Forty-Eight years Ago Today - Halloween, 1969 - The Narcissus Arrived at Seashore Trolley Museum

The Narcissus as she looked when secured to the "Highway

Monster" upon arrival at Seashore Trolley Museum on

Halloween, 1969. Image by Norman Down

     Forty-eight years ago today, the Narcissus arrived at its new home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The sole surviving high-speed wooden interurban from the legendary Portland-Lewiston Interurban system that operated between two major population centers in Maine, the Narcissus is currently under restoration in Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration shop. The Narcissus had the honor to have Theodore Roosevelt as a passenger on August 18, 1914. The Narcissus Project blog is dedicated to disseminating information to the public through social media sources to raise awareness about the Narcissus restoration, its life story, and connections to the communities it served from 1914 into 1933.

Below is the write-up from the 1969 Annual Report of how the Narcissus was able to be acquired.

1969 Annual Report (page 6) New England Electric Railway Historical Society/Seashore Trolley Museum

     Interest in this car body, which has finally arrived at Seashore, is as old as the Society itself. Starting in 1937 there were annual trips run on the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway system operating out of Lewiston on the 19th of April. One of the highlights of the Sabattus line was the once-a-year inspection of the beautifully preserved body of Laconia number 14, which has been better known by its name the Narcissus. It was during such a trip on April 19th, 1939, that three of Seashore's Pioneers were making the first plans to acquire a Biddeford and Saco open car in June or July, whenever the buses would arrive to take over New England's last regular open trolley operation.

     Later on, when two of these Founders were getting initiated into the Street Railway business the hard way, in the backyard of the Saco car barn, getting the first car of the first Trolley Museum rigged to make it over the road journey to a small piece of land in Kennebunkport; there was little need to recall the Narcissus slumbering away in Sabattus because only 8 miles away at Bay View, reposed the sister car, number 10, the Arbutus. Far more famous for running the first and last trip over the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and appropriately preserved in fully operating condition on a section of real rails and ties from the line, on the property of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of the famed interurban builder, W. Scott Libby, there was every reason to hope that if the fledgling Society became successful, this handsome and complete Interurban might be donated to this new Seashore Electric Railway. But, this was not to be the case, as the car was broken up during World War II at a time when many of our members were overseas.

A more famous sister to the Narcissus, the

Arbutus is seen here on display at Gertrude

Libbey Anthony's home in Bay View, Saco,

Maine. Image from O. R. Cummings 1967

book, "Maine's Fast Electric Railroad."

     Over the years rumors continued to persist that the Narcissus was still remarkably well-preserved and the Society by now was sufficiently well-equipped with transportation equipment and willing to gamble on acquiring a car body of merit that might be re-equipped at a later date. Accordingly, contact was made with the owner, Mr. J. Henri Vallee of Lewiston.  By then, the general manager of the Museum, Dwight B. Minnick, and a verbal agreement made that the car could be acquired by the Society in exchange for equivalent housing if so done before Mr. Vallee's retirement.

J. Henri Vallee in Sabattus, Maine. The 

Narcissus in the background. The roof frames for

the new "replacement" house can be seen in the

background to the right. Image courtesy of

Daniel A. Vallee.

     Mr. Vallee, it appeared, had been a passenger on the Interurban on the first and last days of operation and had a sentimental attachment to it and the excellent state of preservation of the car bore testimony to this.

     Various portable houses were looked into but fell short of expectations. It was concluded that a simply framed house would have to be built. On at least three separate occasions in the intervening years, Museum personnel attempted valiantly to enlist the local interest and get some sort of a project going so that title could be obtained to the Narcissus. For a multiplicity of reasons these endeavors failed. One ray of hope came, however, in 1965 when through the intercession of Governor Reed of the State of Maine, a pair of suitable Baldwin motor trucks were made available by the Canadian National, from their Oshawa Railway subdivision.

     More enthusiasm for the project began to be generated by our growing Portland group, many of whom had worked their way up in our summer shop force and could visualize the results that could be obtained with the Narcissus if once gotten to the Museum's own shop. In 1967 Museum member, William Dox of Portland was asked by Trustees of Seashore to contact Mr. Vallee and see if the offer was still open. Once confirmed, Society historian and trustee O. R. Cummings, in the process of rewriting his history of the PLI, decided to turn over the funds from a project to the Narcissus fund and to make available all the 

over-cost proceeds from the publication and sale of "Maine's Fast Electric Railway". This generous offer of O. R. Cummings gave the project the impetus that was needed for, not only was time running out on the offer but, the deterioration was setting in on the car. The trustees appointed a committee composed of Cummings, Donald Curry, John Coughlin, William Dox, Jr.,  and John H. Fancy until he became too occupied in other areas.

O. R. Cummings' book that he signed

over the royalties to the 

Narcissus fund. PWM

     Basic work accomplished by the committee was the building up of a fund to pay for the labor involved and locating a builder who would undertake to complete the exterior of the building within these limits. And then through interest generated in the project, securing donations of the actual building materials needed. A necessary adjunct was, of course, the selection of basic house design, and a bill of materials could be drawn up. A USDA extension service dwelling was selected as a prototype. Also, a legal agreement had to be drawn up for signature by both parties which enabled the Museum to erect a dwelling structure on Mr. Vallee's premises as well as assure the donation of the car body to the Museum when the new structure had been closed in and become weather-tight.

     As soon as the PLI history was published, every effort was made to concentrate the sale promotion and distribution in the areas formerly served by the Interurban. Newspapers in the Portland and Lewiston areas were cooperative in relating all newsworthy developments in the campaign. By the fall of 1968 sufficient funds were on hand to get the project underway. As soon as commitments of donations for 80% of the materials required for the building had been received as a result of some 40 solicitations, a search was instituted for a builder willing to undertake the erection of a building satisfactory to Mr. Vallee's needs and within the means of the special fund.

     Due to extremely bad weather setting in by late October (1968), the first builder found himself bowing out because of other commitments but recommended Mr. Joseph R. Blais of the Lewiston area, as one of the few other builders able to construct such a dwelling within the limitations set forth. Museum forces then came up and working in two of the nastiest weekends on record, in the alternating pouring rain and heavy snow moved the body of the "Narcissus" off of its footings onto temporary blocking and separated and removed other appendages as necessary. But, despite their valiant efforts to get the operation back on schedule,  even worse weather followed. The project had to be called off until late May of 1969. From this point on, all progressed smoothly, the builder following the letter of authorization to within a margin of some $24.

Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers arranging

to move the Narcissus onto the "Highway

Monster." Image courtesy of

Daniel A. Vallee.

     On July 30th, 1969, Mr. Vallee signed and delivered the transfer of title to the Narcissus to the committee members closing what was probably the longest, most arduous, and expensive acquisition project ever undertaken by the Society.

The Narcissus loaded on the "Highway

Monster" connected to Seashore Trolley

Museum's "Mack", with J. Henri Vallee's

new home in the background.

Image courtesy of Daniel A. Vallee

     The story doesn't end here, however, as the course of the acquisition of the building materials, commitments were made to try to give the donors a certain amount of advertising publicity in return for their donations, some of which ran to well over $300 in value. This was to be done by fixing a side banner on each side of the car, under the windows, indicating the names of donors of materials. For this and various other reasons, a small deficit was incurred in the project, which has since been met by donations from members of the committee and members of the Libbey family who have shown a great deal of interest in the project.

     Preparations for the trip were being made, but because of the general activity of the summer at the Museum and the non-availability of transport equipment, the Narcissus sat at its prior location, waiting for the next step. Finally, in early October, a large crew of 12 members of the Society, in a solid weekend's work, moved the body aboard the "Highway Monster", which had been skillfully maneuvered into position alongside the body a month before. Meanwhile, Mrs. Eleanor Libbey Awalt of Auburn, who had consented to and started work with the acquisition committee a year before in the raising of funds, provision of publicity in the Lewiston, Auburn, and New Gloucester areas, acted as a clearinghouse for that purpose, alerted news media and historical groups along the route on the impending move.

     A certain amount of showmanship and Ingenuity came into play to make the "Narcissus" look the part a little more. The weather letter boards were covered over with masonite strips painted in Pullman Green and authentically lettered, Portland-Lewiston Interurban,  and corrugated aluminum was fitted on lower sections missing matchboard, and also hastily painted Pullman Green. The illusion was quite good and the excellent conditions of the stained glass windows did much to help this.

The Portland-Lewiston Interurban masonite strips from 1969

are still in place on the Narcissus on October 23, 2017, as

restoration work continues on the exterior. PWM

     The long-awaited move took place on Halloween of 1969. Despite delays with last-minute requirements for a house moving permit, excellent planning and skillful maneuvering of the Mack and Highway Monster aided by an alert escort made it possible not only to retrace as closely as possible the interurbans old route through Lewiston-Auburn, New Gloucester, Gray, and West Cumberland, but, even to its street run in Portland via Forest Avenue, Congress Street, and Monument Square. Finally, after its 35-year lonely vigil at Sabattus, The "Narcissus" joined its new family at the Trolley Museum. A costly acquisition indeed, but, the car is basically sound, most of the needed equipment is now on hand, and its restoration is scheduled to get underway this summer with an enthusiastic crew.

Banner remnants from the 1969 road trip of the Narcissus

traveling from Sabattus Pond to Seashore Trolley Museum

were found while cleaning up and sorting materials from

the Narcissus shortly after it entered the Donald G. Curry

Town House Restoration Shop. PWM

     The Narcissus has been at the Museum for Forty-Eight years and it now has its turn to be restored to full operating status. It is currently in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Work is underway on phase one, to restore the exterior of the Narcissus. Adequate funds have been raised to finish the exterior. The fundraising for the Narcissus now focuses on the work and materials necessary to complete the restoration of the ornate interior. please continue reading below for some of the next steps and follow the Narcissus project blog to keep up to date with the progress and ways you can help. Thank You

     Thank you to everyone who helped the Narcissus to this point. We still need to continue to collectively spread the word about the project. I encourage you to invite others to join the effort to bring this beauty back into being the majestic, elegant, operating representative of Maine's premier electric interurban railway.

     One way to explain what the Narcissus project is about is by sharing the posts from the Narcissus project blog: www.narcissus1912.blogspot.com

Lots of folks find the posts very interesting.

In April (2019), the blog surpassed 212,000 total page views! 

The blog is a great way to spread the news of Narcissus.

Let's keep it going :)

Planning for gifts?

Boxes of ten greeting cards, with envelopes, are now available to purchase. 100% of the proceeds from these sales will benefit the Narcissus Project.

Greeting Cards of Narcissus in "Fast Friends" by

Maine artist, Wade Zahares.

Wording on the back of "Fast Friends"

Greeting Cards of Morrison Hill Station of

"Waiting for the Narcissus" by

Maine artist, Wade Zahares.

Greeting Cards:

Box of Ten (10) with envelopes - 4"x 6" - blank inside - $20

(Free shipping via USPS)

Free Shipping on all orders placed with me before November 30, 2017

To order Greeting Cards - email p.morse31@gmail.com

All proceeds from the sale of these items will be added to the PLI Education Fund No. 917.

Free Shipping on all orders placed with p.morse31@gmail.com

What's next for Narcissus? 2017/2018

Restoration work will continue on the exterior of the Narcissus. 

All roof ribs were removed, repaired, primed, and replaced.

Ten needed to be replaced. The left side has had its end boards

secured to the roof rib tenons. The right side end boards are

nearly all in place.  Image 10-23-17 PWM

Donald Curry working on securing the right

side end boards to the roof rib tenons.

10-23-17 PWM

Major side sill and bolster work is in the early stages of work.

The bolster will be removed, assessed, repaired, pieces

replaced as necessary, primed, painted, and then reinstalled.

Side sills and the attached steel channel will be removed,

assessed, repaired, and replaced as necessary. 10-23-17 PWM

Morrison Hill Station

In recent weeks, the petite 1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban waiting station, originally located in West Cumberland (ME) has had; window and door sills replaced and painted. Window trim boards replaced and painted, metal roof edges repaired and painted, the west-facing roof panels sanded and painted, exterior walls (yellow) north, south, and west repainted, the tiny wooden electrical box that feeds the 600 volts (DC) lights of the building fully rebuilt, primed and painted, and many interior upgrades. All these improvements (and a few more to follow) are in preparation for the building to be the home of an exhibit next season about the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.

This picture was taken on October 23, 2017. 1915

Morrison Hill Station is looking great with fresh upgrades and

paint. PWM

Inside Morrison Hill station. New floating oak flooring,

newly painted kickboards, trim, and awaiting installation.

10-20-17 PWM

Interior of Narcissus

Patented interlocking rubber floor tiles in the smoking

compartment and down the center aisle of the passenger

compartment floor of the Narcissus. We will be seeking

contractors and prices on making new tiles, as well as

seeking solutions to properly repair the tiles, if possible,

for reuse. 10-23-2017 PWM

Seats for the Narcissus. We will make all 20,  mohair plush
upholstered seats from scratch. We have prices from two foundries
to cast all the various metal components. Funding the cost to
cast original patterns and then the various components is the
highest priority for fundraising now. Image of Interior of 1912,
Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 16, Clematis. This
image has the viewer peering down the aisle towards the number
two end of the Clematis. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum 

One of the original passenger windows in its
mahogany sash has been restored along with seventeen
others. Six will have to be made from scratch.
We have many of the original brass components too.
PWM

One of the newly restored (5 of 8 completed so far)

mahogany sash windows that are contained in the two

bulkheads. Additional interior work will include rewiring

the Narcissus. When the body was the Vallee summer home,

120-volt household wiring was added and much of the original

wire was removed. October 2017 image PWM

The center ceiling panels have ornate
gold leaf fleur-de-lis. The interior walls are
all mahogany with an inlay of Ebony-Holly-
Ebony. The forty leaded-stained glass
windows above the passenger windows
are breathtaking. 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