Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project: McArthur Public Library

Showing posts with label McArthur Public Library. Show all posts

Monday, June 20, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star #3 - Old Orchard Beach - 1902, 1914

President Theodore Roosevelt speaks to the crowd at the Old Orchard Beach

train station, from the back platform of the "Mayflower", on August 26, 1902.

The white-haired man next to TR is Congressman Amos Allen.

Courtesy McArthur Library Item #1701

Updated 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 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(s) to local resources/venues.

Key by "Designs by Reece" - Reece Saunders

Today, we describe "Star 3" shown on the list (key) above - Old Orchard Beach

President Theodore Roosevelt, looking at you while he was in Old

Orchard Beach. August 26, 1902 TRC 560-51 1902-062

Houghton Library, Harvard University

While researching President Roosevelt's schedule for his two-day Maine visit during his 1902 tour of New England states, up popped the photo of TR on the platform of a train coach. The caption stating TR was addressing the crowd at the Biddeford train station caught my attention, as Biddeford was not listed in the itinerary of Maine stops in the presidential schedule for August 26 and 27, 1902.

Itinerary of scheduled visits for day one, August 26, 1902,

of President Roosevelt's train tour that included communities

in Maine. A stop in Biddeford was not listed. August 26, 1902,

issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal EXTRA 8:30 p.m.

TR in OOB - TRC 560.51 1902-061 Houghton Library,

Harvard University

In addition to the Watson materials, Renée showed me the photo that is the first image at the beginning of this post. It is an original photograph within the McArthur Library archives. Written on the back of the photo, Theodore Roosevelt with Congressman Amos Allen in Sanford, 1912. This photo of President Roosevelt standing on the platform of a train coach with several others, including a gentleman with a white beard, who is identified as the Maine U S Congressman from Alfred, Amos Allen.

I'm somewhat familiar with the train stations in the Sanford-Springvale area. I looked at the photo and replied to Renée that Sanford didn't have a railroad station. Springvale has the railroad station for servicing Sanford and Springvale, and the background in the photo did not look anything like the area surrounding the Springvale railroad station, even back in the early 1900s. I didn't think that photo was taken in 1912 either. I said I would reach out to Harland Eastman at the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society and see what he has to say.

I did share a copy of the digital photo with Harland and explained the caption. Harland replied no.

TR had never visited the Sanford-Springvale area. That he was aware of. And the photo was definitely not taken at the Springvale train station.

I compared the photo with other photos from TR's two-day presidential Maine tour and came to the conclusion that the train coach platform was unique and matched perfectly with other photos of the coach platform TR used while in Maine for those two days in August 1902. Further research found that Congressman Allen died early in the year 1911. So, clearly, he could not be in a photo taken in 1912. In addition, I looked at period photos of the other train stations that TR's presidential train stopped at during his 1902 tour. The background in the McArthur Library photo was a solid match for the buildings next to the old Orchard Beach train station.

I shared my findings with Renée. She had done research and also felt the Old Orchard Beach Station was indeed the station in the TR photo with Congressman Allen. Renée then changed the description to what was now identified as the correct information on the file for the photo in the archives.

President Theodore Roosevelt was touring New England states during the summer of 1902. Before his train entered Maine for two days, it stopped in Dover, New Hampshire, on Tuesday morning, August 26, 1902. Following the local activities in Dover, members of the Maine delegation would board the president's train to be with him as the train entered Maine, traveling toward its first scheduled stop in Old Orchard Beach. Here is the accounting from August 29, 1902, Biddeford Weekly Journal, Friday Morning publication.

Biddeford Weekly Journal, August 29, 1902

The Presidential train of five beautiful cars makes a scheduled

stop at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, during the New England

Tour on August 26, 1902. President Theodore Roosevelt on the

end platform of the "Mayflower." He engaged with a crowd

of approximately 10,000. Photo courtesy of Ralph Duquette

TR in OOB - TRC R560.51.T34-014

Houghton Library, Harvard University

TR in OOB - TRC 560.51 1902-064

Houghton Library, Harvard University

TR in OOB -TRC 560.51 1902-063

Houghton Library, Harvard University

TR in OOB - TRC 560.51 1902-060

Houghton Library, Harvard University

TR in OOB - TRC 560.51 1902-064

Houghton Library, Harvard University

Excerpts Ibid (autocorrect disconnected - kept as written:) :

Half an hour after noon, the special train bearing President Roosevelt and party crossed the line between Maine and New Hampshire and began its trip down through the Pine Tree state. The weather still held perfect, though a trifle warm, and the brilliant sun falling on the long stretches of green fields and pine woods enabled Maine to present herself at her best.

