Thornton Academy Residential Life International
students volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum
with the Museum's volunteer track crew to
replace railroad ties in the spring of 2016.
Videography and editing by An Ho, class of 2018.
Student An Ho is from Vietnam.
Thornton Academy is located in Saco, Maine. The private school celebrated its bicentennial anniversary in 2011, which also happens to be the first year that many of its international students started volunteering at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Thornton Academy began its Residential Life Program with the 2009/10 school year. That year there was one coed dormitory with about forty-four students. In addition, several international students lived with local families in the greater Saco area. The Residential Life Program at Thornton Academy has grown over the past nine years to now include a little more than 200 students from about thirty different countries living in five dormitories along with the homestay option.
Since the fall of 2011, TA Residential Life student volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to helping the Seashore Trolley Museum in a variety of ways. These photos are just a glimpse of the many, many tasks these students have participated in at the Museum, or on behalf of the Museum over the years. The number of students who volunteer and the volunteer hours they contribute have made a significant contribution to grant applications showing clear evidence of community support for the Museum's mission.
A BIG THANK YOU to all the Thornton Academy students who have contributed their time in helping Seashore Trolley Museum over these past nine years! You have all been AWESOME!
Photography and video. The opening video is an example
of utilizing the TA students' volunteering to complete
a classroom project for an audio-visual class. The above photo
is an example of a student helping the Museum document
a meeting assessing artifacts for use in the restoration
of a historic electric railway vehicle listed on
National Register of Historic Places, the 1912 Portland-
Image courtesy Liyi "Tom" Liu class 2014
Image courtesy Liyi "Tom" Liu class 2014
Sanding a sign PWM
Replacing old railroad ties with
cobblestones PWM
Cobblestones are heavy PWM
The improvements made are the first of many
to be made to the area in the coming months.
PWM
Changing out old signs from the visitor
gallery in the
Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop.
PWM
Installing new professional exhibit panels
along the visitor gallery walkway in the
Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration
Shop. PWM
Teamwork is a wonderful thing. PWM
Over the years, hundreds of parts have been
sandblasted by international student volunteers
from the Residential Life Program at
Thornton Academy. PWM
Working together to achieve a goal is very rewarding.
PWM
Inventory of materials and then properly wrapping
and preparing them for storage is important. PWM
Students who live in the dorms are used to taking out
the trash, so, this was not a new experience :) PWM
Replacing old railroad ties is an ongoing project at the
Museum. I think 500 needed replacing in 2018. PWM
There are usually ten or twelve opportunities a year
to help with community outreach or in-house Museum events.
PWM
Engaging with guests is an important part of volunteering
during outreach events. PWM
Cutting brush back is also an
annual task at the Museum. PWM
The Pumpkin Patch Trolley event is always in need of
many volunteers. Generally, fourteen TA student volunteers
help out during each of the four days. Spending at least
seven hours each day, the volunteer hours add up quickly.
PWM
All volunteers bring a pumpkin home at the end of
each day of the event. PWM
Of course, trolley rides and learning about trolleys are part of
the volunteer package. 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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.