Theodore Roosevelt Timeline Parallel with STM Railway Collection Part 1 - 1858-1900

Theodore Roosevelt utilized rail transportation throughout
his life. August 31, 1916, TR was a passenger aboard

the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 16, Clematis.

He would also ride a PLI  interurban, No. 14, Narcissus,

August 18, 1914.  The Narcissus is currently undergoing

restoration in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the

 Seashore Trolley Museum's Town House Restoration Shop.

Updated 6-10-2026

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

Part 1 - 1858-1900

Click Here - Part 2 - 1901-1909

Click Here - Part 3 - 1910-1919

Theodore Roosevelt's Timeline and Parallels with

Seashore Trolley Museum's Historic Railway Collection 

(Excerpts in  part from Trolley Car Treasury, (1956) by Frank Rowsome)

      In the year of TR's birth, 1858, Philadelphia opened its first horsecar line.

Horse Railroads/Horse-drawn passenger cars (horsecars) on rails first came onto the public transportation scene in the late 1820s. They evolved from the earlier horse-drawn omnibus, which was basically a city version of the stagecoach. Manhattan had its first horsecar line in 1832. By the early 1850s, horsecar lines had been spreading throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Horse Railroad of Fryeburg, Maine, 1887-1917 - postcard above

postmarked October 22, 1909 Collection of  PWM

     Many forms of "horseless" cars were tried over many years, but the system that ultimately won out was the electrically-fed trolley car designed by Frank Julian Sprague and first put into large-scale operation in Richmond, VA, beginning in January 1888.

     Seashore Trolley Museum's extensive collection includes railway vehicles and buildings that were built and were part of the fabric of public transportation throughout TR's life.

Trolley description details from the Seashore Trolley Museum website, a guide to the Seashore Trolley Museum Collection, and from Historic Cars by Ben Minnich.

Theodore Roosevelt's timeline info was taken from the NPS Theodore Roosevelt's Timeline.

Theodore Roosevelt (Left)                               Seashore Trolley Museum Collection (Right)

Timelines (abridged)

Click Here for the 28th East 20th Street - site                             Details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's First Visit to Maine - site                        in the Museum's Collection: Click Here

Click Here for the Island Falls, Maine began in 1878 - site           and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                      To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places: Click Here

Click Here for the TR visits MDI - site                                      Details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's wife Alice Lee related site                      in the Museum's Collection: Click Here

Click Here for the Dakota Territory related site                         and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                         Click Here for a brief history of the Mousam River RR

                                                     To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places: Click Here

Click Here for the Elkhorn Ranch site                                    Details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the TR's wife Edith Carrow - site                         in the Museum's Collection Click Here

                                                                                         and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                                   

                                           To see the STM Cars in the National Register of Historic Places: Click Here

Click Here for the Rough Riders - site                                     Details on any of the vehicles

Click Here for the Spanish-American War site                          in the Museum's Collection Click Here

Click Here for the Remember the Maine site                          and then enter the car ##, scroll & hit enter

                                                                                  Click Here for a brief history of the Biddeford & Saco RR

Click Here - Part 2 - 1901-1909

Click Here - Part 3 - 1910-1919

                                                                                                                          

Resources 

Many Theodore Roosevelt-related Links are here - scroll down from here 

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 early in the 20th Century - Maine
• Maine rural life at the turn of the century,
• The story of Theodore Roosevelt and his relationship with Maine
• World War One
• 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 are 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

A 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 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

* 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.

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

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 President 1906
TR - My Debt to Maine (TR's letter) - TR Maine Heritage Trail post
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 - African Safari - 1909

Suffrage/Women's Rights
Maine and National  Maine Suffrage Centennial
Women's Suffrage At Last (42-c) USHistory.org
Florence Whitehouse - suffragette - publicist for the 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

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

TR's visits to Island Falls: 1878 & 1879,  TR Maine Heritage Trail post

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 the 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

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

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

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star #29 - Northeast Piscataquis 1879

William Windgate Sewall (with an ax) and Wilmot S. Dow

(with a rifle) at camp on Pratt Cove, Mattawamkeag Lake,

Island Falls, Maine. The file is dated circa 1921. However,

Wilmot died in 1891 (35 years old). So, this image is pre-1891.

TRC 560.12-053 Houghton Library, Harvard University

Updated 6-10-2026

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, overseeing the Narcissus project (Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914), I felt the need to learn more about Roosevelt's visit to Maine. 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 29" shown on the list (key) above - Northeast Piscataquis

The Sewall House in Island Falls, Maine. Theodore Roosevelt

spent many a night with the Sewall family when he was 

when he was visiting during three separate trips to the county

in 1878 and 1879. This image is c 1921 by Hermann Hagedorn

TRC 560.12-075 Houghton Library, Harvard University 

    TR's 1879 journal describes his visit to the Northeast Piscataquis area during the late summer. 

During the Mount Katahdin journey, he was joined by his cousin, William "Emlen" Roosevelt, and family friend, Arthur Cutler. Then, after returning from the Katahdin trek, TR and William Sewall together headed north to the  Oxbox, where they would paddle down the Aroostook River to the Munsunguns and Chase Rivers and back...then walk the approximately forty miles to Island Falls

Arthur H. Cutler TRC 570.C97-001 

Houghton Library, Harvard University

Katahdin trek 

* Mount Katahdin is now within the Baxter State Park

* The trek across the East Branch of the Penobscot, Wassataquoik Stream, and on to Katahdin Lake and Sandy Stream, all within the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Roosevelt writes...(No edits were made to the original writings)...

Saturday, August 23 - Reached Mattawamkeag at 10 a.m. and drove over to Island Falls. With Dave Sewall. Emlen and Mr. Cutler are here, and I shall make a short trip with them to Katahdin. 

Sunday, August 24 - Spent the day chiefly in preparations. I have 2 complete changes of clothes, & plenty of handkerchiefs & woolen socks. I dress in a flannel shirt & light, strong duck trousers & heavy underflannels; carry a heavy jacket & a blanket and have my necessaries in a small bag. I have taken both rifle & shot gun.

Tuesday, August 26 - Emlen, Arthur Cutler, Will Dow, Will Sewall & I started for Mt. Katahdin. Drove 23 miles; and carried our packs about 10, when we went into camp. I carried about 45 lbs, including my gun & cartridges. Crossing a stream I lost one of my shoes; fortunately, I had brought a pair of moccasins tied to my pack.

Wednesday, August 27 - Walked up the head of Katahdin Lake where we camped. I get along very well with my pack. Killed four ducks in a logan, after a rather neat stable; also picked up a couple of partridges. We caught a few trout. Black flies are pretty bad; but they do not bother us at night; it is very pleasant in the evenings, with the roaring logs of the camp fire.

Thursday, August 28 - After lunch we started for Katahdin; (before I had tramped about 5 miles after partridges). We caught about 100 trout at Sandy Brook; then got lost; and after tramping through frightful ground till after dark camped out by a small water hole; wet, tired and hungry - but happpy. There are plenty of fresh tracks of both bear & caribou, but we saw nothing living except the usual woodpeckers, chickadees, jay, &c &c.

Friday, August 29 - Started before daybreak, walking straight through the woods, & up then up Katahdin; it was very difficult walking, & both Emlen & Arthur gave out before reaching the summit, the view from which was beautiful. I find I can endure fatigue & hardship pretty nearly as well as these lumbermen. Coming back we followed a spotted trail which sometimes set at fault even the two skilled backwoodsmen. Reached our camp at Katahdin Lake about dark, having caught about 60 trout. It is railing & we are all soaked through but in excellent health and spirits.

Saturday, August 30 - In the morning walked half way round the lake but saw nothing; there are very few partridges and few ducks round here & larger game is not scarce, but almost impossible to get at. In the afternoon walked some distance down beside Sandy Brook; coming home killed a duck in Moose Pond. Trout of small size are very plentiful.