At Dover, the presidential train was boarded by Congressman Amos L. Allen of the First District, Adjutant General N. B. Farnham, Colonel E. B. Sangers, Col. E. C. Dill, and Lieutenant Colonel Francie Keefe, all of the staff of Governor John F. Hill. Accompanying the governor's official representatives was Captain Parker of the United States Army.

The first stop of the train in Maine was scheduled for Old Orchard Beach at 1:15, but owing to a hot box on the engine, a stop was made at Biddeford, which was reached about one o'clock.

Although it was not part of the programme to include North Berwick in the itinerary of the tour, the residents had occasion to feel honored even though a stop that was incidental to the train service only was made. The station platform was covered with men, women, and children, while nearby board piles and boxes, shed roofs, and other points were dotted with those who had gathered for the privilege of waving hats, handkerchiefs, and parasols.

Answers and updates on the Biddeford portion of TR's two-day presidential Maine tour are in the post:

Star #1 - Biddeford 1902

The Old Orchard visit was published on August 29, 1902, in the Biddeford Weekly Journal, Friday Morning publication.

Ibid

Fred C. Watson was born in North Saco and was a

Biddeford resident. As mentioned, Watson worked for TR at

TR's Elkhorn Ranch in the Dakotas in 1884 and 1885. Ibid

More on Fred C. Watson's life and relationship with TR is here in the Star #1 - Biddeford 1902 post.

Roosevelt's presidential train tour moved on to Portland.

The Biddeford Daily Journal’s President’s speech in Old Orchard Beach on August 26. 1902:

(autocorrect disconnected - kept as written:) :

My Fellow Citizens, men and women of Maine:

Of course, we are not to be excused if we do not get through the nation the best laws that can be obtained. Good laws can do some good, but we must never deceive ourselves into the belief that the law will do more than let the man after the law has been put upon the statute books work out his own salvation.

It is indeed a pleasure to me to have the chance of visiting your great and beautiful state, and I thank you from my heart for the greeting which you have extended to me.

In almost every meeting, I see veterans like you (pointing to a veteran) like you over there and you with the boy in your arms there, who wear the button that shows that in the time that tried men's souls, you proved your truth by your endeavor.

In those days, Maine was a lesson to all for the way her sons bore themselves in war.

Since then and now, she is a lesson to us because of the high average of citizenship that shows within her borders, and I think that it is the same reason in the one case as in the other.

The fact that here you have remained on the whole true to the Old American theory of treating each man on his worth as a man without regard to the incidentals of his position.

Now you over there (pointing), you were in the Great War. When you went to war and moved into battle, you took an immense interest in what the man on your right hand and your left did, but you did not care the least bit in the world whether they were bankers or lumbermen or farmers or what, if they stayed put. (cries of “That is right!”) That is what you wanted. (Cheers and cries of “God bless you.”)

What you wanted was to know that the man had the right stuff in him (a voice, “That is it”) and if he had, you were for him (a voice, “Yes sir”) and if he did not have, you were not for him.

You can have got to have the same principle in citizenship. You have got to apply the same principle in civil life that you made succeed in the days when you fought because the nation called to you in her direst need.

The state can do much, but it cannot begin to do everything. The state can do something for all of us, but not as much as we can do for the state. (A voice “Amen”) That is what is going to count in the long run. (A voice “That’s business). The government, national and state, can mighty easily spoil chances for all of us.

Bad law will work badly enough, but it is hard by the best laws to do more than shape conditions so as to give each man a square and fair chance, and then he has got to work out his future for himself.

It is a much easier thing to tell people that you have got a patent recipe that will save them from having to take trouble themselves than it is to tell them perfectly plain, homely truths.

It is an easier thing to make the promise, but it is a much uglier thing afterwards to carry out the promise, and on the whole, it is not worthwhile making a promise if you have got to feel ashamed of yourself for breaking it afterwards. (Cries of “Good.”)

August 14, 1914

Theodore Roosevelt made a brief stop at the Old Orchard Beach train station on August 18, 1914. He was campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates during this trip to Maine. He made a brief speech in OOB from the train platform. Then left for the Auburn train station. Where he would then speak in Lewiston before boarding the high-speed luxury interurban, Narcissus, en route back to Portland.

Click here to access the August 18, 1914, online issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal through Google News Archive Search.

Lewiston Evening Journal, August 18, 1914 -

page 9

Ibid

Newspaper clipping from the Lewiston Daily Sun,

August 19, 1914.

