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. <

Raymond's Nathaniel Hawthorne House celebrates summer - By Walter Lunt

Art, strawberries and a committed group of local preservationists are among the entities that support one of the oldest and most historically significant houses in the lakes region. Built in 1812 and now listed on the Historic Register, Hawthorne House, located in Raymond at the corner of Cape and Hawthorne Roads, was the childhood home of famed 19th century writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. The two story Georgian/Federal hybrid style house is being preserved by the non-profit Hawthorne Community Association, a devoted group of neighborhood citizens and others “from away” totaling nearly 150 members.

Repairs and maintenance on a historic house can be costly, particularly when they are carried out in the “period correct” manner. And that is where the fundraising comes into the picture. John Manoush, an association trustee said at least three important events are scheduled for this summer. 

On Saturday, June 25 beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Association will hold their annual strawberry festival at Hawthorne House. This year’s speaker is historian Steven Rogers, who will present original research on the topic of Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Shakers. The program will be followed by a social hour and homemade strawberry shortcake.

“It’s local strawberries, fresh whipped cream and homemade shortbread,” said trustee Melanie Champniss. Coffee and punch are included. Donations are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 8 years. All proceeds go to preserve and maintain Hawthorne House.

On July 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday) the association will host a first ever art show and sale at the historic house from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Several local artists will present for view and for sale several forms of art. Jessica Bates will feature her line drawings, quash and poster-sized tapestry photographs. Libby Welch will show landscape and oil paintings. And Sharon Renk will present watercolor paintings of land and seascapes. Other artists are expected to participate. The event is free.

Trustee Champniss said “Hawthorne House is still vital,” and sponsors many events throughout the year including book club discussions. Patrons should also check local newspapers and the association website for the date and location of the annual chicken barbecue.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of several American classics including The Scarlet Letter  and House of Seven Gables spent summers at the Raymond house from age 9 until he entered Bowdoin College in 1821, about 8 years. He is known to have hunted the area and fished Sebago Lake and Thomas Pond. In later years he wrote in a letter to his sister, “I shall never again run wild in Raymond, and I shall never be so happy as when I did.”

Manoush said the Hawthorne family moved to Salem, Massachusetts following Nathaniel’s graduation from Bowdoin in 1825. The house became a tavern on the local stagecoach line.  At some point in the mid-19th century until 1921 it became a church meeting house. In that year the Hawthorne Community Association was formed for the purpose of preserving the historical significance of the property.

For more information on the house, its history and fund raising events go to www.hawthorneassoc.com.

In the Photos: 

 John Manoush, Melanie Champniss and Basil Champniss pose with "Nathaniel" at Raymond's Hawthorne House on Raymond Neck. Visitors can sometimes get their picture taken with the famous author, but apparently he is unavailable for book signings.