In the background, to the right, you can see the roof trusses for the
replacement summer camp that the Seashore Trolley Museum would build later
that year. The new three-room structure was to replace Vallee's summer
camp. In 1934, Mr. Vallee purchased the "body" of the Narcissus for $100
from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban in Lewiston, Maine, and then moved
to Sabattus, Maine, to become his family's summer camp. In this image,
the Narcissus was moved from its original position which was behind the
tree seen here in the center of the image.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Late last week, I received a package from Mr. Daniel Vallee. The package contained eighteen photographs of the Narcissus. Now for many railway/railroad enthusiasts, this would signify images of the Narcissus in its glory days of being a magnificent representative of the high-speed, wooden electric interurbans of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. The PLI operated between Portland, Maine, and Lewiston, Maine from 1914 until 1933. The Narcissus is the lone surviving piece of rolling stock from the forward-thinking visionary, W. S. Libbey. The businessman that built, what became known as the "Finest Electric Railroad in All-New England". This elegant, iconic piece of railway history, Narcissus, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Some may think an image of Theodore Roosevelt aboard during his ride on Narcissus on August 18, 1914, may have been included in the collection?
But no. The pictures of the Narcissus in this package are not of this gem as it sits on rails in any one of the many communities it traveled through during its operating heyday. The images contained in this package are just as important though for helping us tell the full life story of Narcissus. A story that is now more than 100 years old! The twenty years the Narcissus spent on the PLI rails helping to carry the 7.3 million passengers that traveled between Portland and Lewiston during that time is a very important chapter in its life, but not the only chapter.
After the PLI ended operations, it sold many of the "bodies" of its rolling stock, including the interurbans. Mr. J. Henri Vallee purchased the body of the Narcissus in 1934. For $100! He moved it from Lewiston, Maine to Sabattus, Maine, where it became the Vallee summer camp until 1969. Seashore Trolley Museum, in Kennebunkport, Maine, acquired the Narcissus from Mr. Vallee late in 1969.
This past summer (2015), Mr. Vallee's son, Daniel Vallee, read his local Lewiston-area newspaper and its story about his former summer camp residence under restoration at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. He made a phone call to the Seashore Trolley Museum and made arrangements to visit the Narcissus. Daniel spent the first eighteen summers of his life using the Narcissus as his summer home in Sabattus! During his visit, he mentioned he would look through his family "archives" :) for photos of the Narcissus.
Presented here, are many of those Vallee family photos that include the Narcissus. On behalf of the Museum and the Narcissus, I want to say Thank You! We owe the Vallee family a tremendous debt of gratitude for bringing the Narcissus into their family and keeping the Narcissus safe for thirty-five years. If not for Daniel's father purchasing the Narcissus in 1934, who knows what the future would have had in store for the Narcissus? We do know the fate of its sister interurbans, Arbutus, Gladiolus, Clematis, Azalea, Magnolia, and Maine. But for a few clerestory stained glass windows from the Arbutus, abandoned sections of the right-of-way repurposed power stations and carbarns, and assorted ephemera here and there, all other remnants of the "Grand Old Interurban" are gone.
Please consider making a donation to the Narcissus Project. Funds are still needed to complete the restoration of the Narcissus. Scroll to the end of this post to find all donation options. Thank You :)
Narcissus, snowbound on March 5, 1969. It would still be several months
before the Narcissus would make its way to the Seashore Trolley Museum
in Kennebunkport. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee
Narcissus was the Vallee family summer camp from 1934 until
1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
To see a short movie clip of Narcissus taken during a railroad fan trip in the late 1930s/early 40s
J. Henri Vallee (left) with his son, Daniel Vallee relaxing inside their
summer cottage, Narcissus. The image is dated June 1965. In the
background, you see the room that was attached to the body of the
Narcissus. A kitchen/dining room is seen in the background.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Looking at the narrow doorway of the Number 1 end of the Narcissus. The
smoking compartment area is through the doorway, then onto the vestibule
of the # 1 end. The entrance to the attached kitchen/dining area is to the left,
out of sight from the angle this photo was taken. The date written on the back
of this photo, is July 8, 1961. Left to Right - Venerand Paquette,
Billy Paquette, Rose Marie Paquette, J. Henri Vallee.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Donald G. Curry/STM image.
The image above: Seashore Trolley Museum staff and volunteers assess the Narcissus and best practices for separating the attached kitchen/dining room. they would then move the Narcissus from this location to a location nearer the road for a better loading position. Probably the late fall of 1968. Personal recollections from Jack Murray include; "I'm in the panoramic shot of the crew getting ready to separate the el from the car body; the ell will be moved back and the car body toward the road (slid on blocking, pulled with Coffin hoists) so that the new cottage could go up in the same spot. My recollection is that this was done during school Christmas vacation (1968), with the crew being myself (Jack Murray), my cousin Paul, and Russell Bryant (all students at Cape Elizabeth High School (ME); Donald (Curry), John Coughlin, and Bill Dox (the driving force behind the project). Russell is side to the camera striding to the left, I'm (Jack) behind him with back to the camera." If you recognize any of these folks, please forward the name and their position in this photo to Phil Morse via e-mail at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723.
Narcissus in the early spring of 1969. The attached kitchen/dining room
was removed. You can see the stack of wood materials that will be used
to construct the three-room replacement summer camp.
Donald G. Curry/STM image.
Narcissus is on the far left with the utility meter hanging down. Trusses in
the background leaning against the removed kitchen/dining room. You
can also see the remaining footings that the Narcissus had been removed
from. It was relocated nearer the road for easier loading onto the trailer.
Probably late spring of 1969. Donald G. Curry/STM image.
Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers work to position the Narcissus on
the trailer for the trip to Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Sept/Oct 1969. The number 1 end is to the right. If you recognize any of
these folks, please forward the name and their position in this photo to
Phil Morse via email at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723.
Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Narcissus is secured to the trailer. The tractor-trailer set up was affectionately
called the "Highway Monster" by Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers. The
Highway Monster was used by Museum volunteers to bring various streetcars,
interurbans, and related equipment from destinations
throughout the USA to the Kennebunkport campus. You can see the beautiful
three-room summer camp replacement for the Narcissus in the background.
October 1969. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee
Final farewell Photo opp. with Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers, Vallee
family members, and other interested individuals. If you recognize anyone
in this image, please forward the name and their position in this photo to
Phil Morse via email at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723. Late
October 1969. Marie Vallee is third from the right. Image courtesy
of Daniel Vallee.
Seashore Trolley Museum's Highway Monster with the Narcissus receiving
final adjustments from Museum volunteers before making the trek to the
Museum campus in Kennebunkport, Maine late in October 1969. From this
angle, you can see where the kitchen/dining room was attached. The number 1 end
is facing the tractor. The large arch window where the top of the ladder is
placed over-identifies where the smoking compartment is located. The
Narcissus would later make their way to Lewiston and have banners placed on
each side. These banners would advertise the need for funds to restore the
Narcissus also serves as a way to thank all the businesses that donated
materials, money, and contributions-in-kind, such as skilled labor to build
the three-room replacement summer camp. Image courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
Daniel Vallee at Seashore Trolley Museum on July 31, 2015.
Image courtesy of Patricia Pierce Erikson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