Biddeford Weekly Journal August 21, 1914, pg 7

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

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star # 2 - Biddeford - 1902, 1912, & 1914

August 26, 1902, the caption states: "President Theodore Roosevelt Delivering a

Speech at Biddeford, Maine."However, research shows this location is not the

train station in Biddeford. It is Old Orchard Beach.

Photo: Harvard University - This image is from the

Doris A. and Lawrence H. Budner Theodore Roosevelt

Collection, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

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

Here is a photo of President Theodore Roosevelt delivering an

unplanned speech to a crowd at the Biddeford train station on

August 26, 1902. He is on the back platform of the "Mayflower."

However, the description of this photo, taken by a photographer with

Underwood & Underwood.

The Harvard University Theodore Roosevelt Houghton Collection states that TR is on a caboose delivering a speech in Old Orchard Beach. Evidence was found to support the fact that this is at the Biddeford Station. The key to verifying the fact is the turntable in the background, in front of the engine house. The evidence is later in this post.

Twelve years later, that seed of curiosity has taken root and blossomed. Here is 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 start with "Star 2" shown on the list (key) above - Biddeford

The metaphor of "going down the rabbit hole" pretty well captures many of my experiences over the years, including this one. As I attempt to clarify what may initially seem a fairly simple piece of information to confirm or refute, I frequently find myself presented with a variety of unexpected twists and turns related to the research subject matter. More rabbit holes to consider investigating.

While researching President Roosevelt's schedule for his two-day Maine visit during his 1902 tour of New England states, up popped the photo at the top of this page. The caption caught my interest as Biddeford was not listed in the itinerary of Maine stops in the presidential schedule for August 26 and 27, 1902. Scroll down the page for the short piece on his March 23, 1912, and August 18, 1914, stops at the Biddeford Railroad Station.

Itinerary of scheduled visits for day one, August 26, 1902,

of President Roosevelt's train tour that included communities

in Maine. A stop in Biddeford was not listed. August 26, 1902,

issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal EXTRA 8:30 p.m.

So, I visited Biddeford's McArthur Public Library to search through their extensive microfilm collection of vintage local newspapers. I located the story of the president's train. The unplanned stop and brief speech (excerpt below), and in addition, read a feature story about a local Biddeford resident, Fred C. Watson, who was a cowboy working for Roosevelt in the Dakotas during 1884 and 1885! For me, this was like uncovering a valuable nugget of gold while prospecting in a new rabbit hole :) With much help from Renée L. Burkett, Archivist/Special Collections Librarian, more intriguing information about Fred. C. Watson was learned. But first, before we move on to Fred's rabbit hole, below is the excerpt from the local newspaper describing the unplanned stop at the Biddeford train station (no edits have been made to the text):

Although no stop by the president had been anticipated in this city (Biddeford), there was a crowd of three or four hundred people at the Western Division station awaiting the arrival of the train, and when it was seen to slow down, there was a tremendous straining of necks to ascertain what the cause was.

It soon developed that the engine had a hot box. As soon as the train came to a standstill, there was a rush for the rear car, and to the delight of the crowd, the president appeared on the platform. He was cheered lustily as he emerged through the doorway, bowing to the right and the left.

The president made a short speech in which he referred to the state of Maine as a place where men who are a credit to the nation are brought up.

Somebody in the crowd presented the president with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, then the train began to pull out (to travel to the first scheduled stop in Maine at Old Orchard Beach). The crowd gave three rousing cheers, to which the president responded by bowing and waving his hat.

Biddeford Weekly Journal, Friday Morning, August 29, 1902

Initially, I was happy to find evidence to verify that TR's train did indeed stop at the Biddeford Station. However, a new rabbit hole presented itself. Renée and I spent some time viewing the photograph describing TR making a speech to the crowd from the platform of his train while stopped at the Biddeford train station.

I'm familiar with the train station and the neighborhood surrounding it. The buildings in the image did not look anything like any of the buildings of the time (1902) near the Biddeford train station. Renée and I separately looked into period photos, postcards, maps, etc., of the 1902 neighborhood, related to the Biddeford Station. We both agreed that the photo was not taken at the Biddeford station. We each continued searching for evidence to support our belief that the station in the photo was the Biddeford Station.

Tah Dah ✌ Success!

In June of 2024, I gathered evidence from a couple of railroad history friends to help me clarify the location as the Biddeford station, where President Theodore Roosevelt and his New England Tour Presidential train were in the photo, in the Houghton Collection at Harvard.

These are my two friends who helped me...

