Narcissus Restoration Update - Part 2 - Exterior Poplar Frames - 4-22-2016

Narcissus Project Sponsor Phil Morse, pointing to the single-window

exterior poplar frame placement is on the right side of the number two end of

Seashore Trolley Museum, National Register of Historic Places,

Narcissus. Donald Hutchinson photo

     This Narcissus Blog post is the second in a series that relates to the exemplary woodwork being done with the exterior poplar frames by Museum member/volunteer, Lary Shaffer. The exterior poplar frames hold the mahogany sash/frames that contain the ornate leaded stained glass windows that are above each passenger window. The image above shows the one single passenger window that is on each side of the number 2 end of the Narcissus. All the other exterior poplar frames are larger and each spans a pair of passenger windows. Lary is working on the poplar frames in his Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture woodworking shop.

Click Here to view the first post in this series and to see Lary's bio.

Lary Shaffer assessed a board of reclaimed vintage Poplar in his

woodworking shop at Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture. The

reclaimed Poplar is being used in rebuilding/repairing the exterior

frames of the Narcissus. PWM

     One of the challenges today, when restoring a historic wooden interurban that was built in 1912 with wood that was available at the time, is finding wood products that are similar to those originally used. We think in terms of "old growth" or "reclaimed", "recycled", or perhaps, "vintage" wood. The Narcissus has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with nine other Maine Railway vehicles at Seashore Trolley Museum. Finding wood materials for the restoration that is as close to those used originally is very important. The Museum is very fortunate to have found a local supplier in southern Maine that has had great success supplying the Museum with period wood for previous restorations like the 1906 electric locomotive, Atlantic Shore Line No. 100. John Rousseau of Rousseau Reclaimed Lumber (formerly Barnstormers) has been able to supply the Town House Restoration Shop with some wonderful vintage Poplar for use by Lary to repair/rebuild the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus. One of the earmarks of a great piece of vintage wood is the number of growth rings of the tree that the board has come from. A very close series of rings will tell us that the tree was growing in a heavily wooded forest and was forced to grow more slowly due to the competition for sunlight and growing space.

The very tight growth ring pattern is clearly visible on the poplar wood supplied

by Rousseau Reclaimed Lumber. Notice the rings nearer the heart (left) of

the tree are wider and as the tree grew, the rings are closer and closer together.

Evidence that more space and sunlight were available to the tree when it was a young sapling.

PWM

The first video in this post (below) has Lary explaining part of the planning process for working on the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus.

Lary uses the template he created to assess the newly constructed

early-stage exterior Poplar frame. This early-stage frame will go

through many more steps before it is a finished product. This series

of videos has Lary taking the viewer through the various stages.

     The second video in this post has Lary explaining more of the various stages that are required in the process of repairing /rebuilding the exterior Poplar frames of the Narcissus. These video clips were taken over two days. The videos in the series of blog posts may not necessarily be in the order that the original video was taken. So, some references by Lary may seem out of place...FYI.

The Next post in the series will be released in the next day or so.

I hope you are enjoying them :) Let me know...

Click Here - to see Part 1 in the series of 4 -  exterior poplar framework and to see Lary's bio.

Click Here - to see Part 3 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here - to see Part 4 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here to view the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click Here to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here - to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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