In the background, to the right, you can see the roof trusses for the
replacement summer camp that the Seashore Trolley Museum would build later
that year. The new three-room structure was to replace Vallee's summer
camp. In 1934, Mr. Vallee purchased the "body" of the Narcissus for $100
from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban in Lewiston, Maine, and then moved
to Sabattus, Maine, to become his family's summer camp. In this image,
the Narcissus was moved from its original position, which was behind the
tree seen here in the center of the image.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Late last week, a package from Mr. Daniel Vallee arrived. The package contained eighteen photographs of the Narcissus. Now, for many railway/railroad enthusiasts, this would provide images of the Narcissus in its glory days of being a magnificent representative of the high-speed, wooden electric interurbans of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. The PLI operated between Portland, Maine, and Lewiston, Maine, from 1914 until 1933. The Narcissus is the lone surviving piece of rolling stock from the forward-thinking visionary, W. S. Libbey. The businessman who built what became known as the "Finest Electric Railroad in All-New England". This elegant, iconic piece of railway history, Narcissus, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Some may think an image of Theodore Roosevelt aboard during his ride on Narcissus on August 18, 1914, may have been included in the collection.
But no. The pictures of the Narcissus in this package are not of this gem, which sits on rails in any one of the many communities it traveled through during its operating heyday. The images contained in this package are just as important in helping us tell the full life story of Narcissus. A story that is now more than 100 years old! The twenty years the Narcissus spent on the PLI rails helped to carry the 7.3 million passengers travel between Portland and Lewiston during that time, which is a very important chapter in its life, but not the only chapter.
After the PLI ended operations, it sold many of the "bodies" of its rolling stock, including the interurbans. Mr. J. Henri Vallee purchased the body of the Narcissus in 1934. For $100! He moved it from Lewiston, Maine, to Sabattus, Maine, where it became the Vallee summer camp until 1969. Seashore Trolley Museum, in Kennebunkport, Maine, acquired the Narcissus from Mr. Vallee late in 1969.
This past summer (2015), Mr. Vallee's son, Daniel Vallee, read his local Lewiston-area newspaper and its story about his former summer camp residence under restoration at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. He made a phone call to the Seashore Trolley Museum and made arrangements to visit the Narcissus. Daniel spent the first eighteen summers of his life using the Narcissus as his summer home in Sabattus! During his visit, he mentioned he would look through his family "archives," searching for photos of the Narcissus.
Presented here are many of those Vallee family photos that include the Narcissus. On behalf of the Museum and the Narcissus, I want to say Thank You! We owe the Vallee family a tremendous debt of gratitude for bringing the Narcissus into their family and keeping the Narcissus safe for thirty-five years. If not for Daniel's father purchasing the Narcissus in 1934, who knows what the future would have had in store for the Narcissus? We do know the fate of its sister interurbans, Arbutus, Gladiolus, Clematis, Azalea, Magnolia, and Maine. But for a few clerestory stained glass windows from the Arbutus, abandoned sections of the right of way, repurposed power stations and carbarns, and assorted ephemera here and there, all other remnants of the "Grand Old Interurban" are gone.
Please consider making a donation to the Narcissus Project. Funds are still needed to complete the restoration of the Narcissus. Scroll to the end of this post to find all donation options. Thank You :)
Narcissus, snowbound on March 5, 1969. It would still be several
months before the Narcissus would make its way to the
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee
Narcissus was the Vallee family summer camp from 1941 until
1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
To see a short movie clip of Narcissus taken during a railroad fan trip in the late 1930s/early 40s
J. HenriyVallee (left) with his son, Daniel Vallee, relaxing inside
their summer cottage, Narcissus. The image is dated June 1965.
In the background, you see the room that was attached to the body
of the Narcissus. A kitchen/dining room is seen in the background.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Looking at the narrow doorway of the Number 1 end of the
Narcissus. The smoking compartment area is through the doorway,
then onto the vestibule of the # 1 end. The entrance to the attached
kitchen/dining area is to the left, out of sight from the angle at which
this photo was taken. The date written on the back of this photo is
July 8, 1961. Left to Right - Venerand Paquette, Billy Paquette,
Rose Marie Paquette, J. Henri Vallee. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Donald G. Curry/STM image.
The image above: Seashore Trolley Museum staff and volunteers assess the Narcissus and best practices for separating the attached kitchen/dining room. They would then move the Narcissus from this location to a location nearer the road for a better loading position. Probably the late fall of 1968. Personal recollections from Jack Murray include, "I'm in the panoramic shot of the crew getting ready to separate the el from the car body; the el will be moved back and the car body toward the road (slid on blocking, pulled with Coffin hoists) so that the new cottage could go up in the same spot. My recollection is that this was done during school Christmas vacation (1968), with the crew being myself (Jack Murray), my cousin Paul, and Russell Bryant (all students at Cape Elizabeth (ME) High School, Donald (Curry), John Coughlin, and Bill Dox (the driving force behind the project). Russell is side to the camera, striding to the left. I'm (Jack) behind him with his back to the camera." If you recognize any of these folks, please forward the name and their position in this photo to Phil Morse via email at p.morse31@gmail.com.
Narcissus in the early spring of 1969. The attached kitchen/dining
room was removed. You can see the stack of wood materials that
will be used to construct the three-room replacement summer camp.
Donald G. Curry/STM image.
Narcissus is on the far left with the utility meter hanging down.
Trusses in the background, leaning against the removed
kitchen/dining room. You can also see the remaining footings
that the Narcissus had been removed from. It was relocated
nearer the road for easier loading onto the trailer.
Probably late spring of 1969. Donald G. Curry/STM image.
Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers work to position the Narcissus
on the trailer. Then, the trip to the Seashore Trolley Museum in
Kennebunkport, Maine. Sept/Oct 1969. The number 1 end is to the
right. If you recognize any of these folks, please forward the name
and their position in this photo to Phil Morse via email at
p.morse31@gmail.com. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Narcissus is secured to the trailer. The tractor-trailer set up was
affectionately called the "Highway Monster" by Seashore Trolley
Museum volunteers. The Highway Monster was used by Museum
volunteers to bring various streetcars, interurbans, and related
equipment from destinations throughout the USA to the
Kennebunkport campus. The beautiful three-room summer camp
replacement for the Narcissus in the background.
October 1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee
Final farewell photo with the Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers,
Vallee family members and other interested individuals. If you
recognize anyone in this image, please forward the name and their
position in this photo to Phil Morse via email at
p.morse31@gmail.com. Late October 1969.
Marie Vallee is third from the right.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Seashore Trolley Museum's Highway Monster with the Narcissus
receiving final adjustments from the Museum volunteers before
making the trek to the Museum campus in Kennebunkport, Maine,
late in October 1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
From this angle, you can see in the photo above where the kitchen/dining room was attached. The number 1 end is facing the tractor. The large arch window where the top of the ladder is placed over-identifies where the smoking compartment is located. The Narcissus would later make their way to Lewiston and have banners placed on each side. These banners would advertise the need for funds to restore the Narcissus, and also serve as a way to thank all the businesses that donated materials, money, and contributions-in-kind, such as skilled labor to build the three-room replacement summer camp.
Daniel Vallee at Seashore Trolley Museum on July 31, 2015.
Image courtesy of Patricia Pierce Erikson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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