Matthew (Matt) Cosgro - Nashua City Station Railroad History https://www.nashuacitystation.org/

Conrad Ekstrom - New England Engine Houses, TT Transfer Tables - RR-Traction Facilities -

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2822725141285337

I was viewing the background in the photo and saw what looked to be a railroad engine house with a turntable in place, with vertical wood timbers visible. I thought the train station in OOB never had an engine house or turntable in that location. Based on the direction TR's train was headed, the next stop being Portland, Maine, there should be hotels and the beach in the background.

I reached out to the two individuals listed above, Matt and Conrad. I explained my thoughts on the photos and asked for their input/evidence to help clarify the location of TR's train.

Matt sent me a screenshot of an 1899 Sanborn Insurance map, showing the OOB train station location. There was no engine house or turntable on the map near the train station.

Sanborn map of OOB with train station

Matt also sent an 1899 list from the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M RR) stations with an engine house and wood turntable (see attached). Only stations with these items are listed. No OOB on the list. The Biddeford, Maine, station is listed (see red dot). And it lists an engine house and a wood turntable.

1899 B & M RR list - red dot - shows Biddeford has an engine

house and a wood turntable - the OOB does not list an engine

house or a turntable.

Conrad sent me a screenshot of an 1899 Sanborn map. It shows the Biddeford train station. It shows the engine house and the turntable being close to the station (see attached). Based on the direction TR's train was headed, the platform he was standing on was facing the engine house and the wood turntable.

1899 Sanborn map with the Biddeford Railroad Train Station

Conrad also sent a screenshot photograph of the Biddeford engine house with the turntable and its vertical wood timbers. The point of view is very close to where the TR photo was taken (see attached).

Engine house and wood turntable at the Biddeford B & M RR station

Clearly, the engine house and wood turntable in the background

Biddeford B & M RR station.

Now for the Fred C. Watson story...

Renée at McArthur Public Library in Biddeford has been great to work with on this research. When I mentioned the "nugget" of Fred C. Watson in the newspaper feature, she started looking through the Library's resources and found more information on Fred! Thank you so much, Renée. :)

Here we go...

Below is the Biddeford Weekly Journal. Friday Morning, August 29, 1902, story about Fred C. Watson that I saw while looking for the Biddeford train station info. I split the screenshot into three sections so that the text could be read without me retyping it all :)

Biddeford Weekly Journal - Friday, August 29, 1902

Below is an excerpt from the Biddeford Daily Journal, August 27, 1902. The story of Fred meeting up with President Roosevelt at the train while it was stopped in Old Orchard Beach on August 26, 1902.

Biddeford Daily Journal - August 27, 1902

Renée found that Fred C. Watson was a native of North Saco, Maine, and later lived in Biddeford after returning from the Dakotas. Fred was a blacksmith and was active in the Townsend Family Reunion Association. Fred's mother was Georgianna (Townsend) Watson. And she found that Fred had donated his pair of spurs (Item 31597) and a branding iron (Item 31634) from the Dakotas while he was there in 1884 and 1885, to the McArthur Public Library.

The description of the spurs: Item 31597 - the spurs belonged to Fred C. Watson of Biddeford. He was a blacksmith, and as a young man, he traveled to the western frontier to work at the Elkhorn Ranch, which was owned by Theodore Roosevelt. The ranch was run by two men from Maine, Bill Sewall and Bill's nephew, Wilmot Dow. That may be how Watson ended up working there. The blacksmith's workshop was completed in the spring of 1885, when Watson was 20 years old. Upon returning to Maine, Watson worked at Townsend Brothers carriage makers in Biddeford. And later was the foreman at the blacksmith shop at Saco-Lowell. He retired from Saco-Lowell in 1937.

The description of the branding iron: Item 31634 - iron with the letters "S" and "E", forged by Biddeford blacksmith Fred C. Watson around 1885. Watson worked as a cowboy and blacksmith at the Elkhorn Ranch, which was owned by Theodore Roosevelt. The ranch was run by two men from Maine, Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow. Upon returning to Maine, Watson worked as a blacksmith at Townsend Brothers carriage factory and later at Saco-Lowell shops.

I returned home and did some online research that also turned up a photo of the McArthur Library on the Maine Memory Network.

Photo from the McArthur Library Collection posted on the

Maine Memory Network Item #35261 - c 1900

The Townsend Brothers manufactured carriages at 9 Jefferson Street in Biddeford from about 1890 until 1910. The crew is the Townsend Brothers Carriage Shop (left to right): David Berry, Fred Watson, Charles H. Townsend, Jesse Charles Townsend, John Alden Hanson Townsend, George E. Townsend, and Alonzo Kimbal.

Then my research at home turned to the library of Theodore Roosevelt books that I have on hand.

