Historical Society -

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

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 (Bible Point and TR's letter) Narcissus Project blog
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 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

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

Wason Manufacturing Company -
Wason Manufacturing Company Midcontinent Blog on Wason Manufacturing (the trolley manufacturing portion begins towards the end of page two)

West Cumberland, Maine
Cumberland
Cumberland Fair History Cumberlandfair.com
Other online resources:
Cumberland Historical Society

West Falmouth, Maine
Falmouth City of Falmouth
Other online resources:
Falmouth Historical Society


WWI/The Great War -
Timeline (Includes index to all years/months/days) FirstWorldWar.com
Wilson pledged neutrality FirstWorldWar.com
Cunard's Ocean Liner Lusitania - Ireland/British waters/German Submarines/U-Boats/torpedos
Diplomatic relations off w/Germany...American Liner ship Housatonic sunk the next day...arms deal..other ships sunk FirstWorldWar.com
Joint Session of Congress 4/2/17 - declare War 4-6-17 FirstWorldWar
Conscription/Draft FirstWorldWar.com
Liberty Bonds/Thrift Stamps - Federal Reserve & teacher plans at Study.com
U. S. Treasury Secretary William McAdoo-War/Liberty Bonds/Stamps FirstWorldWar.com
Camp Devens, Ayer, MA - WWI Training Camps FirstWorldWar.com ForcesNetwork
War is over - Armistice FirstWorldWar

Contact Information:
email: p.morse31@gmail.com

Cell phone: 207-985-9723

Linkedin: Phil Morse - Project Sponsor for the Narcissus - 1912
Facebook: Phil Morse - Seashore Trolley Museum
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.