Monday, March 27, 2017

Narcissus Restoration Update - March 27, 2017

A different perspective of the interior of the Narcissus as seen from the center
of its passenger compartment using a 360-degree lens.
A still from a new 360-degree camera, Insta360-air that easily attaches to
my Samsung 5. The camera will also record up to 15 minutes of 360 video. I experimented
with the camera, with various light conditions in the Town House
Restoration Shop...inside and outside of several cars. One plan is to use it to
catalog the interiors and perhaps the undercarriages of the railway
collection?

A different perspective of the Narcissus from the smoking compartment.

Donald Curry is the lead restoration technician for the Narcissus restoration. Donald released an update today describing some of the smaller interior components of the Narcissus project:

27 March 2017

Narcissus roof and clerestory components.

To use our time effectively and relatively warmly, we have been working on projects that can be done in heated areas as well as less warm ones.

Part of this has been to collect smaller parts of those areas, inventorying how many there are as well as their condition.

       Roof ribs



·       Two of these have had their ends restored, and the other three are the pattern for that. We have milled out several pieces of ‘green’ ash to use as stock for missing or damaged ribs. These will be steam-bent when time and staff are available. The number needed is ____ TBD (Ernie has the ones needed for the No. 1 end at home and all are reusable.

·       One steel (“Norway Iron”) rib was straightened by DGC & Ernie by the use of the larger pipe bender and painted with POR, black topcoat. It bent surprisingly easily, so Ernie also did a minor bending of one other. All the compound carlines (wood-iron-wood) can now be carriage-bolted together.

Ernie Eaton straightened one of the bent iron roof ribs. This rib was
supporting the weight of the heavy trolley pole base assembly.

·       Clerestory joint rib covers (“curved triangles”). These are solid mahogany and are used as anchors for the laminated curved joint strips at each light socket and corner. According to what we found, there should be 24 pieces (12 each left and right. Overall dimensions: 7/8 in. mahogany, 8 ¼ in. long, and 4 ¼ in. at the top. The headlining is nailed into the edge with 5 or 6 brads. (In the middle of some of the box nails with heads were used in the arches. They were extremely difficult to get out, causing damage to the strips.)

The photos show how many of these pieces could be found: 4 lefts and 6 rights. The remaining 14 pcs. were not found in the ‘steel’ container, where the rest were found. Possibly, they are still nailed to some pieces that are still together.
All need some small ‘grafts’.










·       Roof rib upper headlining (clerestory corner curved spacers
Soft pine, 1 ¼ in. thick, 1 ½ inches high, and 4 3/8 inches long. The corner, at the bottom, is held on by 1 ¼ in. box nails. Only 5 pieces have been found out of 24 needed.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
 Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Wade Zahares - Artist - 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days - July 21-23 - To Benefit the Narcissus Project

Wade Zahares: Fine Art and Illustration

       A bright red truck, tools around the perimeter, while a white duck swoops in from the left, does a nose dive, then careens back towards the left and lands in a pond. The U.S. flag waves to the rhythm of the "wind".  The wispy smoke from the chimney sways as it swats at the mountains. The gold-colored weather vane, puzzled, shifts direction from south to west to south again as the flickering flames from the campfire seek relief from the heat. Click on the bright yellow home, and the Gallery page opens. Click on the red cottage next to the pond, and the Studio page opens (the red cottage portrays Wade's studio. Click on the red barn, and the Store page opens. What a fun homepage! Wade's home page makes me smile as it draws me into his world of art. Click here to go to Wade's Facebook page.

        I am so very happy to announce that artist Wade Zahares will be participating in the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event. Wade has been commissioned to create an original work of art that depicts Narcissus, in its full operating splendor, cruising down the tracks while the intrepid "father" of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, W. S. Libbey, skillfully drives his 1908 Stanley Steamer, K 30-hp, Semi-Racer, speeding alongside the undaunted interurban.

       Strong lines. Bold colors. Dazzling perspectives. All three distinguish Wade Zahares’ larger-than-life pastel paintings. Wade’s magical scenes pull readers in with their sweeping curves and unexpected angles, like an insect’s view of a garden or a bird's eye view of the Statue of Liberty. “I love creating a whole little world that doesn’t exist in everyday life,” he says.

       The 3rd Annual Teddy Roosevelt Days event will take place at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, on the weekend of July 21-23, 2017. The schedule of guest presenters is now complete. As in previous years, the fundraising event to benefit the Narcissus project will kick off with a Friday activity that requires tickets to be purchased in advance for the limited-seating gala opening. The Friday activity will include the unveiling of Wade Zahares' original work of the Narcissus, a reception, trolley rides, a guided tour of the Narcissus, presentations, raffles, a silent auction, and Theodore Roosevelt-related items for sale. All proceeds benefit the restoration of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus. Saturday and Sunday activities are open to the public with the purchase of general admission tickets to the Museum. More details on the event will follow in the coming weeks. Tickets for the Friday gala opening will become available online early in May.

PWM 

       Wade works exclusively in pastels; he is drawn to the intimacy of the chalk and the ease with which he can blend colors. The magic happens in his studio, a converted shed just off his main house. The studio, equipped with 15-foot ceilings and a house gutter to catch all the pastel dust, is set on 5 1/2 acres of farmland in Lyman, Maine, just a few miles from the Kennebunk farm on which he grew up. When Wade needs a break, he goes for a drive to soak up the New England landscape—his biggest inspiration—or tends to his flowers, gardens, and fruit trees. Then he returns to his studio, refreshed and ready to make more magic.

Wade with Daisy at the farm in Lyman, Maine
Photo courtesy of DMZ

More details on Wade and his art will be in future posts to promote the Teddy Roosevelt Days event.


W. Scott Libbey's 1908 Stanley Steamer K 30-hp Semi-Racer at the
2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California. The permanent home
of this very rare car is at the Seal Cove Auto Museum in
Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Maine.
A total of twenty-five of these cars were built in 1907 and 1908 combined.
Libbey's is one of only three factory-built K 30-hp Semi-Racer survivors.
Image courtesy of Seal Cove Auto Museum

W. Scott Libbey driving his 1908 Stanley Steamer K 30-hp
Semi-Racer. Mr. Libbey would drive his steamer while inspecting
excavation and construction work as his Portland-Lewiston Interurban line was being built (1910-1914) .
This page is from the large "Interurban" Scrapbook
made to  commemorate the employees of the

       Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr. reminisces, driving his car while racing one of the high-speed interurbans of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban along the New Gloucester-Danville section of the line. Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr., 1915-2011 - this is an edited audio segment of an interview that was conducted by Clyde's daughter, Patricia Pierce Erikson, in August 2008.

Racing the Interurban Audio Clip (Below)

       The sole surviving interurban from the PLI, No. 14, Narcissus, is now undergoing restoration at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME. For more information on the restoration and the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, go to www.narcissus1912.blogspot.com

Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.

The Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places

This stretch of New Gloucester-Danville road parallels the PLI and is
where many a race between autos and interurbans took place.
Click Here: Clyde Walker Pierce Video
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
 Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive

My Maine - Teddy Roosevelt Days - July 21-23 - To Benefit the Narcissus Project

On Saturday, July 22, at the Seashore Trolley Museum in
Kennebunkport, Maine, author Suzanne Buzby Hersey
will be signing and selling her children's books during
2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days event.

       The 3rd Annual Teddy Roosevelt Days event will take place at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, on the weekend of July 21-23, 2017. The schedule of presenters and activities is almost complete. As in previous years, the fundraising event to benefit the Narcissus project will kick off with a Friday activity that requires tickets to be purchased in advance for the limited-seating gala opening. The Friday activity will include a reception, trolley rides, a guided tour of the Narcissus, presentations, raffles, a silent auction, and Theodore Roosevelt-related items for sale. All proceeds benefit the restoration of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus. Saturday and Sunday activities are open to the public with the purchase of general admission tickets to the Museum. More details on the event will follow in the coming weeks. Tickets for the Friday gala opening will become available online early in May.

       On Saturday, July 22, children's author Suzanne Buzby Hersey will be a guest at the event. Suzanne will be selling and signing her books throughout the day.


Suzanne will have her books for sale and is happy to sign them for you.
If you already have one of her books, bring it with you, and she will be
happy to sign it.

       Suzanne Buzby Hersey grew up spending her summers in Maine’s midcoast region and fulfilled her childhood dream of living here full-time back in 2006. Her love for Maine inspired her to write her first children’s book called “My Maine.” Suzanne is a member of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance as well as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has worked with children in several capacities and attributes much of her inspiration to them. She is now a mom of two and enjoys exploring the state of Maine with her family.

Facebook page for Little Beach Books, publisher of children's books

Parent reviews include:
"A wonderful children's book about the state of Maine. I love reading it to my kindergarten class and use it as a base for discussion about their favorite pastimes in our beautiful state!"

"I adore this book. I read it to my two children often. a wonderful introduction to the state of Maine. Plenty of facts and beautiful illustrations! Add this book to your children's bookshelves!"


How is Maine special to you? Children and adults alike will be delighted by a
young girl's answer to this question at "show and tell." Join in on a real
Maine adventure--go to a county fair, pick wild blueberries, and search for
sea glass. Visit Portland, L.L. Bean, and the state capitol building. Take
in the magnificent sights from the mountains and lakes to the rocky coast
and learn some facts along the way, all while being accompanied by an
adorable stuffed moose! This beautifully illustrated book truly captures
the essence of Maine.

Click Here: First Post on 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days - W. S. Libbey's 1908 Stanley Steamer

The Narcissus Project Blog was created in April 2015 to reach out to a large number of folks through the power of social media to introduce them to Narcissus. The Narcissus is a luxury, high-speed, wooden electric interurban. The Narcissus was built in 1912 in Laconia, NH, and operated on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, in Maine, between Portland and Lewiston, from 1914 to 1933. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914. The blog posts appeal to folks with an interest in Theodore Roosevelt's connection to Maine, to folks generally interested in regional/local history, as well as those folks within the greater railway family. Hopefully, these posts will endear many of the readers to help support the Narcissus financially, as it undergoes a complete restoration over the next few years at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
 Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive