The Trolley Leaves Calais - Lined up at the carbarn, are three
of the five Birney cars and standing, left to right, are
Bernard Donahue, Chester Hobart, Walter Faloon, Edward
Frye, Jr., Edward Frye, Sr., Irving Russell, Fred McConvey,
George McCracken, and Harold Clarke, were the
operating employees on hand at the end. Soon after
abandonment, the five Birney cars were loaded on flat
cars and shipped out over the Maine Central Railroad,
reportedly for Utica, NY. October 31, 1929,
Photo by H. E. Lamb in the
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_020
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Here is the newest release in the Maine Bicentennial series of electric railways in Maine. This blog post features a Calais (ME) Street Railway history perspective as told by Donald E. Shaw in Volume 3, January 1949 issue, of Transportation. This material is taken from the copy of Transportation kept in the O. R. Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum Library.
Click Here for the post: Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service!
Click Here for the post: 57 Million Passengers Carried on Electric Railways in Maine in 1915!
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial Series - History of the Portland Railroad 1860-1941
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial Series - Aroostook Valley Railroad 1910-1946
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial Series - Fryeburg (ME) Horse Railroad 1887-1913
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Skowhegan & Norridgewock Railway 1894-1903
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Norway and Paris Street Railway 1894-1918
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Benton and Fairfield Railway 1898-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Somerset Traction Company 1895-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Fairfield and Shawmut Railway 1903-1927
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Waterville, Fairfield, & Oakland Rwy 1887-1937
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Trolleys to Augusta, Maine 1889-1932
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Rockland, South Thomaston, & St. George Rwy
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden St.Rwy. '92-1931
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Biddeford and Saco Railroad Co. 1888-1939
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Mousam River Railroad 1892-1899
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway 1899-1904
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portsmouth, Kittery & York St. Rwy 1897-1903
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Street Railway 1889-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Railway & Electric Company 1905-1925
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway 1895-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Rwy 1896-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Penobscot Central Railway 1898-1906
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Hydro-Electric Company 1925-1945
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath St Rwy 1898-1907
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville St Rwy 1907-19
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway 1919-1941
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland & Brunswick Street Railway 1902-1911
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Auburn & Turner Railroad 1905-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Auburn, Mechanic Falls & NorwayStRwy1902-7
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portsmouth, Dover & York St Rwy 1903-1906
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Atlantic Shore Line Railway 1900-1910
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Atlantic Shore Railway 1911-1923
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - York Utilities Company 1923-1949
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland-Lewiston Interurban - It Begins 1914
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland-Lewiston Interurban - The End 1933
Seashore Trolley Museum, the Museum of Mass Transit in Kennebunkport, Maine, is celebrating its 80th Birthday year in 2019! Many events are scheduled and many more will be scheduled before the opening of public operations on May 4, 2019.
Calais, Maine, at the head of navigation on the St. Croix, is an old town, steeped in shipbuilding and maritime traditions. So is St. Stephen, N. B., across the river, and itself an important lumber shipping port in years gone by. In the '90s (1890s), Calais had a population of around 7,000; St. Stephen about 3,000; and Milltown, two miles upriver, some 2,000 more. It was at this time that an electric railway between the towns was first proposed, and it was Charles W. Young of St. Stephen who headed the initial enterprise when it finally got underway.
It was necessary to organize two separate companies in order to consummate this venture, as New Brunswick law required that there be a separate corporate entity to control that part of the road which was to be operated on the Canadian side of the border.
The St. Stephen Street Railway was incorporated by an Act of the New Brunswick Provincial Legislature in 1891, with a capitalization of $100,000. Its incorporators were Frank Todd, John Chipman, Henry F. Todd, Gilbert W. Ganong, Irvine R. Todd, and Charles W. Young. Operating privileges were granted to this company for 15 years.
Under the date of March 17, 1893, another company, known as the Calais Street Railway was organized under the laws of the state of Maine, and in this was vested the operating management of both properties. Thus it came to be that the St. Stephen Street Railway during the entire active life of the joint enterprise was leased to and operated by the Calais Street Railway which purchased the rolling stock and equipment and hired the personnel used on both sides of the border.
A carbarn was built at the head of River St., Calais, a steam-driven power station adjacent to it. An agreement was made with the St. Croix Gas Light Co., which operated the local electric light service, for the use of its poles. Rails were laid from the carbarn to Bank Corner, Calais, and up North St. to Knight's Corner, Milltown.
Finally, on the Fourth of July, 1894, hundreds of people from both sides of the river, gathered to see the first electric cars to run in far-eastern Maine. Many were anxious to ride as well. By nightfall, if they stayed around that long, these same customers were already getting a little more ride for their money, as the track crew worked feverishly all day and by night had the 48-lb. T-rails were laid down as far as Baring Street Corner.
First electric trolleys in Calais. North Street and Main Street,
"Bankers Corner" on June 4, 1894. Photo by H. E. Lamb in the
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_001
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Soon the car tracks extended not only for a mile or so down Main Street in Calais to the Lower Wharf at Steamboat Street but also over the upper bridge across the St. Croix at Milltown and down the New Brunswick side of the river to St. Stephen, and on to what was then known as the Shore Line (New Brunswick Southern) railway station in that town.
This extension gave the road its first actual international significance, with men from both sides of the border being employed on the cars which shuttled across the St. Croix between the United States and Canada with matter-of-fact regularity.
The old covered highway bridge at Ferry Point, which connected the central portion of Calais with St. Stephen, had once successfully held up Jumbo, the famous circus elephant, but was not considered to be sturdy enough to support the electric cars. However, this was the logical point for a new and more direct connecting link between the two principal towns on the system. With the completion of a new (and presently-used) steel bridge at this location in January 1895, tracks were laid across it to give Calais St. Ry and its leased line a total of a little more than 7 miles of track, forming a loop and two stub ends which taken altogether could give a passenger quite a ride for his 5 cents-4 miles in the United States and 3 in Canada.
The new bridge between Calais and St. Stephen has closed
car No. 4 crossing as it looked before vestibules were
enclosed. Circa 1895, H. E. Lamb photo
in the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_022
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
The route of the Calais Street Railway from the junction with Main Street at Bank Corner, Calais, a single track extended west through the center of North Street to a point near Washington Street, where it swung to the left side of the road, to Knight's Corner where the tracks crossed to the right side of the highway. A turnout was located here. A short distance further, at MacFarlane's Curve, the track again crossed to the left side of North Street and alternated with center-of-the-street locations as far as the Upper Bridge over the St. Croix, which bridge it crossed on the west side.
Turning east down the Canadian side of the river and crossing the highway, the track followed the right side of Water Street to Milltown siding between Deacon and Elm Streets (a regular meet for the cars), thence continued along the right side of Water Street to West Street turning into West Street, the track followed the right side of the street to "Brickyard Curve" where another turnout was located as the rails curved east onto a short stretch of a private way, then swung out into Schoodic Street which was followed to the intersection of Water Street in St. Stephen. The track then followed the left side of Water Street, where it shifted to the center-of-the-road location through the business district of st. Stephen, and where it was joined by the more direct line from Calais which came over the lower bridge.
Two of the closed cars as they looked about 1924,
on Milltown, N. B. turnout. H. E. Lamb photo
in the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_023
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Near the Canadian Pacific Railway station, the track turned north from Water Street onto King Street for a short distance to Rose Corner, the end of the line in more recent years. Earlier, a single track had extended down the right side of Prince William Street to the station of the Shore Line Railway.
Another track of the Calais Street Railway extended from the corner of Steamboat Street west along the right-hand side of Main Street, later shifting to the center of the street, and passing through the business section of Calais and across the International (Lower) Bridge to St. Stephen.
A short spur also extended west from Main Street down River Street in Calais to the 3-mile carbarn.
The details are sharper in this map by Charles D.
Heseltine then in the map it replaced that is
pictured in the original Transportation copy.
Courtesy NEERHS 2015 book, "The Illustrated Atlas
of Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946."
Saturday night was the "big night" on the cars when everybody headed for "downtown." It is recalled that it was not uncommon in the old days to see women with their arms full of shopping bundles boarding the trolley in Calais, soon after which the bundles would miraculously disappear so that by the time the customs inspector got aboard at the International Bridge, even his well-trained eye could detect nothing dutiable-for these were the days of long, full, and much-concealing skirts.
Closed car No. 4 at Bankers Corner in Calais before
vestibules were enclosed. Circa 1895 H. E. Lamb photo in
the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_005
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Bad accidents were few and far between on the Calais Street Railway, and during all the years that the cars ran only one man was fatally injured - and even he was not a passenger at the time.
The 15-year privileges which had been granted to the St. Stephen Street Railway expired in 1908, but another Act was passed by the New Brunswick legislature in that year to give the corporation the right to continue to function without further time limitation, under its 99-year lease to the Calais Street Railway. At this time, George A. Curran was president of the two companies, Charles W. Young was treasurer and general manager, and Charles F. Pray was superintendent and corporation clerk.
A reorganization of the Calais Street Railway was effected in October 1910, and in 1914 a new power supply replaced that which had been previously furnished by the old steam plant with a hydroelectric power station at Murchie Dam in Milltown now being drawn upon.
Normal schedules called for the operation of three cars, with two leaving Bank Corner, Calais (one going via North Street and one via Main Street) and one leaving Rose Corner, St. Stephen, at 15 minutes before and 15 minutes past each hour. Two cars met at the Milltown, N.B., siding on the hour and the half-hour under this schedule.
At the peak of operations, rolling stock consisted of four 10-bench open cars, four closed, one work car, and one snowplow. The four open cars which were numbered 1, 3, 5, and 7, were part of the system's original equipment, as were the closed cars 2, 4, and 6. Briggs and Jackson & Sharp were the builders of the early cars which had Westinghouse electrical equipment and Bemis trucks.
Winter meant tough going in Calais where there is plenty of
ice and snow. The plow jumped the rails coming down
Apothecary Hill and only the sidewalk curbing stopped
it from sailing right into Dan Groves' store.
Circa 1920 photo by H. E. Lamb
in the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_018
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
About 1912 another closed car, No. 8m slightly shorter than the others, was purchased second-hand. Later on, as these cars grew infirm with age, the company acquired 5 Birney safety cars from the Boston Elevated Railway. These cars were numbered 9015, 9018, 9056, 9061, and 9075. They were Brill-built and 6 years old when Calais got them in the fall of 1926.
Calais Street Railway "safety" cars, still retaining their
formidable Boston Elevated Railway numbers must have
looked oddly out of place to strangers who passed through
this remote "Downeast" region. These Birney cars provided
both winter and summer service during the last years the
Calais trolleys operated. This photo of No. 9075 was taken
at Milltown, Maine, showing Motorman Walter Faloon
(standing) and a passenger. Circa 1926, H. E. Lamb photo
in the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_48_017
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
In December 1924, the road was forced to suspend service for a time due to low water on the St. Croix and a consequent shortage of power. Operations were resumed but a definite downward trend in revenues was already a matter of some concern. It was the same old story in Calais as in small trolley-operating communities all over the land, to say nothing of many of the larger ones as well. Private autos were becoming more and more plentiful. Taxis had already begun to compete with the Calais Street Railway, particularly on the St. Stephen side of the border.
Dividends had ceased during Worl War l, and with operating costs alarmingly high, fares were increased in an attempt to cope with the deficits which had been appearing on the company's books since 1919. But it was of little help.
In 1928, the property was acquired by the Associated Gas & Electric Company and plans were made to abandon the street railway service. It was on All Saints Eve, October 30, 1929, that the Calais Street Railway cars made their last runs. Rails were soon removed from streets, after which there remained few vestiges of a once-flourishing line that had been the most easterly trolley road in the United States, and one of only four ever to cross our international borders.
In addition to the Calais Street Railway, only three trolley lines ever physically connected the United States and neighboring countries. One of these joined Niagra Falls, NY, with Niagra Falls, Ontario, and nearby points with a scenic belt line till in the early 1930s. The other two connected Laredo, Texas, and Neuvo Laredo, Mexico (abandoned a number of years ago), and joined El Paso, Texas, and Juares, Mexico (still running).
Foreword from the publication
In addition to various standard reference works which have been consulted in the preparation of this manuscript, the following persons have rendered material assistance which is hereby gratefully acknowledged:
H. E. Lamb, Milltown, ME
Edward Frye, Sr., St. Stephen, N. B.
W. L. Dewar, Milltown, N. B.
G. E. Steeves, Springfield, MA
W. B. Trites, Secretary-Treasurer of the Province of New Brunswick
I have also made use of helpful dates contained in a feature article by H. E. Lamb in the "Calais Advertiser," under the date of November 19, 1947.
Donald E. Shaw
94 Federal Street
Springfield, MA
November 5, 1948
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.
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.
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
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project.
Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online
Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online
Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in Maine:
Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza
The Book Review, Falmouth
The Bookworm, Gorham
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by Jean M. Flahive
Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon
Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook
Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would-running full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.
A resource for teachers
Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,
vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8
are available online as downloadable resources through
Seashore Trolley Museum's website
www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5. Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.
A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube
Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive
Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.
Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban) Click Here
Thank You!
the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,
circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell
Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum
L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the
Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in
Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee
Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.
See below for Donation options -
It starts with YOU
Your Donation Matters
Make a Donation TODAY
Please Help the Narcissus.
Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society
is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar
Museum in Lowell (MA).
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.
Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:
New England Electric Railway Historical Society
In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming
please write: PLI Education Fund 817
For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816
Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically on a monthly basis. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.
Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card:
Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type in: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:
For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration
For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs
Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of
securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,
for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.
BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will
"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit
educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)
Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:
Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.
Thank You :)
Thank You for our Current Funding Partners
* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant
* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014
* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations
* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant
* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants
* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant
* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations
* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations
* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015
* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017
* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010
* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series
* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016
The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.
Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,
you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
PWM photo
Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.
Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the
Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR
was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.
Patricia Pierce Erikson photo
The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!
Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this
National Historic Treasure at
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