J. Henry Vallee (left) with his son, Daniel Vallee, relaxing
inside their summer cottage, Narcissus. This image is dated
June 1965. In the background, you see the kitchen/dining room
that was attached to the body of the Narcissus. Dan was a Marine
when this picture was taken. Dan retired from the Marines
as a Major in 1984. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee
This blog post is a tribute to Daniel A. Vallee.
September 25 is the birthday of Daniel A. Vallee. Dan would have been 76 today. Sadly, Dan passed away unexpectedly on September 1, 2017. He will be greatly missed by this writer. I only knew Dan for a couple of years, but he became an instant and dear friend from our first meeting. Dan grew up living in the Narcissus. When he was dating Rose, he first introduced her to his parents while they were living in the Narcissus. Rose and Dan were married for 50 years. All of us in the Narcissus family share our deepest condolences with Rose, their two sons, Leo and Patrick, and all of the extended Vallee family members for their loss of Dan.
Early sightings of the Narcissus were at the Vallee's summer camp, as it was seen from the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway in the late 1930s.
Screenshot of the Narcissus as seen in Sabattus, Maine, during
a fan trip. The footage is from the O. R. Cummings Collection
Click here for the short clip from a fan trip in the 1930s or early 40s. They happened to pass by the Narcissus in Sabattus, Maine, when it was a summer camp. The footage is from the O. R. Cummings Collection at Northeast Historic Film (P.O. Box 900, 85 Main Street, Bucksport, Maine 04416) and is used here with permission from NHF.
I first met Dan and Rose Vallee in mid-afternoon on Friday, July 31, 2015, as I was setting up for the first Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event benefiting the Narcissus Project. They made the trek from the Monmouth, Maine area to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Earlier in the week, Dan had seen a newspaper story about the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus, entering the Museum's Townhouse Restoration Shop. The sole surviving piece of rolling stock of Maine's most famous interurban system was beginning the long process of a full restoration to operating condition. Dan was inspired to call the Museum. Upon his call being answered, Dan's first statement to the staff member was, "I want to visit my old bedroom!" The befuddled staff member asked the caller to clarify his request. Dan went on to explain that he had grown up living in the Narcissus. The Narcissus had been the Vallee family's summer camp at Sabbatus Lake. Dan's father, J. Henri Vallee, had made a trade with the Trolley Museum for the Narcissus back in the late 60s. And so later that week, Rose and Dan headed down to see Dan's old bedroom.
Various newspapers that carried the story of the Narcissus
during July/August 2015. Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Dan and Rose arrived at the Museum after lunch on that Friday. They met Donald Curry and Randy Leclair and were given a tour of the Narcissus. Dan explained the layout of the living arrangements from when he and his brother, Andre, and their parents, J. Henri and Emercienne "Marie". Dan's father had purchased the "body" of the Narcissus for $100 in the 1930s. Dan was born on September 25, 1941. He spent the first eighteen summers of his life living in the Narcissus. When Dan was eight or nine, the family actually lived in the Narcissus year-round for a couple of years. Dan took the time to explain where he and his brother slept. Where his parents slept. The placement of the buck stove. He pointed out two "imprints" where hinges were on the exterior of the number-one end. The hinges held a wooden "window" that his mother would open to sell hot dogs and coffee to summer folks who were visiting the lake.
The placement of the hinges is clearly evident on the left side, the number
one end of the Narcissus, just over the first window opening of the smoking
compartment. Dan Valle's mother would sell hot dogs and coffee through this
opening to visitors to Sabattus Pond/Lake. PWM
An interesting coincidence is that the family lived in a third-story apartment in Lewiston for many years. That apartment happened to be next door to the body of the "Maine," which had become a diner. Dan mentioned that on Friday and Saturday nights, the "Maine" had live musical entertainment for the patrons. And that he and his brother would be up late into the night, hearing the various songs.
The 1920 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 22 "Maine."
Named in honor of the Centennial of the State of Maine.
The body was sold in late 1933 or early 1934 and became
a diner in Lewiston, ME.Image and info from O. R. Cummings'
1967 book, "Maine's Fast Electric Railroad"
Narcissus project sponsor Phil Morse, on the left, with Dan Vallee.
Phil was explaining the process used for restoring
July 31, 2015. Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Early in the calendar year, Dan accepted my invitation to be a guest speaker at the 2016 Teddy Roosevelt Days event on Friday, August 5, 2016. Dan also agreed to visit the Museum a few weeks before the Teddy Days event to be videoed while being interviewed. The lead topic for the interview was what life was like living in the Narcissus as he was growing up.
Click the video above to watch Daniel Vallee's short clip on what life was like living in Narcissus. Video created and edited by Patricia Pierce Erikson
"A President Has Ridden in My House" - Click Here to see the video with Dan Vallee of what life was like living in the Narcissus when he was a youngster.
The three photos and captions below are from the 2016 Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event gala opening on August 5, 2016.
Dan and Rose Vallee are together once again in the Narcissus.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Married for 49 years, Dan first introduced Rose to his parents when the elder Vallees were living in the Narcissus in Sabattus, Maine. This photo opportunity was prepared specifically for photo opportunities inside the right side of the smoking compartment during the three-day event to benefit the Narcissus project. The restored original passenger windows in Santo Domingo mahogany sash, with the restored original leaded stained glass eyebrow above, also in the original mahogany sash. All the mahogany components are seen encasing the windows and the bulkhead frame (on the far left unfinished), including the brass hardware, original to the Narcissus. Notice the framed pictures of the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, standing in the White House next to a 1914 image of the Narcissus in Gray :)
Left to Right - Narcissus project manager, Phil Morse, author, Michael
Canfield, Dan Vallee, and Seashore Trolley Museum Library Committee
member, Karen Dooks. Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Dan Vallee gave an extremely entertaining explanation of what
his life was like as he grew up living in the Narcissus in the 1940s,
50s, and 60s. Stories of living conditions, family members, and life
in general as told through a variety of personal stories. Well Done, Dan!
photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Dan and Rose attended the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days event on Friday, July 21, 2017. It was a special evening with Maine artist Wade Zahares, unveiling the original artwork he created of the Narcissus. Dan and Rose were able to have conversations with descendants of W. S. and Annie Libbey, who were also in attendance.
Rose Vallee, Dan Vallee, and Don Curry were in the audience during
the Friday opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Days event. Friday,
July 21, 2017 - Photo by Ernie Eaton
Maine artist Wade Zahares introduced his new work, "Fast Friends",
featuring the Narcissus, W. S., and Annie Libbey in
Morrison Hill Station is a Portland-Lewiston Interurban waiting station from West Cumberland, Maine. It was in place in 1915. Seashore Trolley Museum acquired the station in 1990 or so. Volunteers at the Museum rebuilt the metal-clad building and placed it along the Museum's heritage line as the first/last stop for passengers as they leave/approach the Visitor Center platform. At this stop, visitors may choose to disembark from the historically restored electric railway vehicle to visit the newly dedicated Donald Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Riverside Exhibit Carbarn, or continue their walking tour to other public exhibits throughout the Museum campus.
Morrison Hill Station is now undergoing some structural improvements. Next spring. When the Museum reopens its public operations (2018 will be the Museum's 79th anniversary year!), the interior of the Morrison Hill Station will have a Portland-Lewiston Interurban exhibit. A couple of weeks ago, a new 5-foot-wide exterior patio bench for visitors was assembled and placed on the platform of Morrison Hill Station. The plan is to add another bench to the platform next spring. In considering a dedication or memorial plaque or plate to be attached to the first bench, the initial decision was to honor J. Henry Vallee. Had Mr. Vallee not purchased the body of the Narcissus in the late 30s for use as the Vallee summer camp, it most certainly would not have survived. Solely due to Mr. Vallee's acquisition, the sole surviving piece of rolling stock from Maine's premier interurban line is now undergoing restoration.
In developing the text for the dedication, this writer searched Google for the letter "J" in Mr. Vallee's name. The Google search instead had this writer learn that Daniel A. Vallee had passed away. I do struggle expressing my feelings about how I dealt with this news over the following couple of days. Over time, I will find several ways to honor Dan. To start with, the first bench at the Morrison Hill Station will be dedicated in memory of Dan. His father will be mentioned in the text, but this first bench is Dan's. I'll also be dedicating a donation to the Narcissus project in memory of Daniel A. Vallee. He very much wanted to go for "a ride in his house" once it was back on the tracks, a majestic representative of the most beloved Maine electric interurban.
Starting in 1915, the Morrison Hill Station was a waiting station
at the Portland-Lewiston Interurban in West Cumberland, Maine.
The Narcissus would be one of the PLI interurbans to
stop at this station to pick up and discharge passengers.
The 5-foot green bench is a new addition to the platform. PWM
The new 5-foot-wide bench at the Morrison Hill Station.
This bench now has a nameplate attached, inscribed with text in memory of Daniel A. Vallee. Over many, many years to come, the text will share a nugget of Dan's humor with the thousands of Museum visitors who will read as they share some restful moments on the bench. Once the Narcissus is restored to operating status, it too will pause at Morrison Hill Station from time to time. In doing so, the Narcissus will share a moment with Dan during each trip.
The plate - Thank you to Roger Bastarache at R & W Engraving
in Biddeford for making the plate in short order. PWM
Daniel A. Vallee
(1941 - 2017)
North Monmouth (ME) - Daniel A. Vallee, 75, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 1, 2017, at his lake house. He was born in Lewiston (ME) on September 25, 1941, the son of the late Henri and Emercienne "Marie" (Paquette). Dan was educated at St. Don's and graduated in 1959. He later joined the United States Marine Corps. He retired as a Major in 1984. He obtained his Master's Degree in Business at Western New England College. He worked at ASEC for 22 years until retiring as Vice-President in November 2006. On May 20, 1967, he married the love of his life, Rose (Daigle), and they shared a loving marriage of over 50 years. He belonged to the American Legion and the Elks Club. Dan enjoyed fishing, cigars, traveling, and spending time with family. Dan is survived by his wife, his two children, Leo Vallee of Tucson, AZ, and Patrick Vallee of Auburn; his sister-in-law, Bernadette Vallee of Lewiston; his one grandchild, Alexandra LaBonte of Plantation, FL, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Andre Vallee.
Daniel A. Vallee 1941- 2017
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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