Dyer Library Presentation - Trains & Trolleys of Saco (Maine) : The Leavitt Connection 4-15-2025

Dyer Library and Saco Museum 371 Main Street, Saco, Maine,

Lower photos - Foster Leavitt, Sr, Foster Leavitt, Jr, and Edward Leavitt

(Foster, Sr's younger brother) Postcard of the first-day operation of

the Flying Yankee in 1935. It stopped in Old Orchard Beach.

Both images in the Foster Leavitt, Sr., Collection, courtesy of Mike Leavitt

Lower right photo of a portion of the Foster Leavitt, Jr. diorama

made by him to commemorate his experience when he was 5 years old,

1935, and joined his parents in riding the Flying Yankee that first

day from OOB station to Saco - PWM photo

    Here is the series of slides I used during the presentation at Dyer Library on Tuesday evening, April 15, 2025. This blog post will add some details and some links for posts related to several of the topics mentioned throughout the talk. Thank you to Mike Leavitt, son of Foster Leavitt, Jr., for sharing family photos and stories with me. The Leavitt family has 125 years of direct connections with the Seashore Trolley Museum's Biddeford & Saco Railroad open car No. 31. This presentation provides some information on those family connections that include local community connections in Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach. The Dyer Library and Saco Museum together have been a wonderful basis for the Leavitt family archives.

Sign at the main entrance for the Seashore Trolley Museum in

Kennebunkport, Maine, at 195 Log Cabin Road. Below the sign is Car 31,

on July 15, 1939, as it waits to be delivered to the initial 10 acres of land

in Kennebunkport, which is now where the main entrance is today.

Photos in the Seashore Trolley Museum

The aerial view on the right shows the main entrance on the lower left and

much of the main campus of the Seashore Trolley Museum. 

Google Earth screenshot

Dyer Library has donated many dioramas and individual models to the

Seashore Trolley Museum from their Foster Leavitt, Jr. collection. The

Trolley Museum will display the Leavitt pieces in the Museum's new

Model Railroad building. Photo STM

Interior photos of the Trolley Museum's model railroad/railway 

Photo STM

Interior photos of the Trolley Museum's model railroad/railway 

Photo STM

A few of the incredibly beautiful railroad and railway items made by

Foster Leavitt, Jr., donated to the Seashore Trolley Museum. Photos PWM

Top left screenshot from Great Documentaries YouTube page

Top right photos of the front and back cover of the DVD of PWM

Click Here: to go to the YouTube documentary or click on the video below

Click Here: to see the post 90 Communities in Maine with Electric Railway Service

Click Here: to see the post 57 Million Passengers Carried on Maine Electric Railways 1915

Click Here: Biography of the Electric Railway King of the Pine Tree State - Amos Fitz Gerald

The Leavitt family has been connected to Car 31 for 125 years!

Top left - Charles "Bob" Leavitt worked for the Biddeford & Saco RR (BSRR)

for 39 years beginning in 1896. He was a motorman and conductor and

operated Car 31, beginning when Car 31 first arrived in Saco in 1900. Both of his

sons, Foster Leavitt, Sr., and Edward "Eddie" Leavitt, also worked for the BSRR

and operated Car 31 (top center photo - Foster is motorman, Eddie is conductor).

Top right - Foster Leavitt, Sr, Foster Leavitt, Jr, and Eddie Leavitt, 1939.

Lower Left - Foster Leavitt, Sr., and Edward "Eddie" Leavitt on Car 31 at

Seashore Trolley Museum. They were members and operators during the

1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s at the Trolley Museum. Lower center and right -

Mike and Judy Leavitt with daughters Natalie and Amanda in 1999 at 

Dyer Library/Saco Museum, and in 2023, with all their family members

on Car 31 at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Photos from Mike Leavitt, PWM, and STM

Photo in the O R Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Biddeford & Saco Railroad

Left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Right - PWM

Photos on the left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos on the right - Foster Leavitt, Sr., courtesy Mike Leavitt

Map - Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Newspaper - Biddeford Daily - June 7, 1900

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 arriving and other activities of the B&SRR in 1900

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Atlantic Shore Line Railway 1900-1910

Photo left  - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo right - courtesy McArthur Public Library 

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo top left  - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo bottom left - PWM - right - courtesy Donald Curry Coll.

Photo/postcard - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Portland Railroad going through Scarborough

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

 

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo right - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Collection courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Trolley Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Stained glass photo - PWM

Click Here - for the post on Electric Railway Fans visiting the B&S RR and Mrs. Anthony at Bay View

to spend time with 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 10, Arbutus

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Postcards - PWM

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

In June 1999, the Seashore Trolley Museum brought Car 31

to Saco to begin an 8-day "Home Tour" to celebrate the 60th

anniversary of Car 31 being saved and establishing the Seashore Trolley Museum.

The bottom photo is from 1999 in Old Orchard Beach with the

 same building in the background, 60 years after the photo

of Car 31 in the same location was taken on June 18, 1939.

Photo top right  - O. R. Cummings Coll. Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo bottom right - PWM

Click Here - for the post on the Fan Trip on June 18, 1939 - Car 31 Chosen to be Saved

Click Here - for the post on the 1999 Car 31 Home Tour Celebration

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 as one of the Ten STM National Register of Historic Places Vehicles

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the final day of trolley operations at the Biddeford & Saco Railroad, July 5, 1939

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Newspaper clipping from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection courtesy Mike Leavitt.

The photo on the right has Ralph Meserve sitting in the CMP office

with Foster Leavitt, Sr., circa 1960

Left - Foster Leavitt, Sr. (L), is with his brother, Edward Leavitt is at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Upper photo - Motorman Foster Leavitt, Sr. with conductor Edward Leavitt on Car 31 at STM

Right - Foster Leavitt, Sr. at STM

Newspaper clippings and photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Book photo on right - PWM

Newspaper from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos and newspaper clippings from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photo on left - PWM - Newspaper clipping from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll.

courtesy Mike Leavitt. Photo of Ralph Meserve courtesy of Tricia Erikson

Photo left - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photo right - PWM

1999 photos - PWM - 2023 photos courtesy Mike Leavitt

Top photos - PWM

Bottom photo from the Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 arriving in Kennebunkport on July 15, 1939

Click Here - for the 7-minute video of B&SRR trolleys operating 1936-1939, or click below 

Click Here - for the 9-plus min. video of B&SRR trolleys operating 1936-1939 and buses operating 1953, or click below

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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 first captivates, then 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 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

85 Years Ago Today - July 5, 1939 - Trolley Cars Final Day - Buses Take Over the B&S RR - Deposit Made For Car 31

One of five new ACF-Brill buses is behind the Birney Car

No. 616 at the end of the line at Old Orchard Beach late in

June 1939. Operators of the new buses were in training

until Trolley operations ended on July 5, 1939.

The buses would replace all the trolley cars on the Biddeford and Saco Railroad,

beginning the morning of  July 6, 1939.

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_15_118 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Happy 85th Anniversary!!

Eighty-five years ago today, on July 5, 1939, trolley cars provided their final day of public transportation for the communities served by the Biddeford Saco Railroad. July 5th was also the day that Ted Santarelli, on behalf of a small group of young men working together to save open car No. 31, of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad, from being scrapped, was able to pay a deposit to the General Manager/President of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad, J. Burton Stride.

The deposit delayed the date Car 31 might be scrapped. The balance of the cost to purchase Car 31, needed to be paid by June 14th. Ted Santarelli and his group of friends were still working hard to overcome several challenges. They were successful, and on July 15, 1939, Car 31 was transported to what is now the main entrance to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. This series of activities led to the beginning of what is now the Seashore Trolley Museum and will be explained in the next post :)

Here is the link to the next post July 15, 1939

Click Here

There will be many special events at the Seashore Trolley Museum during this 85th Anniversary season.

Click Here: The Seashore Trolley Museum's website home page.

This blog post is going to focus on the transition of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad from Trolleys to Buses.  It includes a story told by Foster Leavitt, Sr. Foster operated the last trolley that carried public passengers on the final night of public operations for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad, July 5, 1939

The next post will follow the activities that took place after the June 18, 1939, fan trip featured in the previous post, i.e., the eight men who were able to contribute some money towards the expenses, as well as working on the tasks needed to save, transport, and provide property for Car 31's "new home." These eight men would become known as the founders of the Seashore Trolley Museum.

The "Mother Car" of all trolley museums in the world,
 Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company No. 31 at

the Seashore Trolley Museum. 

Photo courtesy of Dan Vardaro.

Click Here: Read about Car 31 and the Biddeford and Saco Railroad during the year that Car 31 arrived in the Biddeford-Saco area, 124 years ago, on June 6, 1900.

Car 31 has the unique distinction of being the first trolley car (anywhere in the world) to be saved by a group of individuals to start a trolley museum. The Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, was founded in 1939 with the acquisition of Car 31. Car 31 is recognized as the "Mother Car" of all trolley museums worldwide. Car 31 is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is also a member of Save America's Treasures.

Click Here: Ted Santarelli tells the story of how Car 31 was saved. Santarelli was one of the young men who saved Car 31 in 1939, and in doing so, became one of the founders of the Seashore Trolley Museum.

Click Here: Car 31 Returned Home to Biddeford, Saco, and OOB in 1999 - 60th Anniversary Home Tour

Some of the text in this post is taken from the 1989 publication, Streetcars To Old Orchard Beach: The Biddeford and Saco Railroad and Connecting Lines by O. R. Cummings and Edward D. Leavitt.

Buses Take Over

Replacing trolleys with buses began in

other Maine communities in the 1920s.

Biddeford, Saco, & Old Orchard Beach

joined in the trending movement in 1939.

Sanford was still a few years from

totally completing the transition. 

Journal Tribune - June 8, 1939 - Pg 10

    On April 29, 1939, the directors of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad Company authorized company president Stride to seek authority from the Public Utilities Commission to operate motor coaches. On May 6, Stride was empowered by the BSRR Board to purchase "such buses as he deems best suited to our needs and execute necessary contracts for same." 

    The Biddeford and Saco Railroad announced that modern buses would replace the trolley cars serving the Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach communities (on) about June 20th (1939).

    This announcement of the buses taking over was learned by three friends who were trolley fans. They were fond of the Biddeford and Saco line, in particular, the open cars used in regular daily operations during spring, summer, and fall. Practically in unison, they blurted out the need to try and save one of the trolley cars of the Biddeford and Saco. Over the next few weeks, they would work together to gather friends, raise money, and implement a plan to save one of the cars. These actions would lead to the founding of what we know as the Seashore Trolley Museum.

Biddeford Saco Journal - May 25, 1939 - page 2

    The arrival of the buses was delayed. The State Public Utilities Commission authorized the replacement of trolley cars with buses. The Biddeford and Saco announced the new date of the change to buses that took place on July 5, 1939.

Biddeford Daily Journal - June 22, 1939

Daily Kennebec Journal - June 23, 1939

    Five buses, each seating 29 passengers, had been ordered from the ACF Brill Motors, and with their arrival, the training of operators began. By early July, all was in readiness, and the last trolleys were run on Wednesday, July 5, with the buses being placed in operation the next morning.

Portland Press Herald - June 23, 1939

    As Day One of bus operation approached, many residents of Biddeford and Saco took sentimental last trolley rides to the beach, and the railway did a land office business on July 1 and 2 and on Independence Day. Every available open car was in service on the holiday, and Birney cars were run as well.

Biddeford Daily Journal - June 24, 1939

        All the remaining trolley cars (24), except for Open Car 31 and the body of Birney Safety Car No. 615 (both are at the Seashore Trolley Museum), that were still at the Beach Street Carbarn of the B&SRR on July 5, 1939, were all going to be scrapped within several days of the buses taking over. The car barn itself was also going to be totally razed and replaced with a new building to house/maintain the bus fleet.

    Reportedly, on July 5, three open cars and three Birney cars were on the line during the final day, with open Car No. 246, an ex-Portland car making the last regular trip off the beach at night. Later, Birney Car No. 616, running as a charter car, carried the mayor and city councilors of Saco on a round trip between the city hall and the beach. Eugene I. Hill was the motorman, and when No. 616 returned to the Beach Street Carhouse, well after midnight, the power was shut off, and trolley operations in Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach were a thing of the past. In addition to open car 246, we know open Car 31 was also used to carry passengers on July 5, 1939, and that Birney Car No. 605 was used as well. 

This full-page article for folks to save on the final day of trolley operations on the Biddeford and Saco railroad on July 5, 1939, is below and is divided into separate segments...fyi

Full Page - Biddeford Daily Journal - July 5, 1939

Ibid

Ibid

A copy of the photo used in the newspaper article above.

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_16_058 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Ibid

Ibid

Biddeford and Saco Box Car No. 10. Built in 1899. Arrived

in Saco early in 1900 and operated on the line until the end in 1939.

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_15_062 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Ibid

Biddeford and Saco Open Car No. 246 was the last

open car to operate on the line on July 5, 1939.

Here is a photo of Open car No. 246 waiting on the siding on Beach Street

across from the Saco Carhouse. Photo taken during the June 18, 1939, fan trip.

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_14_143

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

The Seashore Trolley Museum does have one of the next-generation

ACF-Brill buses, from 1947. Here is No. 31. It seats 39.

Matt Cosgro photo - 

Courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

Ibid

This is a copy of the photo used in the article above. Single-truck

Open Car, No. 21. A 10-bench open car built in 1896 for the BSRR.

Operated on the line until 1920.

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_16_059 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

ibid

Ibid

The one-man cars from 1919-1939 were mostly

Birney Safety Cars. Either made by American Car Co.

or Wason Company.

Ibid

Here is a photo of No. 34, one of the many single-truck, one-man,

Birney Safety Cars by the BSRR from 1919 until 1939. 

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_16_013 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Beach Street Carbarn of the BSRR.

Ibid

Here is a photo of the Saco Carbarn. The handful of Birney Safety Cars

seen are all being prepared to be scrapped.  1939

 O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_14_162 

Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Birney Safety Car No. 605, operated by Ray Bellefieulle,

at "Cemetery Curve" on Beach Street, about to enter

Orchard Street (now Old Orchard Road) en route to

Old Orchard Beach on the final day of trolley car operations

on the Biddeford and Saco Railroad - July 5, 1939.

Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection 

Courtesy of Mike Leavitt

Open Car No. 31 crossing the Saco River as it approaches

Biddeford from Saco on July 5, 1939, the final day of

trolley car operations for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad.

Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection 

Courtesy of Mike Leavitt

    Foster Leavitt, Sr, and his brother, Edward (Eddie), were both motormen and conductors for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad when the transition to buses happened. Their father, Charles "Bob" Leavitt, had worked for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad for thirty-nine years, beginning in the late 1890s. As mentioned in the opening text of this post, Eddie is the co-author with O. R. Cummings on the 1989 publication, Streetcars To Old Orchard Beach: The Biddeford and Saco Railroad and Connecting Lines by O. R. Cummings and Edward D. Leavitt. Foster Leavitt Sr. and his brother Eddie were both members of the Seashore Trolley Museum and were volunteer motormen/conductors and dispatchers. in the 1970s and 80s.

    During a Trolley Museum event on August 31, 1988, Foster Leavitt, Sr, was interviewed by member Edward Dooks. The recording was transcribed by Ed. Here is a portion of the interview where Foster describes working at the B&S during the end of the trolleys.

"I operated the last open trolley car, the last regular run out of Old Orchard Beach through Biddeford and Saco and back to the barn after midnight, July 5, 1939, when they started buses the next day. I remember we had the instructor from the ACF Company teaching us how to drive buses, and we had him on the trolley with us. We let him run it just a little, but I'll tell you it was a little bit wild. There was a fairly good load of people in the car, local people mostly. The atmosphere was on the sad side; it was to me anyway. This is something I had been born to really. My Dad worked on the trolleys as a motorman for 39 years, so it was sort of bred into me, I guess, and I still miss it today. Of course, Seashore does help."

Open Car No. 246, about to depart from the end of the line in

Old Orchard Beach at midnight. Motorman, Foster Leavitt, Sr,

with conductor, Jim Feeney, during the final public ride for

the Biddeford and Saco Railroad on the night of July 5, 1939.

Photo by Edward D. Leavitt in the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection 

Courtesy of Mike Leavitt

The final trolley to operate on the Biddeford and Saco railroad on

the night of July 5, 1939, was the special charter ride for the Mayor

of Saco and the many City Council members of Saco. Here they

are just before boarding Birney Safety Car No. 616. Far left is

the operator, Eugene "Gene" Hill.

Photo - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection 

Courtesy of Mike Leavitt

The final trolley to operate on the Biddeford and Saco railroad on

the night of July 5, 1939, was the special charter ride for the Mayor

of Saco and the many City Council members of Saco. Here they are

on Birney Safety Car No. 616, with the BSRR operator, Gene Hill,

standing in the back. The Saco  City officials: Sitting on the Left -

Robert Alexander, Alderman, Louis Brock, Mayor, Roland Emerson,

Alderman, Myron Dolby, Alderman, and Mr. Oneil, Jailer. 

Sitting on the Right - four seats back - William Wright and Leon Libby

Photo - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection 

Courtesy of the Saco Museum

 The first buses left both Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach at 6 am., Thursday, July 6, the initial schedule called for 69 trips daily from Biddeford to Old Orchard Beach and 72 trips in the opposite direction. The 15-minute headway of the trolleys was continued, and the running time was one-half hour, the 15-cent through fare being retained. Four coaches appear to have been in service at one time, the fifth being held in service.

Portland Press Herald - July 6, 1939

Biddeford Daily Journal July 6, 1939

Biddeford Daily Journal - July 6, 1939

    According to a report, the first Sunday of bus operation, July 9, was a nightmare for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad. At one time, all five buses were snarled in traffic at Old Orchard Beach. But, gradually, all the "bugs" were worked out and by the end of 1939, another bus had been acquired and the coach service was well established.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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

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 first 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive