Reclaimed Lumber Used in Narcissus Restoration

Stacked in the yard at Rousseau Reclaimed in South Portland, Maine.

A few of these beams are poplar wood "sleeper" logs from a "bank" barn in

Akron, Pennsylvania. This "reclaimed" poplar will be milled to make

13.5" wide by 10 feet long boards for the exterior of the Narcissus. Then, the

painted poplar vertical, tongue, and groove sheathing will be

attached to these boards as the exterior finish. Some of this poplar above

will also be milled for the tongue-and-groove roof strips on the vestibules

of the Narcissus. PWM

The Narcissus on May 20, 2015, the first day it entered the Seashore

Trolley Museum's Town House Restoration Shop. This image is

looking (from right to left) at the number two end. You can clearly

see where vintage poplar wood will be used to repair/replace the

delicate tongue-and-groove vestibule roof boards that will be steamed

and bent to a steep curve. You can also see where the

13.5" wide by 10-foot-long poplar boards are on the side.

You can see the arched exterior poplar frames at the tops of

the openings for the ornate leaded stained glass arched windows

above the passenger window openings. PWM

How steep is the curve? This is an image of the exposed roof ribs

of the number two end vestibule of the 1912 Narcissus.

Each of the original tongue-and-groove poplar roof strips was

numbered individually, photographed as a whole, painstakingly

removed, and then assessed individually for consideration for repairs

and possible reuse. The vintage poplar being supplied by

Rousseau Reclaimed will be milled with tongue and groove, and to

the proper thickness and length. PWM

     The Narcissus is one breathtakingly beautiful railway vehicle. As we work on this phase of the Narcissus project to fully restore the exterior, we pay special attention to the original wood materials that are the Narcissus. They have survived 114 years. We find it rewarding to use vintage wood as material when replacing wood that is no longer present. And when replacing wood that is deemed unusable or unsafe. We are very fortunate to have a local supplier of reclaimed vintage wood, which has successfully supplied us in the past with wood for use in restoring historic railway vehicles. John Rousseau, the owner of Rousseau Reclaimed, has had great luck in finding and supplying us with the vintage poplar we are using on the Narcissus. This post interviews John and is the first of two posts that give some depth to the story behind supplying vintage wood for the Narcissus restoration. As a bonus, at the end of the 2nd clip, he talks about where the vintage red oak and southern yellow pine came from for the restoration of the 1906 wooden electric locomotive, Atlantic Shore Line No. 100 (ASL-100) :)

Click Here: to view the first post in the arched poplar frames work series and to see Lary Shaffer's bio.

Click here to view the second post in the arched poplar framework series.

Click here to view the third post in the arched poplar framework series.

Click Here: to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here: to view the post on leaded stained glass work

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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

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 captivate, fascinate, and 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 donating 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