William "Bill" Sewall, a dear friend of Theodore Roosevelt, with his hand on the
Roosevelt Memorial Tablet on September 5, 1921, on the "Good Will-Hinckley" trail.
A stone from Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, NY, is tucked in
between the three larger stones of the monument. Photo courtesy of
Update: 7-11-2026
May 31, 2026, Joe Banavige released this wonderful American 250 Tribute to William W " Bill" Sewall, TR's Maine guide (along with Wilmot Dow, Bill's nephew)
Click here to see Joe's Substack post
I first started researching Theodore Roosevelt in 2010. As a volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, I oversaw the Narcissus project (Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914). This initial research piqued my curious nature. I wanted 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, and 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 or links to local resources/venues.
Key by "Designs by Reece" - Reece Saunders
Today, we describe Moose C - shown on the list (key) above - Fairfield 1921
A close-up photo of the memorial tablet located on the
Good Will-Hinkley trail in Fairfield. Edith Roosevelt,
Theodore's widow selected the stone in the center used for the
memorial from Sagamore Hill property, Roosevelt's home.
PWM photo 9-16-2016
George W. Hinckley is seen in this image with the
Roosevelt Memorial. Hinckley was the founder
of the Good Will-Hinckley Home for Boys and Girls
in Fairfield and served orphans and other needy children.
The school opened in 1889, and Hinckley ran it until 1919,
when G. W's son, Walter, took over. G. W. Hinckley continued
to be actively involved in the school for many more years.
This photo was taken from the same steps where Mr.
Hinckley is standing in the photo above.
PWM photo 9-16-2016
The trail where the Roosevelt Memorial is located begins at the
Dartmouth Trail field stone entrance. The fieldstone entrance was
constructed in 1915 with funds from the Outing Club of
Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Trail "D" on the map key.
The Roosevelt Memorial is on the Dartmouth Trail.
There are nearly 3 miles of trails. PWM photo 9-16-2016
To visit the Roosevelt Memorial at Good Will-Hinckley. To see the network of trails and the daily schedule, click here: Trail Map
The L.C. Bates Museum
Inspiring Wonder
At Good Will-Hinckley
14 Easler Rd, Hinckley, ME 04944
207-238-4250 gwh.org/lcbates
Email: lcbates@gwh.org
Thank you to Deborah Staber, Museum Curator at
the L. C. Bates Museum, for her continued help with this project.
PWM photo 9-16-2016
Benches facing towards the back of the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet.
PWM photo 9-16-2016
A. Newton Plummer, a former resident at the GW Farm, became a well-known financial writer in New York. Mr. Plummer stayed connected with Good-Will Farm and provided leadership and financial support to promote the organization. Mr. Plummer also had great respect for Theodore Roosevelt. Following the death of Theodore Roosevelt in 1919, it was Mr. Plummer's idea to erect and provide financial support for a memorial tablet to honor Mr. Roosevelt and to also erect a similarly designed bird bath in the newly proposed thirty-acre Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary. Both would be located within the GW Farm trail system.
Below are various communications concerning the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet and the Bird Bath in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials below are in the collection of the L. C. Bates Museum on the campus of Good Will-Hinckley in Fairfield, Maine, courtesy of Deborah Staber, Museum Curator.
Below is a handwritten response to Mr. Plummer. Edith Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt's widow, wrote the letter, expressing her willingness to work with him to supply a stone for the memorial.
Below is the typed note from Newton Plummer detailing Edith Roosevelt's response to his request.
Below is Good-Will's summary report of the dedication of the Roosevelt Memorial on September 5, 1921.
On pages 231 and 232 of the Good Will Record dated October 1921.
Below is a more recent photo of the plaque on the Roosevelt Memorial Tablet stone.
The monument was created by a resident of GW Farm,
A. Newton Plummer. Plummer reached out to
Mrs. Roosevelt about his idea for the monument to her
then-recently departed husband. Mrs. Roosevelt hand-picked the stone
used in the monument from Roosevelt's estate,
Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY. PWM photo 9-16-2016
Below is the text on the memorial plaque. On page 230 of the Good Will Record dated October 1921.
Below is the description of the activities with Bill Sewall after the dedication. On pages 183 and 184 of the Chronicles of Good Will Home - 1889-1989.
Below is a handwritten letter from Bill Sewall to Newton Plummer.
Below are Newspaper clippings. And a photo of the monument of the dedication. Numerous newspapers throughout New England and in the Northeast published this release. Notice it mentions "...part of a movement to mark the places visited in Maine by Roosevelt when he was a young man." Hmm...one hundred years later, this blogger is rekindling that movement's desire :)
Below is the letter from Hermann Hagedorn. Director of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and Theodore Roosevelt biographer, to Mr. Plummer.
Below is a letter from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, III, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, assistant and son of the former POTUS, to Mr. Plummer
Below is TR III's letter to Mr. Plummer on page 62 of the Good Will Record dated March 1922.
Below is the letter from Hermann Hagedorn, Director of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and Theodore Roosevelt biographer, to Mr. Plummer, stating that the photo of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Tablet will be added to the Association's Permanent Collection.
Below is a letter from Corrine Roosevelt Robinson, Theodore Roosevelt's sister, to Mr. Plummer.
Below is a letter from Good Will Home Association to Mr. Pummer, with a copy of a photograph enclosed of the newly constructed Bird Bath placed in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary at Good Will Farms.
Below is a series of four clippings describing the Bird Bath. The source and dates will follow when they are confirmed.
Below are two Photos of the newly constructed Bird Bath in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary on the trails of the "Good-Will Farm." Dates to follow soon :)
Below is a photo of a view while on the "Good Will-Hinckley" Trail.
Click here to see the Trail Map
Signage identifies the various species on the trail.
PWM photo 9-16-2016
A portion of my collection of TR-related books :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View
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
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 first captivate, fascinate, then generate 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 donating 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 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
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
