Cumberland Maine Bicentennial September 18, 2021 - Morrison Hill Station - Portland-Lewiston Interurban

The 1915 Morrison Hill Station of the Portland-Lewiston

Interurban from Mill Road in West Cumberland,

is  the first stop on September 27, 2020, during Seashore

Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch Trolley event. 

Cumberland, Maine, is celebrating its Bicentennial with a celebration of the 200th birthday at Twin Brook Recreation Area (185 Tuttle Road) starting at 10 am and ending with fireworks at 7:30 pm.

The Seashore Trolley Museum will have a canopy and tables with items on display that have connections to Cumberland's transportation history. The famous Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) electric railroad operated through West Cumberland from 1914 until 1933. Seashore Trolley Museum has in its collection the only known surviving waiting station from the PLI, and it is from West Cumberland! Morrison Hill Station. Stop by our canopy and visit us.

In addition, the Seashore Trolley Museum has the lone surviving majestic, high-speed, luxury coach from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus. Each of the original six interurbans was named after the intrepid builder, W. Scott Libbey's, favorite flowers, Arbutus, Gladiolus, Narcissus, Clematis, Azalea, and Magnolia. In 1920, one additional interurban was added and named Maine in honor of Maine's Centennial.

One of several memorial plaques on benches at

Morrison Hill Station. PWM

Greeting cards and other Narcissus-related merchandise, will be available as part

of the fundraising at the Museum's

canopy display at the Cumberland

Bicentennial Celebration on September 18, 2021.

Artwork by Amy J. Gagnon.

The Narcissus is currently undergoing restoration in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop at the Seashore Trolley Museum. The Narcissus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Scroll down to see more about its history. 

The beautifully appointed, high-speed PLI interurban coach,

No. 14, Narcissus in the restoration shop at

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME.

August 21, 2021. PWM

Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing

the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine, on August 18, 1914.

Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society

Maine author, Jean Flahive, will be

selling/signing copies of

her award-winning, historical fiction novel,

Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the

Elegant Ride, at the Bicentennial Celebration.

This heart-warming story features the PLI

and the Narcissus as the "elegant ride"

during the days of the 

Cumberland Fair in the teens of

the twentieth century. PWM

A 1915 map showing Morrison Hill along the

Portland-Lewiston Interurban. The link to the map was forwarded

to us by Thomas Bennett, Director of

the Prince Memorial Library in Cumberland :)

The sign was restored and reinstalled in the spring of 2021.

A photo of the only known surviving porcelain tile that

promoted ticket sales at the few stations that sold tickets

to ride the majestic and speedy electric interurbans of

the famous Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI). The PLI

operated between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, from

1914 until 1933. Several local stops along the 30-mile right-of-way between Fairview Junction in Auburn

and Deering Junction in North Deering (Portland), were added

in 1915. The Morrison Hill Station on Mill Road was one

of the local stops added in 1915.

From the 1994 Annual Report of the Trolley Museum,

a photo taken in about 1990, from where the

1915 Morrison Hill Station of the

Portland-Lewiston Interurban was located in

 West Cumberland, Maine. Jay Mazzei is seen here.

His father, John Mazzei, was assessing the structure in

preparation  for moving the station to

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Image by John Mazzei

In 1992, Morrison Hill Station first arrived

at the Seashore Trolley Museum. 

Image from the 1992 NEERHS (Seashore

Trolley Museum) annual report

 The Morrison Hill Station has been at the Seashore Trolley Museum for nearly 30 years. It was donated to the Museum by Dick Budd, owner of Budd's Gulf in West Cumberland. The PLI waiting station had been deteriorating in the backyard of the Gulf station for many years. Once at Seashore, the historic and only known surviving waiting station from the PLI was restored and placed on the opposite side of the mainline tracks as a crossing at Riverside Carhouse. 

In recent years, benches with commemorative plaques have

been added to the station platform. Each plaque is in memory

of someone who was dedicated to the Portland-Lewiston

Interurban in one way or another. PWM

One of several memorial plaques on benches at

Morrison Hill Station. PWM

 Morrison Hill Station is waiting for the day that, 1912,
Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus, makes stops
at the station as it did so often over many years in
West Cumberland. Notice the tiger lilies next to the station.
These are the same tiger lilies featured in Wade Zahares'
artwork. PWM photo

"Waiting For the Narcissus."An original work of
art by Maine artist, Wade Zahares, is now available
as a 4"x 6" greeting card. A box of ten cards with
envelopes.

Morrison Hill Station is a hub of activity

at Seashore Trolley Museum. PWM

The Morrison Hill Station and the Narcissus will be reunited

for the first time since 1933 when

the ribbon-cutting celebration takes place at the station upon the

restoration of the Narcissus being completed. PWM

Reece Saunders was the graphics art designer for the new 2021

exhibit panel in 1915 Morrison Hill Station at Seashore Trolley

Museum. Reece, a Thornton Academy class of 2017 alum, 

graduated in May 2021 from the University of

Southern Maine, where he was a Technology Management

major with a minor in Digital Design. PWM image.

Early in 2021, a new exhibit was installed in the

1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban

waiting-station from 

West Cumberland, Maine. PWM

 Below is a short video that shows the 2021 exhibit

The PLI electric railway vehicles each had

a portable "cell " phone.

This model "E" Westinghouse Electric

portable phone will be installed in the

Narcissus. PWM

The interurban line was constructed between 1910 and 1914.

 The tracks cut through many dairy farmers' cow pastures in the

very rural section of Maine between Lewiston and Portland.

The addition of fifty concrete underpasses for the safe passage of

dairy cows, between pastures, were critical for the farmers and

for the safe operation of the PLI vehicles.

Print of the original work of art, "Fast Friends", by Maine artist,

Wade Zahares. Prints and greeting cards are available for purchase.

All proceeds benefit the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14,

Narcissus Project. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 first 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

Deed Research - 1909-1917 - Portland Gray & Lewiston Railroad Company - Cumberland County

One of the maps filed with the Cumberland County Registry

of Deeds on May 7, 1910, by the Portland, Gray & Lewiston

Railroad Company. The maps were part of the formal plan,

filed on May 3, 1910, describing the locations and

descriptions of certain  lands in New Gloucester, Gray,

Cumberland, Falmouth, and Portland. 

     Do you currently live near the former right-of-way of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban? Do you currently own property that has the PLI ROW? Was there a rural waiting station on your property, like the one at Morrison Hill in West Cumberland? Do you have any PLI family stories you'd be willing to share with us?

     The restoration of the only surviving Portland-Lewiston Interurban is progressing at Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport. 1912, Laconia Car Company-built, National Register of Historic Places member, No. 14, Narcissus operated between Union Square in Lewiston and Monument Square in Portland. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus between the two Maine cities on August 18, 1914, and rode a PLI interurban again on August 31, 1916. Maine was very important to Theodore Roosevelt.

     As mentioned in a previous post, research for materials that might be helpful for creating the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project is an important task to complete in the next few months. The list of organizations to make inquiries in seeking Portland-Lewiston Interurban-related materials has expanded to more than twenty-five. Many of the organizations have been contacted, and in some cases, research has commenced. This post will shed some light on the early findings from the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds in Portland. Both the Androscoggin County and the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds were on the list, but a recent email from Beverly Cadigan of the New Gloucester Historical Society moved my visit to the two registries up on the list. On Friday, August 10, I spent two and a half hours in the office of the Cumberland County Registry. The registry office staff were very helpful and patient with me, thank you. 

     I have 190 copies of the pages of deeds and mandatory reporting of plans, all in sheet protectors and cataloged by the book (volume) and page. I'll be looking them over for details of the transfer of ownership and for calculating costs paid, etc. I'll be stopping in at the Androscoggin County Registry next Wednesday while I'm in the Auburn-Lewiston area for research meetings at Bates College and the Androscoggin Historical Society. So, keep checking in for blog posts with info as more materials are collected.

     This interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project is, in large part, searching for materials that will help present the people-perspective story of how the Portland-Lewiston Interurban as a company, with its operations and its services, impacted people and their communities.

     An example of research materials below is a copy of the deed for Fred S. Martin of New Gloucester that includes the various conditions that the railroad had to meet. It must be a significant amount of land with a purchase price of $1,200 in 1909, plus the railroad's additional expenses to meet the conditions in the contract. 

Not seen in this image, but included at the bottom of

the deed is that the words "and one half" were written between

the second and third lines from the bottom of the first page

before signing. John A. Morrill. December 9, 1909, and

recorded in the registry on December 20, 1909.

      The waiting station in Gray is referred to in the deed for John D. Anderson of Gray. He was paid $400 in 1909. If the construction didn't take place in two years, the land would revert to him. 

John D. Anderson of Gray's deed, in 1909, has some

interesting stipulations.

      Several deeds have a stipulation of "constructing for the use by the grantors a cattle pass". These were made of concrete, and there are still a couple of these in existence today. The cattle pass mentioned in the deed of Perley J. Leighton (and the other Leighton family members listed in the deed of 1909) is an example. In another deed from the Leighton family, there is a restriction to having the "easterly rail...shall not be nearer the most westerly corner of the grantor's house than fifty (50) feet." That's pretty darn close to the house!

Falmouth's Perley J. Leighton and other family members' deed

from 1909 with stipulations including construction

of a cattle pass.

     Some deeds include provisions that the railroad had to build a crossing that was capable of handling the weight, etc., of vehicles hauling timber, and that the harvesting of timber could be done before the construction of the line, on land transferred to the railroad, or that the grantor had rights to access lands to harvest timber, thus the reason to have the rugged crossing constructed.

The Benjamin C. Jordan (from Alfred) deed of land in 

New Gloucester has several interesting reservations

or provisions. One is if the railroad is discontinued in the

future or its location changes, the property ownership reverts

back to Jordan or his heirs. April 25, 1910.

     Below are maps for four of the communities in Cumberland County with the list of people in Cumberland County impacted as the Portland, Gray & Lewiston Railroad Company (predecessor to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad ) acquired their land to construct the original thirty-mile right-of-way between Auburn and Portland.

Cumberland - Map 1 c. 1915 Scale 1"=100' 

Courtesy of the Prince Memorial Library via

the Digitalmaine Repository

Cumberland - Map 2 c. 1915 Scale 1"=100' 

Courtesy Prince Memorial Library via

the Digitalmaine Repository

Cumberland                File Date of Deed

Shaw, Nelson M.          - 12-20-1909

Shaw, Charles L.          - 12-20-1909

Wilson, Lorenzo H.      - 12-20-1909

Morrill, George W.       - 12-20-1909

Wilson, Nathaniel L.    - 12-20-1909

Trefethen, Melville W. - 10-14-1910

Legrow, Fannie F.         - 03-30-1911

Ham, George A.           - 03-30-1911

Leighton, Willis H.      - 04-25-1911 (other grantor: Leighton, George R.)

Shaw, Nelson M.         - 04-25-1911

Leighton, Oscar W.     - 04-25-1911

Leighton, Enoch M.    - 05-23-1911 (other grantor-Dearborn,  Albra A)

Wilson, Lorenzo H.    - 11-22-1911

Wilson, Nathaniel L.  -11-22-1911

Ham, George E.         - 05-18-1912 (other grantor-Ham, Edna R.)

Leighton, Willis H.    - 08-08-1912 (other grantor-Leighton, George R.)

Morrison, Rufus B.    - 09-06-1912

Wilson, Scott             - 09-06-1912(all grantors-Wilson, George N., Herman, M, Loemma P., Alvah L.)

Wilson, Lorenzo H.   - 06-07-1913

Morrison, Rufus B.   - 06-13-1913

Wilson, Scott            - 07-19-1913(all grantors Wilson-Wilson, Mildred F.,  H. M., Loemma P., George N., Ella A. J.)

Ramsey, Sarah J.      - 02-08-1915

Falmouth 1909 - Map 1 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 2 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 3 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 4 - CCRD

Falmouth

Merrill, Alfred          - 12-20-1909

Watts, Mary E.         - 12-20-1909

Leighton, Perley J.   - 12-20-1909 (other grantors: Leighton, Susan A, Elmer J., Eugene R.)

Dingley, Henry M.   - 04-02-1910 (other grantor: Gross, Edward W.)

Pratt, Milton B.        - 02-09-1911

Harmon, Isaac          - 03-30-1911

Hicks, Howard         - 03-30-1911

Leighton, Roland     - 03-30-1911

Hampson, John A.   - 04-25-1911

Roberts, Richard      - 04-25-1911(other grantors-Roberts, Orestes E., Wilson, Julia L.)

Stuart, Harriet E.      - 04-25-1911

Woodbury, John F.    - 05-23-1911 (other grantor-Sommers, Susan J.)

Blake, Fred M.          - 05-23-1911

Huston, Julia L.         - 05-23-1911

Noyes, Arthur S.       - 06-17-1911

Field, James A.         - 12-30-1911 (other grantor-Field, James A.)

Leighton, Edith J.     - 06-19-1912

Pancoast, Edith F.     - 08-08-1912 (other grantor-Pancoast, Clara B.)

Marston, Fred           - 10-30-1912

Marston, Elmer        - 12-12-1912

Cole, Charles M.      - 10-27-1913

Gray 1909 - CCRD

Gray

Merrill, John T.               - 12-20-1909

Cole, Hewett D.              - 12-20-1909

Fogg, Frank C.                - 12-20-1909

Bishop, Stanley                - 12-20-1909

Yeaton, Victor H.             -  12-20-1909

Humphrey, S. G.               - 12-20-1909

Osgood, Elmer L.              - 12-20-1909

Crosby, George J.              - 12-20-1909

Caswell, Edgar S.              - 12-20-1909

Hancock, James T.             - 12-20-1909

Anderson, John D.              - 12-20-1909

Webster, Martha(Mary) A.  - 02-15-1910

Cummings, Ruth J.             - 02-15-1910

Colley, Charles W.              - 02-15-1910

Hunt, Julia E.                      - 04-02-1910

Merrill, John T.                   - 04-02-1910

Webster, Frank W.              - 04-02-1910

Hill, Ardelia M.                 - 04-02-1910

Emery, Rebecca F.             - 04-02-1910

Emery, Fred W.                 - 04-02-1910

Cushing, Louis T.             - 04-02-1910

Hancock, Wilbur P.          - 04-02-1910 (other grantor-Harriet F.)

Frank, John W.                 - 04-02-1910

Hill, Luther W.                - 04-02-1910

Skillings, B. F.                - 04-02-1910

Thompson, Mary A.       - 04-02-1910

Verrill, Ernest R.            - 04-02-1910

Clark, Charles F.            - 04-02-1910

Dunn, Walter C.            - 04-02-1910

Chipman, William A.   - 04-25-1910

Libby, Florence Hunt   - 04-25-1910

Hill, Charles F.             - 04-25-1910

Carey, Albert A.           - 04-25-1910

Latham, James W.        - 05-18-1910(all grantors: Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Thompsom, William    - 07-19-1910

Webster, Simon            - 09-22-1910 (other grantor-Dolloff, Sarah A.)

Alden, Alton R.           - 04-25-1911

Latham, James W.       - 04-25-1911(all grantors: Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Osgood, Elmer L.        - 12-13-1911

Latham, James W.       - 06-19-1912(all grantors: Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Webster, George L.     - 09-16-1912(all grantors: Hirst, Charles W., Lillian R., James T., Ellen A., Nute, Eva C., Webster, Toy W.)

Latham, Abbie J.        - 01-30-1914 (other grantor-Latham, Abbie)

New Gloucester 1909 - CCRD

New Gloucester

Edwards, Mary A.          - 04-29-1909

Merriam, Harry M.        - 04-29-1909

Edwards, Estella            - 04-29-1909

Tripp, Alfonzo               - 04-29-1909

Whitman, Sophia H. D. - 04-29-1909 (all grantors-Dawes, Walter E., Dawes, James S., 

Witham, John P.             - 04-29-1909

Lane, J. M.,                    - 04-29-1909 (other grantor-Lane, C. H.)

Frost, Warren                 - 04-29-1909

Tarbox, Addie                - 04-29-1909

Proctor, Charles A.         - 04-29-1909

Greeley, Thomas J.         - 04-29-1909

Eveleth, Nathaniel          - 04-29-1909 (all grantors-Eveleth, George L., Eveleth, Frank A., Jordan, Margaret E., Eveleth, George L. P.(heirs))

Adkins, Benjamin S.      - 12-20-1909

Martin, Frederick S.       - 12-20-1909

Bodge, William              - 12-20-1909

Humphrey, John W.       - 12-20-1909

Bonney, Henry S.          - 12-20-1909

Sawyer, Joseph W.        - 02-15-1910

Bailey, Hanson L.         - 02-15-1910 (other grantor-Bailey, Mary E.)

Snow, Lizzie M.           - 02-15-1910

Bennett, Charles P.       - 02-15-1910

Woodbury, Nellie E.    - 02-15-1910

Snow, William H.       - 02-15-1910

Edwards, Estella         - 04-02-1910

Tripp, Alfonzo           - 04-02-1910

Tarbox, Addie           - 04-02-1910(all grantors: Gilbert, John A., Gilbert, Nellie M., Loring, Dora E.)

Lane, John M            - 04-02-1910 (other grantor-Lane, Charles H.)

Proctor, Charles A    - 04-02-1910

Merriam, Harry W.   - 04-02-1910

Jordan, Emeline K.   - 04-25-1910

Witham, John P.        - 04-25-1910

Jordan, Benjamin C. - 04-25-1910

Dawes, Walter, E.     - 07-19-1910(all grantors-Dawes, James S., Whitman, Sophia H. D.)

Chandler, Charles P. - 07-30-1910(all grantors: Chandler, Andrew C., Roland C., Fred H.)

Thompson, Arthur E.- 10-13-1910

Bennett, Charles P.    - 11-09-1910

Tufts, Frank M.         - 03-30-1911

Huston, Elijah           - 11-18-1911

Small, B J R              - 11-18-1911

Sawyer, H. M.           - 11-18-1911

Edwards, Wallace W.- 11-22-1911 (other grantors-Edwards, Mary A., Edwards, Helen B.)

Frost, Warren            - 02-23-1912

Carsley, George F.    - 03-07-1912 (other grantor: Carsley, Harriet B)

Haskell, Maud W.    - 10-30-1912

Greeley, Fred P.       - 06-29-1914(all grantors-Greeley, Millard, G. H., Greeley, Thomas, Bryant, Laona

Portland

Bedlow, Horace D.      - 06-13-1910 (all grantors: Bedlow, Lucy C., Bedlow, Joseph J., Titchener, Sophia K.)

Davis, Charles             - 04-26-1911 (All grantors-Gurney, Andrew H., Cobb, Gardener, Cobb, Hannah M., Cobb, Albert C, Cobb, Frederick H., Cobb, Frank W., Cobb, John C.)

Cobb, John C.(heirs)   - 04-26-1911 (all grantors-Cobb, Frederick H., Dole John(heirs), Kuch, W. F., Dole, William H. H., Knight, John F., Wilson, Wallace, Harris, N. W., The New England Land Company, True, Norman, Central Park Improvement Company, Parmenter, J. G. (heirs), Parmenter, Maria B., Parmenter, Lena C., Bean, Nellie B., Parmenter, Mae D., Parmenter, Clara M., Richardson, A. L., Bailey, W. B., Brown, M. B., Goodridge, Charles L., Hammond, John H.)

Parmenter, Mae D.       - 05-23-1911 (other grantor: Parmenter, Clara M)

Wilson, Wallace H.      - 05-23-1911

Parmenter, Lena C.       - 09-25-1911

Permenter, Nellie D.     - 09-25-1911 (other grantor-Parmenter, Maria B.)

Bryant, Lucy S.             - 09-16-1912 (other grantors-Bryant, Hubbard W.)

Brown, Martha B.         - 12-12-1912

Richardson, Charles E. - 01-30-1913(all grantors: Richardson, Eliza J., Herbert A., Macomber, Mary E., Bryant, Florrie A.)

Bryant, Judson B.         - 01-30-1913

Cobb, Hannah M.         - 03-15-1913

Cobb, Frederick H.       - 01-08-1917(other grantor-Cobb, Margaret, Riverton Company, )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 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 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 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

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Completely Restored Narcissus - Planning Has Begun!

1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban Waiting Station from

Morrison Hill in West Cumberland, Maine, awaits 1906

Connecticut Company No. 1160 at Seashore Trolley Museum

in Kennebunkport, Maine - May 2018 PWM

     Planning for campus improvements at Seashore Trolley Museum turns into the implementation of the plans for campus improvements. This process is not new. It has been ongoing for many years at the Museum. Museum members, individuals, and businesses alike, as well as grantors, continue their generous financial support that allows the Museum to make enhancements to program offerings, infrastructure upgrades, and its expansion, track work, and general campus improvements. Thank You!

     One of the campus areas that will benefit from general upgrades in the coming months and years is the Morrison Hill Station area up towards the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop and northwesterly, parallel to the mainline from the treeline (where the Burma Shave signs are currently).

     Upgrades started in the Morrison Hill Station area later in the 2017 operating season when the track department began building one of two new switches to replace the two existing switches in the shop yard and shop lead. In addition, Morrison Hill Station window sills, door sills, and some window trim were replaced and painted. The interior and exterior received a new coat of paint. The interior also had flooring installed. The first items for the new Narcissus/PLI display were installed. The remainder of the display was installed in May 2018.

     As work on Morrison Hill Station carried on in the later summer and early fall of 2017, the idea of upgrading the existing border of the path from Morrison Hill Station to the shop began to evolve into a much larger vision to expand the pathway to include visitor respite space, garden areas, and to position visitor access to the area to include a visually appealing line of sight for photographing historic electric railway vehicles as they passed by on the mainline with stops at Morrison Hill Station. The improvements that are proposed will be phased in over time.  With the Museum's 80th anniversary year 2019, and Maine's Bicentennial Celebration year in 2020, this area, with its enhancements, will become a visitor favorite.

     

Schematic of the aerial view of the area from Morrison

Hill Station is parallel to the Riverside Carhouse and

towards the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration

Shop. The existing conditions site plan schematic is by Kevin
Downing at KW Architects PC in Wells, ME

Click Here: for the post about a new exhibit in Morrison Hill Station

This area is east of the mainline and north of

Morrison Hill Station will be one of the premium vantage points

for seeing and photographing historic electric railway vehicles.

View looking north from Morrison Hill Station. A new path

will allow visitors and photographers to walk to the east

from the existing path to access the seating areas with fieldstone

and gardens. The new path will then meander north and west

crossing the existing path near the treeline, continuing

northerly and somewhat parallel to the mainline.

(Scroll down to see the landscape architect's design)

PWM May 2018

This area will become a prominent vantage point for relaxing

and for taking photos of historic electric railway vehicles

traveling along the Museum's Heritage line, such as seen here, as 1906 Connecticut Company No. 1160 passes by.

PWM May 2018

A panoramic view of the area that will be transformed in the

coming months and years into premium trolley viewing vista and visitor respite.

Cobblestones as the border of the entrance area east of

Morrison Hill Station as it approaches the Donald G. Curry

Town House Restoration Shop. Notice in the background

one of two new switches that the track department has built

to replace the existing switches in the shop lead/yard.

PWM May 2018

Cobblestones as the border of the entrance east of the

Morrison Hill Station approaches the Donald G. Curry Town

House Restoration Shop. PWM May 2018

Cobblestones as the border around Morrison Hill Station

replaced old railroad ties. PWM May 2018

New benches on the Morrison Hill Station platform feature

memorial plates of individuals who were passionate about

seeing the Narcissus restored, but sadly, will not be with us on the day we celebrate the completed restoration.

PWM May 2018

Lee Johnson is memorialized in this second memorial plate

in the series dedicated to those who were passionate about seeing the Narcissus being restored.

The first plate featured Daniel Vallee.  PWM May 2018

Two student volunteers from Thornton Academy in 

Saco, ME, take a break from removing old railroad ties

and hauling cobblestones to the site. 

PWM May 2018

New display materials inside Morrison Hill Station.

PWM May 2018

Inside Morrison Hill Station is a display of the

330-F series Western Electric magneto field

phone. The earlier series, 330-E, was used

as emergency phones in the PLI vehicles. A

330-E has been acquired and will be installed

in the Narcissus. PWM May 2018

There is no better venue for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

To have the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus

celebrating the completion of its restoration, then having the

Narcissus  on the tracks, next to the PLI waiting station from

Morrison Hill in West Cumberland, before making a mainline

trip while full of guests.

Draft concept design by Kevin Downing at

KW Architects PC in Wells, ME

1906 Connecticut Company No. 1160 pauses at 

Morrison Hill Station before continuing its trip to the

visitor center loop. PWM May 2018

Cobblestones in place as the border of the path from Morrison Hill Station looking

north towards the Donald G. Curry

Town House Restoration Shop.

PWM May 2018

The final 30 or 40 cobblestones are in place

along the east side of the path nearest to the

restoration shop. PWM May 2018

A panoramic view from the path after cobblestones

first replaced railroad ties as the border. PWM May 2018

"Waiting For the Narcissus" by Maine artist,

Wade Zahares. Greeting cards are available in the Museum Store.

Wade Zahares painted the original artwork of the greeting

cards in July 2017 when the tiger lilies were in bloom.

PWM photo July 2017

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 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 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 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