Sunday, August 31 - Loafed about camp, cleaning guns, mending clothes, bathing in the lake &c. You get pretty dirty in camp. Black flies have been very numerous this trip, and have been a great annoyance to the others; funnily enough they do not bother me very much. There are plenty of fish round here, game is very scarce; but I am enjoying myself exceedingly.

Monday, September 1 - Was up before sunrire and took a trip round barrens and bogs; crippled a duck in a logan, but it crawled off among the rushes. In the afternoon we shouldered our packs, broke camp & started for Island Falls. After crossing the Wissatocook went into camp for the night. Am in beautiful condition & find I can walk, wrestle & shoot with most of the lumbermen

Tuesday, September 2 - Started in good season, walking out to the East branch of the Penobscot, which we crossed, & then drove to Island Falls. I have enjoyed the trip exceedingly; the boys are most pleasant companions.

Munsungun Lakes Trek

Thursday, September 4 - Spent the day preparing for my Munsungun trip; I shall go in a canoe, alone with Sewall. For provisions I took pork and hardtack and some flour; we have a shelter tent, two blankets & some cooking utensils; & one complete change of clothing each. I take 50 cartridges for the rifle and 100 for the shotgun. I shall only use moccasins.

Friday, September 5 - Started out at 5 a.m. in a rough wagon to drive to the Oxbow of the Aroostook River - 46 miles distant. We reached it 6 p.m. and are staying in a regular backwoods house - fare and sleeping accommodations being both primitive to a degree. The route all day long was through a sparsely settled, thickly wooded country & for about 3 miles through a dreary waste of burnt land.

Saturday, September 6 - Started in fair season in a pirogue or dugout. It stands rough work better than a birch canoe. We went about 20 miles up the Aroostook, paddling sometimes, but poling most of the way. The scenery is very beautiful and wild; I saw no trace of man - but also no trace of game. Trout are plenty, however. Pitched a camp before dark, to cook the bread, trout & partridge. Black flies, mosquitoes & midge pretty plentiful; I don't mind them much.

Sunday, September 7 - We started as usual, as there was no use of laying up; but I compromised by not shooting or fishing. We poled up the Aroostook (River) till lunch time, when we were near the mouth of the Munsungun; up this we had to wade, dragging our boats - the water now up to our ankles, now to our hips. It was heavy work; moreover it was raining heavily; and towards dusk we pitched camp, drenched through & tired out. Midges bad.

Monday, September 8 - Rained hard all day. We started early; for several hours it was rapid, shoal water, through which we waded, dragging the heavy dugout over the rocks and shallows; then we got into deeper, dead water, but this was nearly as bad owing to the beaver dams and log jams which we had to cut through or pull round. There were some falls we had to get up, taking everything out of the boat; then we poled up through more dead water; then paddled through the lowe rMunsungun Lake, & halfway up the middle one, where we camped. Tired out, & wet through, hungry & cold - but am having a lovely time. But no trace of game.

Tuesday, September 9 - Rained all day; but we paddled up the middle lake and then walked  (through most frightfull ground) to the head of the upper one (Chase Lake). On the way I saw a few partridges; an old moose track; a recent bear track; and a few old signs of deer and caribou. On the lake are a few loons and fish ducks. As game is so scarce I shall go right back to Island Falls, instead of staying up here, as I had intended. Am wet through, as usual, and rather tired, but, although the work is very hard, I am enjoying the trip greatly.

Wednesday, September 10 - Rose before daybreak & started before sunrise, down the lake. Paddled through the lake and dead water, running that falls, then waded down through the Munsungun quick water, lunching where we camped Sunday night; then we poled, (making fine time down the swift waters and only occasionally having to get out and wade) until early in the afternoon we reached our Saturday camp where we are now. I am very fond of the evenings round the camp fire, beneath the shelter tent.

Thursday, September 11 - Started in fair season, paddled down stream in great style; on the way I shot a wood duck. At the Oxbow we disembarked and walked about 15 miles (half of the way across country) to a rough backwoods house, where we are now. Fare pretty rough, but plenty of good milk, and we have shot our own meat - as, besides the duck, I killed a rabbit and a partridge on the way.

    Theodore Roosevelt made several visits to Maine. Yes, there were times, when he was older, that those visits would have been made as necessitated by his politics. However, the majority of his visits were for personal gain. I speak of personal gain in the sense of his own personal health and well-being. We know Maine as "Vacationland" or as "The Way Life Should Be". Maine has long been known as a place to "re-create", renew one's self and contemplate one's purpose or direction. Whether being near the ebb and flow of the mesmerizing coastline or taking in its breathtaking vistas along so many beautiful rivers and mountains, this great state of Maine has drawn many a soul in seeking fresh air and perhaps inner guidance to a fresh start.

TR, late in his sophomore year at Harvard,  ca 1878 May

His first visit to Island Falls, Maine, was in September 1878

TRC 520.12-003, Houghton Library, Harvard University

 Throughout his adult life, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26^th President of the United States, expressed how much he treasured his visits to Maine as a young man and, in particular, how much he truly valued the friends he made in Island Falls during those visits.

William "Bill" W. Sewall - Bio

William W. Sewall - Theodore Roosevelt Center, Dickinson State University, ND

Bill Sewall & Wilmot Dow - The National Park Service

Mt Katahdin from Katahdin Stream Camp Grounds,

image from a postcard, PWM

Chimney Pond on Mt. Katahdin, image from a postcard, PWM

I strongly recommend you acquire a copy of Andrew Vietze's book, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President. Great reading for all ages.

Paperback issue

Hardcover first edition copy

of Andrew Vietze's "Becoming Teddy

Roosevelt" PWM Collection

A great resource for TR's diaries

1877-1886 - A Most Glorious Ride

Edited by Edward P. Kohn

PWM Collection

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

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 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

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail - Star #26 - Bible Point/South Aroostook - 1878

William Wingate Sewall at Bible Point, c 1921

TRC 560.12-109 Houghton Library, Harvard 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

    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(s) to local resources/venues.

Key by "Designs by Reece" - Reece Saunders

Today, we describe "Star 26" shown on the list (key) above - Bible Point/South Aroostook

Bible Point photo by Hermann Hagedorn, circa 1921

TRC 560.12-079 Houghton Library, Harvard University

  I first learned of Bible Point in Island Falls (ME) from Maine author Andrew Vietze. Andrew's 2010 book, Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President.

    Theodore Roosevelt's first trip to Island Falls was in September 1878. His father, Theodore Sr, had died earlier that year, and TR was still feeling the loss when he arrived in Island Falls. In TR's personal diary, he mentions reading his Bible while in Island Falls. And, on occasion, would take his Bible on treks into the woods to read. 

A great resource for TR's diaries 1877-1886 - A Most Glorious Ride

Edited by Edward P. Kohn

    In Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President. Author Andrew Vietze, through TR's entry in his diary, addresses how Roosevelt used the site while in the Maine woods in the Island Falls area on Sunday, March 2, 1879. (paragraph on page 48).

Hardcover first edition copy of Andrew Vietze's "Becoming Teddy

Roosevelt - PWM

On Sunday, he read his Bible, as was his custom, though he didn't allow himself to be housebound by his habit. He trudged out to a point near the south end of the Mattawamkeag Lake, near the confluence of the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River and First Brook, where the huge water body narrows back into a river. Roosevelt found this lakeside grove, sloping down to the water, especially picturesque and peaceful, and he returned there so many times during his stays in Island Falls that it has been designated a Maine Historic Site called Bible Point.

    A few years back, I headed up to Island Falls to check out Bible Point for myself. Bible Point is mostly in the South Aroostook boundaries, just outside the property lines of Island Falls. 

Below is a YouTube video, or click here. The video of the adventure along Merriman Road and the mile hike to reach the site. A total of just under ten miles. 

This video story is made up of stills and video clips of the trek to the site. The description below fails to mention that Merriman Road was a gravel road with an active logging harvest at the time. The permits for the harvest were posted along Merriman Road. This made for a very interesting expedition to Bible Point. 