Having seen Watson's description of his spurs and branding iron from Elkhorn Ranch, I looked through William "Bill" Sewall's book on Theodore Roosevelt. I happen to have a first edition copy and did find a couple of pages that did not include Fred Watson's name, but perhaps a reference to him.

On page 31, Sewall mentions..."There were six of us; three were natives of Maine..." He went on to describe that four of the six were old, experienced cattlemen, "...except myself and one other." The six of them went on a 500-mile trek through the Dakotas. On page 32, Sewall mentions, "Myself and the boy went with me..." I wondered if "the boy" might be the 20-year-old Fred C. Watson.

Page 32

I found a newspaper clipping where Sewall did visit Fred C Watson in Biddeford - Fred was a ranch hand in the Badlands and worked with Bill Sewall, Wilmot Dow, and Theodore Roosevelt

Biddeford-Saco Journal - December 23, 1925

I looked through a few other books and found the same story that Sewall recounted on page 182, in Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands by Roger L. Di Silvestro.

I emailed the Biddeford Historical Society asking about the train station (Paul McDonough did reply and stated his research also clarifies that the train station in the TR photo is not the Biddeford train station) seen in the TR photo, and reached out to a couple of my TR historian friends asking if they were aware of Fred C. Watson at Elkhorn Ranch...nope. I then emailed Erik Johnson at the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. Erik replied that he had found Fred Watson in the 1885 Census. He attached the complete census. And included the names of all the "Mainers" listed in the census. Sure enough, there is Fred. Erik did not connect the "S" and "E" branding iron's mark to any ranch in the area. He emailed the Stockmen's Association to see if they have a record of the brand. They did not.

1885 Census of Billings County, Dakota Territory:

#	Name	Age	Occupation	Nativity
106	Chute, John	23	Railroader	Maine
127	Colwell, Robert	37	Cowboy	Maine
166	Dow, W. S.	31	Cowboy	Maine
209	Eustis, Elias	40	Laborer	Maine
210	Eustis, Ethel	38		Maine
211	Eustis, Berty	21		Maine
212	Eustis, Peter	19		Maine
213	Eustis, Mathew	17		Maine
214	Eustis, Mary	16		Maine
215	Eustis, Ella	12		Maine
216	Eustis, John	9		Maine
217	Eustis, Absolom	8		Maine
218	Eustis, Paul	4		Maine
219	Eustis, Elias	1		Maine
541	Pennell, Dock	42	Teamster	Maine
599	Sewall, S. T.	19	Salesman	Maine
681	Townsend, Samuel	40	Freighter	Maine
682	Townsend, Lidia	35		Maine
683	Townsend, Ernest	11		Maine
684	Townsend, George	9		Maine
685	Townsend, Clide	7		Maine
707	Watson, Fred	21	Cowboy	Maine

I forwarded the materials from Erik to Renée. Renée then used the info to do some additional research on the "Townsend" side of Fred Watson's family tree. She found that Fred's mother, Georgianna, had died very young, at age 29. This may have led Fred to the Townsend clan (his mother's family) that went to the Dakotas, as seen in the 1885 census. Renée sent a list of the 1880 Census...seen below.

Samuel Townsend in the 1880 United States Federal Census -

Name: Samuel Townsend

Age: 29

Birth Date: Abt 1851

Birthplace: Maine

Home in 1880: Bismarck, Burleigh, Dakota Territory, USA

Street: Meigs Street Dwelling Number: 153

Race: White Gender: Male

Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Frances Townsend

Father's Birthplace: Maine

Mother's Birthplace: Maine

Occupation: Laborer

Neighbors: View others on "page"

Household Members - Age - Relationship

Samuel Townsend - 29 - Self (Head)

Frances Townsend - 24 - Wife

Ernest Townsend - 6 - Son

George Townsend - 4 - Son

Townsend - 2 - Daughter

Renée also sent me some other newspaper clippings related to Fred Watson. The story below, Fred with Boy Scouts while camping at Kennebunk Pond in 1932, has some cool personal TR-related stories.

Biddeford Daily Journal, Monday Evening, August 8, 1932

Biddeford Daily Journal - August 8, 1932

Fred died in January 1945.

When any additional information relating to the Roosevelt train stop (that is not Biddeford :) and perhaps Fred Watson is located, I'll update this page.

March 23, 1912

Lewiston Saturday Journal, March 23, 1912

- page 18

August 18, 1914 - Also included a stop at the Saco train station, where the former POTUS engaged with people from the steps of his car.

Biddeford Weekly Journal August 21, 1914, pg 7

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

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

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

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

Pages

Monday, June 20, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star #3 - Old Orchard Beach - 1902, 1914

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star # 2 - Biddeford - 1902, 1912, & 1914