Novelty Notes Connecting Theodore Roosevelt, Maine, and Narcissus

A State of Maine novelty note from NoveltyNotes.com
This is the front of the note. The number "23" refers to Maine
becoming the 23rd State in the United State of America. 
"Maine 1820" refers to the year Maine became the 23rd state.
"Where the Day Begins" refers to the first rays of the sun each
morning reaching the United States by shining on an area
in Maine. Depending on the time of year, Mount Cadillac, in
Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine, is the first.
thirteen years old. He visited the Moosehead Lake area.
Updated 3-16-2023

Click Here for Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - 30 Communities in Maine TR has connections
Click Here for POTUS Theodore Roosevelt's Presidential Tour of Maine - August 26 & 27, 1902
Click Here for Theodore Roosevelt Timeline as it Relates to Seashore Trolley Museum's Railway Coll.
Click Here for Histories of Electric Railways throughout Maine and Narcissus History and Restoration

This is the back of the State of Maine novelty note.
"Dirigo" (I lead) is the State Moto.  Theodore Roosevelt's
guide, William Wingate Sewall's home in Island Falls.
The Eastern White Pine is the State Tree. 

Theodore Roosevelt was attending or had recently graduated
 from Harvard College in Boston, Massachusetts, when he
made his visits to Maine between 1878-1880.

The State Flower for Massachusetts is the Arbutus.
The Arbutus is also the name of one of the sister electric
high-speed interurbans to Narcissus. The Narcissus is
in Kennebunkport, Maine.

what is now North Dakota. Sewall & Dow built the
Elkhorn Ranch house and the various out-buildings
for TR's cattle ranch in the mid-1880s.

The North Dakota quarter on the back of this novelty note
depicts a buffalo. While TR, Sewall, and Dow lived in the
Elkhorn Ranch house, they made a mirror to hang on a wall.
The mirror had one buffalo horn on each of the four
wooden sides that framed the mirror. That original mirror

Yellowstone National Park is the world's first National Park.
In 1890, Theodore Roosevelt visited the park with his second
wife, Edith, and his two sisters, Anna and Corinne.

The back of the Yellowstone National Park novelty note.

In 1897, Theodore Roosevelt became the Assistant Secretary
of the U. S. Navy. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft
carrier (CVN-71) was launched in 1984 and is nicknamed
"Big Stick" in honor of Theodore Roosevelt.

Back of the U.S. Navy novelty note.

The USS Maine battleship was launched in November 1889.
It was commissioned in September 1895. The USS Maine
sunk by an explosion in Havana Harbor, Havana, Cuba in
February 1898.

Theodore Roosevelt resigned from the position of Assistant
Secretary of the Navy to become Lieutenant-Colonel of the
1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (the Rough Riders).
TR served in the Spanish-American War and was
promoted to Colonel before the Battle of San Juan Heights.

After the Spanish War ended, Theodore Roosevelt was elected
Governor of New York in November 1898.
TR was elected Vice-President of the
United States in November 1900.

Back of the above note.

Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of
the United States following the death of President McKinley.
McKinley was shot in Buffalo, NY in September 1901.
Roosevelt is the youngest person to become 
President of the United States.

Construction was completed in 1885 on Theodore
Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, NY.
Roosevelt Memorial Tablet in Fairfield, Maine 1921.
William Sewall was a guest at the dedication ceremony.

established many government land sanctuaries.

The back of the Oregon note has the Oregon State
quarter that features Crater Lake National Park. The park
was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.

2023 is the 120th Anniversary!
Early in 1903, Theodore Roosevelt gave permission to
Morris Michtom of Brooklyn, NY, to sell small stuffed
toy bears, named "Teddy" bears.

Back of the anniversary Teddy Bear note.

The State flag on the left of the note shows alternating red and
yellow rays that represent the 13 original colonies and the
western setting sun. The red and yellow are based on the
colors of the Spanish flag carried into the region. The bottom
half of the flag is the same color blue found in the U.S. Flag.
HOPI 1540 under the flag refers to the first year the
Hopi people provided a tour of their lands to visiting Spaniards.
Grand Canyon National Park, February 26, 1919, the
same day that Acadia National Park at Mount Desert Island,
Maine, became a National Park. 

Theodore Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon a couple
of times early in his presidency. TR established
the Grand Canyon National Monument on January 11, 1908.
As the front of the note shows, the monument became a 
national park in 1919.
 
During his presidency (1901-1909)
POTUS TR used his authority to establish 51 federal
bird reserves, four national game preserves,
five national parks, and 18 national monuments on over
230 million acres of public land.

Theodore Roosevelt definitely believed in 
America the Beautiful. 

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage.
En Route to the U.S., the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank
on April 15, 1912. April 1912 is the same month that 
high-speed electric interurban coaches, Arbutus, Gladiolus,
Clematis, Azalea, and Magnolia were placed.

Interurban arrived was constructed in 1920 and named, Maine,
to honor Maine's Centennial year. April 1912 also is the month
that the Boston Red Sox started playing in Fenway Park.

W. Scott Libbey was the builder of the electric railroad

Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
August 18, 1914.

The front of one of a variety of USA-related novelty notes.

The back of the above note has Mount Rushmore featured.
Theodore Roosevelt is one of four former POTUS
depicted. Roosevelt's sculpture was the final one to be
completed of the four. The dedication for Roosevelt's
sculpture was on July 2, 1939. This was three days before
the deposit was made for acquiring Car 31 from the
Biddeford and Saco Railroad (July 5, 1939). The 
purchase of Car 31 was the birth of what would become
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
On June 29, 1939, four days before the Roosevelt
dedication, the former employees of the
Portland-Lewiston Interuban held its 2nd annual 
reunion lamenting the passing of the
iconic electric railroad.

During the spring of 2022, in North Dakota, next to the
placed in the ground as construction was to begin on the

The goal is for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
to be open to the public during the semiquincentennial of
the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.
July 4, 1776 - 2026.

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
Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland
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
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
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016

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.

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