The description of the site at Maine.gov:

Location: From Island Falls, take the Merriman Road to its end, then follow the hiking trail along the western shore of the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River for approximately one mile.

Bible Point, a 27-acre property near the south end of Mattawamkeag Lake, was made famous by Teddy Roosevelt, who visited the area beginning in 1878. As a young man under the guidance of his lifelong friend and guide, Bill Sewall, Roosevelt camped at the southern end of Mattawamkeag Lake and hunted and fished throughout the area. It is reported that each day, Roosevelt would take his Bible and hike to a beautiful point of land at the confluence of the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River and First Brook, where he would read the bible.  A plaque was erected in 1921 by Roosevelt's biographer Hermann Hagedorn, and it reads:

Within this kiosk is a copy of Theodore Roosevelt's letter,

dated March 20, 1918, titled My Debt to Maine.

To see the entire text of TR's letter, Click Here.

TR buttons, courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Association

The buttons were removed after photo ops. PWM image

This plaque commemorates Theodore Roosevelt's love for the area. 

PWM image

"This place, to which a great man in his youth liked to come to commune with God and with the wonder and beauty of the visible world, is dedicated to the happy memory of THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Stranger, rest here and consider what one man, having faith in the right and love for his fellow man, was able to do for his country." Hermann Hagedorn (TR biographer)

Below, or click here for a video walk-around at Bible Point.

Walk around Bible Point video

Straight ahead to the point where First Brook

(on the right, just out of sight) merges with the West Branch

of the Mattawamkeag River (seen on the right). PWM image

Bible Point. PWM image

William Sewall is sitting on the chair between two tree trunks.

Looks like at Bible Point Photo by Hermann Hagedorn

TRC 560.12-076 Houghton Library, Harvard University

Notice the pair of trees with a seat between them :) I believe it's in

the same spot as the above photo. Bible Point. PWM image

PWM image

Mattawamkeag River. PWM image

Bible Point. PWM image

The seat between the trees. Bible Point. PWM image

Blogger selfie at Bible Point along the Mattawamkeag River.

PWM image

First Brook as it enters the Bible Point area. PWM image

Along the walking trail to/from Bible Point. PWM image

Evidence that a Pileated Woodpecker paid a visit? PWM image

Along the walking trail to/from Bible Point. PWM 10-6-2015

Along the walking trail to/from Bible Point. PWM image

Along the walking trail to/from Bible Point. PWM image

Some images along Merriman Road 

PWM image 10-6-2015

The left arrow had black letters has Bible Point written on it. PWM image

Collection area for harvested logs. Logs that have been delivered

by a skidder are then stacked by the machine seen in the

background here. PWM image

Harvested logs are stacked in a collection area. PWM image 

Starting at the top, the first star is in Island Falls.

The star below Island Falls is the beginning of Merriman Road.

It is about 7 miles along Merriman Road, heading southeast, that you

come to the next star. This represents where you turn left and travel

for about a mile. At the next star, Merriman "Road" ends, and a trail

for ATVs or Snowmobiles begins. Follow this trail for about a mile,

and you come upon Bible Point, the final star. The only time I saw any

signs of Bible Point was when turning left, about 7 miles in, there were

a couple of plastic signs with an arrow and Bible Point handwritten on

the sign. - Screenshot 10-9-2015

After having traveled along Merriman Road, these "veins" and small,

cleared areas along the road are known. The veins are trails made by

a skidder as it harvests and drags trees to the collection areas along

the road. These collection areas are cleared areas along the road where

the trees are stacked for loading. Screenshot 10-9-2015

An expanded view of harvesting trails and collection areas.

Screenshot 10-9-2015

Sign in the yard at the original Sewall homestead in Island Falls,

where Theodore Roosevelt stayed during his three visits in 1878/79.

PWM image

The original Sewall homestead, where Theodore Roosevelt stayed during his three

visits to Island Falls in 1878/79. PWM image

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 the Gold Book Award Winner plaque

Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive