Donald Curry, and Phil Morse. Photo by Liyi "Tom" Liu
Photo by Liyi "Tom" Liu
The reason for this assembly was to peruse and assess the condition of the compiled assortment of restored mahogany frames, complete and partial original stained glass windows, as well as new windows that had been built several years ago.
The original frames and windows were all from the 1912 Portland Lewiston Interurban (PLI) No. 14, Narcissus, and a few clerestory frames with glass from its sister electric interurban, No. 10, Arbutus (Clerestory windows are located along the raised roofline).
From O. R. Cummings
The Arbutus had been preserved in the yard of Mrs. Gertrude L. Anthony since the end of the PLI in 1933. Mrs. Anthony was the daughter of PLI promoter, W. Scott Libbey. Sadly, the Arbutus was dismantled in the mid-1940s for the war effort. However, somehow, a few of the Arbutus leaded stained glass clerestory windows, with their mahogany frames, found their way to the Branford Electric Railway Association in East Haven, CT. Seashore Trolley Museum acquired the Arbutus clerestory windows and frames in 2001 from Branford in a trade for parts.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Seashore member/volunteer, Tom Hughes repaired and rebuilt the frames that were available from the Arbutus and the Narcissus.
Photo by Liyi "Tom" Liu
So, following the April 2014 meeting in Saco, a plan was developed, and work on the leaded stained glass windows commenced. Deb Caron Plourde began by identifying the glass manufacturers that had made the original glass in 1912. The manufacturers are still in business today and she was able to locate the glass needed for rebuilding some windows.
Deb Caron Plourde with Narcissus large original "eyebrow
leaded stained glass from the Narcissus. Photo by PWM
Over the ensuing months, Deb Caron Plourde cleaned, repaired, restored, and rebuilt all forty ornate leaded stained glass windows for the Narcissus.
One of the large, 51", "eyebrows" above its pattern. Each
eyebrow has 51 individual pieces of glass
(Each eyebrow is placed over one pair of passenger windows).
Photo by PWM
Seashore Trolley Museum Member/volunteer, Jim Mackell,
inspects the mahogany frame, holding the leaded
stained glass after he has just installed the mahogany
glazing strips in the first of 24 restored "clerestory halves"
for the Narcissus. Photo by Alban Maino. For more on
Alban Maino read Patricia Erikson's blog at
Building an "eyebrow" for the Narcissus -
February 2015 - vid by PWM
February 2015 - Deb at Sundancer Stained Glass
in Saco, ME applying putty to three,
leaded stained glass windows for the Narcissus -
vid by PWM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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
the 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
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