Communities collaborate to host first Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour

By Kendra Raymond

They say there’s strength in numbers. If that’s true, an upcoming history “crawl” through the Lakes Region should be an impactful event. The Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour will feature eight important historical sites which will be open to the public with free admission at all locations.

Participants in the first Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour
next month will be able to explore the exquisite staircase
and mural at the Rufus Porter Museum among many 
historic sites stretching from Westbrook to Harrison along
Roosevelt Trail. PHOTO BY DANIEL DINSMORE   

The self-guided auto or bike tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, and features open houses and some guided tours. The route travels all the way from Westbrook to Harrison along the historic Roosevelt Trail. Brochures are available throughout the area and include a list of participating historical sites and museums, a trail map, and museum profiles/ missions.

“Enjoy a leisurely day of rural history along the Roosevelt Trail, Route 302. Visit one, some or all of the historic museums and sites,” information in one brochure says.

Margaret Myatt is the publicity coordinator for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home and the Hawthorne Community Association in Raymond. She says that she is looking forward to the tour and hopes to spread the word to the community.

“It should be a fun event if we can get people out there. I hope it is a well-received event,” she said. “It is sort of an open-house road show of history sites, informal, but easy. I think Windham Recreation caught wind of it and may do a van or bus.”

Myatt also said that they plan to distribute brochures at adult recreation and assisted living facilities in the area. She said that the tour is perfect for all age groups from youngsters and teens to families and seniors.

Roosevelt Trail itself was named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who advocated for creating cross-country routes thoroughfares for Americans who were purchasing a newly invented form oof transportation called the automobile. In 1921, the Maine portion of the highway stretching from Portland to Fryeburg was renamed Roosevelt Highway in his memory.

“All people interested or passionate about the history of Maine’s communities are invited to explore a portion of Maine’s western corridor during the first annual Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour,” according to a recent press release outlining the new tour and festivities. “This event highlights the rich heritage of a portion of Route 302 – also known as the Roosevelt Trail – stretching from Westbrook to Harrison with local historical societies, museums, and landmark sites along the trail. Visitors may choose to stop at any or all participating sites in any order.”

Participating sites include:

* Westbrook Maine Historical Society, 426 Bridge St., Westbrook

* Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road, Windham

* Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home, 40 Hawthorne Road, Raymond

* Quaker Ridge Meeting House, 141 Quaker Ridge Road, Casco

* Raymond Casco Historical Society, 1 Shadow Lane, Casco

* Naples Historical Society & Museum, 19 Village Green, Naples

* Rufus Porter Museum of Art & Ingenuity, 121 Main St., Bridgton

* Scribner’s Mill & Homestead, 244 Scribner’s Mill Road, Harrison

Bill Brennan is treasurer of Raymond Casco Historical Society. He said that the tour is the result of several months of collaboration.

“In March, Raymond Cascoo Historical Society met with Hawthorne House representatives to discuss our common interests. During that brain-storming session, it was decided we could bring other groups into discussing a date for a collective history tour. With Margaret Myatt of Hawthorne and myself, we identified groups that might join us,” said Brennan.

The concept of the tour is a collective effort by our eight groups to recognize our impact on preserving our rich history, he said.

“I’ll note that Bridgton Historical Society was involved initially, but with the closure of their museum building, they need time to reboot to their new space in the church building,” Brennan said.

He said that the goal of the new tour is to bring local communities together and increase appreciation of the past.

“We hope to achieve recognition of our collective histories. We hope visitors will come away with a greater appreciation of their town’s history as well as other surrounding towns,” he said.

Brennan realized that the project was gaining momentum as additional groups joined the cause.

“In the past two months the planning and implementation of this event has proven our groups have worked well with each other to a common goal,” he said. “Different people brought in their expertise to benefit the event. We had a working, but rough draft of the brochure. In one night on a Zoom call after 7 drafts of the brochure, we banged out a final, proving that collaboration works,” he said.

Roy Clark is President of Scribner’s Mill Preservation, Inc.

"We are pleased to be a part of this first history tour,” he said. “Scribner’s Mill in Harrison, is the only family-owned sash sawmill in the United States that remains on its original site, which includes the original buildings, equipment, and an undisturbed rural setting on the Crooked River.”

Tour volunteers will be available to answer questions at each site. Light refreshments will be provided at many of the locations. Groups are welcomed. Plenty of parking is available at each stop. Donations are appreciated.

A tour map and brochure can be downloaded at: https://tinyurl.com/yeppjd5s

For more details about the Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour, call 917-841-7226. <