Interior of 1912, Laconia Car Company-built, Portland-Lewiston Interurban,
No. 10, Arbutus. Laconia built cars nos. 10, 12, 14, and 16. Wason built Nos.
18, 20, and 22. There are a few minor differences between the Laconia-built
interurbans and the Wason-built interurbans. The position of the seat handles on
the seat-back, and the shape of the handles, are two of the slight differences
that help to identify which manufacturer built a particular car. This image has
the viewer peering down the aisle towards the number one end of the Arbutus.
We know this because the walls, on either side of the doorway, have no windows,
so the doorway will lead the passengers to the smoking compartment which is
located at the number one end of the interurbans.
Image from Seashore Trolley Museum
Ever seek estimates for a major project at home or work on your car/truck? What's your first thought when the opening statement from the contractor is, "Perhaps you should have a seat first"..? Aaahhh yes, you recall that feeling. Well, with a major restoration project like we have here with the Narcissus, there are a number of these awkward moments of discovery throughout the process. Estimates have begun to come in, for foundry work alone....looking at the $10,000 and up, range to make the cast pieces.... yes, I'm sitting down as I type this blog post :)
Today's blog post takes us through the opening segment of the Narcissus Seat Saga...
Even though the Narcissus is in the midst of major work on the exterior of the body at Town House Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport, ME, we are looking ahead towards the next phase of the restoration of this beautiful, classic, wooden interurban. One of the major tasks ahead is, making from scratch, all 20 of the 19" by 31" reversible transverse seats (for 40 riders). We will also need to make the two 18" by 32" longitudinal seats that are next to the wall that divides the smoking compartment from the main passenger compartment (for four riders). These seats were all upholstered with green plush. In addition, we will need to build the two 18"-wide, leather-covered longitudinal seats (for 8 riders) that belong in the smoking compartment. In total, the Narcissus will seat 52 riders.
This blog post will be the first in a series, that follows the progress of making the 20 "walk-over" seats.
These first three images will show us some details of the seats when they were used while in service on the PLI cars between Portland, Maine, and Lewiston, Maine from 1914 through 1933. The captions will explain some differences between the seats in the Laconia-built cars compared to the Wason-built cars.
In the above image - Wood armrests in Laconia built PLI car. Similar to those on the BRB & L but uses ‘squared posts’ and plain armrests.
Aisle side end casting (or pressing) wood screws to this (22)
Interior of 1912, Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 16, Clematis. This
image has the viewer peering down the aisle towards the number two end of
the Clematis. We know this because the adjoining walls, on either side of the
doorway where the conductor/motorman is standing, have windows.
This doorway will lead the passengers to the vestibule and the exit from the
car on the number two end. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum
Interior of 1912, Wason Manufacturing Company-built,
Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 20, Magnolia. Notice the difference when
looking for handles at the corners of the seatbacks. Compare to the images
above, of the Laconia-built seat-backs. This image has
the viewer peering down the aisle toward the number one end of the
Magnolia. We know this because the adjoining walls on either side of the
doorway have no windows so the doorway will lead the passenger to
the smoking compartment which is located at the number one end of the
interurbans. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum
looking for handles at the corners of the seatbacks. Compare to the images
above, of the Laconia-built seat-backs. This image has
the viewer peering down the aisle toward the number one end of the
Magnolia. We know this because the adjoining walls on either side of the
doorway have no windows so the doorway will lead the passenger to
the smoking compartment which is located at the number one end of the
interurbans. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum
The 20 seats in the Narcissus were manufactured by the
Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company in Wakefield, MA.
This is an advertisement that features an image of a seat that resembles
the seats that we will be making from scratch for the Narcissus. There are
some variations, but many similarities. Compare this seat to the seats in
the first two images above. The pedestal (outer "leg"" seen here is not the
style used in the Narcissus.
From an ad in The Daily Railway Age, June 22, 1900
posted in Classic Trains Magazine "Heywood-Wakefield Building"
This seat is not anything like the seats in the Narcissus, but the pedestal is
very similar to the ones used in Narcissus.
From an ad in the Electric Railway Journal, March 16, 1928
very similar to the ones used in Narcissus.
From an ad in the Electric Railway Journal, March 16, 1928
posted in Classic Trains Magazine "Heywood-Wakefield Building"
So, where do you start? First, you take a look at what you have that may have been in the Narcissus originally. The Narcissus came out of service from the PLI in 1933 and its whereabouts, and the purpose it served, in a mixed bag of information until Mr. J. Henri Vallee purchased the body in 1939. The Narcissus was already in Sabattus, Maine by that time, and Mr. Vallee made the Narcissus the family summer camp. There were some seats in the body and he stored those seats in a shed in the backyard. Those seats made it to Seashore and were in storage. Those seats and others that either were on the Museum campus in storage or installed in cars, were examined. One seat back and one seat cushion from the Narcissus collection of seats were dissected and other parts assembled that would ultimately make a whole. The metal pieces would need to be taken to a couple of foundries to have estimates. Estimates would include the cost for the original pattern and then the costs to produce each piece from each pattern.
Several components are used to make the seats that are wooden or other materials.
The Mohair Plush is an example.
So, here is a series of images taking us through some of these early steps. Following the list of images will be the initial report by the lead restoration technician for the Narcissus, Donald Curry, (slightly edited).
 |
| You make a parts list, write up observations, take measurements, perhaps sketch an image, and take pictures for documentation. PWM |
 |
| Seats may seem very similar on the outside, but the interior components may vary greatly. PWM |
 |
| The Mohair Plush is woven similar to how a carpet is made. PWM |
 |
| Mohair Plush. PWM |
 |
| This is the correct handle assembly for the Narcissus. PWM |
 |
| There are many different spring styles, shapes, and diameters of the wire may differ. How the springs attach to pieces inside. Catalog all these things and develop a list of parts. PWM |
 |
| You can see to the right, the imprint of the original pedestal and the screw hole pattern for mounting the pedestal to the floor. We match up the correct pedestal to the pattern, style, height, etc. The pedestal in this image is not the correct one, by the way :) PWM |
 |
| Then it's off to a foundry with the parts so the foundry can access and develop a price to make a pattern and also to make the individual pieces. This is Mike Blais on the left and Seashore Trolley Museum volunteer Ernie Eaton is on the right. Ernie is holding a correct pedestal for the Narcissus. Image by Donald Curry |
 |
| Detachable seat backcasting. DGC |
There are other components for the Narcissus, other than just seat components, that will also need to be cast. Samples of those items were also dropped off or sent up via USPS.
 |
| Truss rod bracket DGC |
 |
| Front door step plate - DGC |
24 October 2016
To: Those interested in the restoration of PLI Interurban 14, Narcissus
Re: Seating for the Narcissus
From: Donald G. Curry
Restoration Project Manager
This is a detailed collection of all the details we have been able to find on 14’s seating.
Strategy:
We feel that, since the seats are a sort of stand-alone phase of the restoration, we set a goal of a small number (2?) of finished seats to be used as an example of what we can do. They could even be a remote presence where the body will never go. The foundries are aware of this and their policy is to produce one of each part as a sample before making a complete run. Some of the items will require patterns, which will make the first piece expensive but, in the long run, may make the job less expensive and of higher quality. Some pieces may not require any pattern except for the original serving as only a minimal one.[1]
Depending on the size and complexity of each component (not necessarily a casting), it may be necessary to purchase the entire quantity while for others only what is necessary for the ‘display seats’ will be ok.[2] (We are also considering spreading the word out to the trolley/RR ‘industry’ to see if other groups might be interested in joining in.)
We understand that the car body had been stripped of its seating when it was deaccessioned by the PLI or by the Vallees when it came to the Sabbatus site.
Sometime after the replacement house was constructed, while I was on a visit there, Mrs. Vallee presented me with several seat components some covered in mohair green plush (two different shades). She also gave me some white painted trim pieces (probably for the vestibules), which have since been intermingled with the other parts.
We took the seats believing that they were from the Narcissus. But O. R. Cummings (and possibly someone else) said the ‘seats were from other trolleys in the area’. We have looked at these seats and it does appear that some were from the Narcissus.
There are two types of seatbacks; one is ‘forest?’ green’, with four other backs in a sort of ‘olive’ green.
There are also two types of seat cushions, in similar shades. (Some other seatbacks are in a greener shade and heavier overall construction, much too big for 14.) At this point, we[3] have examined those components as well as studied cars with similar seating: BRB & L (?no.)[4], 38, 70, 610, 4175.
While we know the seats were manufactured by Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., they could have been made in a myriad of styles. The catalog examples we have to vary in one way or another from the three images we have of what must have been in car 14 while in service (or the other 3 Laconia-built cars).
14’s seats had an ornate wooden armrest [5] on the aisle side with the other side screwed against the wall, (with a no. 523 seat end) ¾ in wainscoting. (20 seats) The catalog illustrations show the division of the backs into two or three sections. The 3 photos we do have of the PLI Laconia interiors show an undivided back, of the walk-over style. The aisle sides are supported by heavy cast-iron pedestals and held to the floor by eight screws in an oval pattern[6]. 14’s seats had one armrest and likely two round footrests[7]. The catalog sheets show some of the seats with detachable backs that slip over the arms of the walkover seats. Initially, we couldn’t tell for certain if that style was what was in 14. Some of the seatbacks we got from Mrs. Vallee were detachable and the patent dates of 7 and 14 of February 1901. There are traces in the floor of two longitudinal seats with a separate pedestal and the end fastened to the no. 2 bulkheads.
What shall we use as our model? Manchester 38 (Laconia 1906) came with a complete set of seats, albeit, very worn and dried out. The car was given a major rebuilding about 1965(?), which included reupholstering the seats with genuine mohair.[8] 38 has decorative aisle-side seat end castings and plain ones screwed to the wainscot side. Because 14’s aisle side is covered with the decorative wood armrest assembly, the wall side casting can be reversed into an aisle-side one.
 |
| A close example of 14’s original seating |
 |
| 38’s cross seat cushion and back. |
The cushions we fabricate for Narcissus will essentially be like this one but the back will not have the ‘head roll’ division. The upholstery of the back will smoothly curve from the bottom to be tacked over on the top and will not be detachable except by removing the four wood screws on each side.
Based on the search we made of possible seat styles, the most adaptable appears to be the Heywood Wakefield “Wheeler” seat style in Manchester car 38, particularly because we have a complete set. We determined that it could be easily disassembled and its components used as patterns (directly) or patterns from which replacements could be cast[9]. However, as we study the photos of the interior of a Laconia-built car with those from Mrs. Vallee, we have found the seatbacks were ‘quick detachable’ style. At this point, we are now studying the long, screwed-on, non-detachable arms on No. 38’s seats. They are more delicate and more attractive than the detachable style in which the arms are ‘stubby’ and hidden by the hollow seat anchors. Because we are only at the estimating stage we can get some idea of their cost. Looking very carefully at the illustration on p. 5 you can see the difference.
We also studied 4175’s seatbacks, which were re-fabricated from wider Illinois Central RR seats fitted with only the arms but not the detachable sockets on them originally. Looking at them with ‘fresh eyes, the sides look like something is missing; the wider socket would have filled the space better.
We contacted Auburn Stove Foundry (Mike Blais – New Gloucester) and Enterprise Foundry (Leo Ferland) Lewiston. We disassembled two cross-seats and, on 20 October, took one set of castings to each of the two foundries for cost estimates. We told them that both would be asked to submit their estimates in time for our 1 November deadline. We were given a very interesting tour of Enterprise and had useful discussions with both.
 |
| ar 38’s – 521 Rocker assembly, back arm, links, hooks, and tubing, 522 seat end (not to be used--523 use instead) |
The “Wheeler” seat ends (523) will not be used. Instead, the one from the other end (wall side) will be duplicated and reversed with the wood armrest covering the aisle side. The bronze grab handle on the back will be different from the angled one, using a Brill seat as a pattern.
 |
| Decorative seat end (523) – we will not use this style. |
 |
| Similar Heywood Brothers seats |
 |
| Heyward Bros and Wakefield seat Ad |
Old style Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn RR Seat with wood
armrest, similar in style to those in Narcissus. Use as an example. Rosettes? |
How many seats were there? Initially, we counted 9 seatbacks on each side. But O. R. Cummings’ book says there are 10, plus the two longitudinal ones on the no. 2-end. Finally, we carefully cleared and swept the floor and found the requisite number of oval-shaped marks and screw holes opposite each of the 10 double sashes in the passenger compartment.
There appears to be a cushion with square corners fixed to the bulkhead. We got a pair from Vallee’s and they appear to be the right size but there are no marks in the panels to show anything was ever fastened there.
The seat at the bulkhead appears to be located with the ‘point’ of the seat pedestal about 12-in. away. The proposed seat assemblies will fit very well in that space and probably never were ‘walked over’; only facing backward toward the no. 2-end.
But then what about the extra wall cushions? They’re in excellent condition (except for the mohair, which has some moth damage).
Based on this we revised our original estimate of castings required to that which appears in this report.
|
 |
| Grab-handle with extended half-oval brass ends and socket for the detachable back. Note the rectangular hole for the arm. This is close to what was used in 14. The angled handle is what is in 38. |
 |
Two different sizes of detachable back sockets.
The upper one would work for 14.
Note the upper more olive green mohair. Is that Pullman Green?
The lower green is Illinois Central green.
|
 |
| Above is the correct handle for 14. It is from STM Brill seats of which there are about six in the “Butler” garage on the STM campus. |
 |
| The dark area ahead of the seat closest to the bulkhead could be the ‘mysterious’ cushion to be mounted on the bulkhead. There are two clips on the ones we have (from Mrs. Vallee), but no evidence of screw holes. There is another small clip on one side of the sample. |
 |
| Back support arms, links, hooks, and cross-tubes |
|
The arms in the above image are connected to the links by loose rivets, enabling them to move when the seat is "walked over". These can be drilled out. (Note that the heads are non-standard and may have to be turned on a lathe.)
The hooks and links come together (two pairs per seat). It looks as if they are pressed or shrunk onto the connecting tubes which were turned down on the ends to fit the bearing ‘cups’ on the seat ends. It looks as if they can be heated, to be removed. There is no evidence of a pin holding them.
|
|
|
Remnants of original seating: We have examined the remnants (evidence) of the original seating in Narcissus’ passenger compartment still remaining:
· Impressions on the no. 2 bulkheads - 2
· In the impressions on the side wainscot panel seats
· Impressions on the floor in two oval configurations—one for each of the 20 cross seats in the passenger's compartment and one in each of the two corner seats.
· Wall cushions (2) on the passenger side of the smoker bulkhead-still looking for traces. There may not be any.
The seats in car 38 are the closest we have that can be combined and modified to work with various components to create reasonable facsimiles for 14. Upholstered pieces also provide evidence of original techniques, which can be derived from ‘samples’ that came with Narcissus, which still may not have been original.
21 October 2016
Portland-Lewiston Interurban Car 14 – Narcissus
Cast Iron Seat Components (Revised after re-counting the seats)
Casting
No.
|
Part name
|
No. Pieces
Required
|
Pattern required?
Price
|
Individual
price
|
Quantity
price
|
523
|
Seat End
|
44
|
|||
529
|
Footrest Bracket
|
40
|
|||
525
|
Pedestal
|
22
|
|||
519
|
Back arm – “A”
|
22
|
|||
520
|
Back arm – “B”
|
22
|
|||
519
|
Links & hooks –A
|
22
|
|||
520
|
Links & hooks – B
|
22
|
|||
521
|
Rockers
|
44
|
|||
Heater Bracket
|
44
|
||||
Heater end-round holes
|
22
|
||||
Heater end-square holes
|
22
|
||||
Proceeding from here:
Parts needed: Crosswise and longitudinal (totals 20 + 2)
Seat base and reversing mechanisms
“Colonial” armrest assemblies (wood) (20)
Wall side end casting (no. 523) (44) Use for both wall and aisle sides
Rocker casting (no. 529) (40)
Rocking casting ‘hooks’, links, and rods-Left & Rt.
Back support arm castings (links) (probably left & rt.?)
Back support arms (No. 519 & 520)(left & right?)
Heater end castings-round holes (20)
Heater end castings-square holes (20)
Heater mounting bracket (40)
Pedestal casting (no. 525) (22) definitely needs a pattern and core
Footrest bracket (no. 529) (22)
Diamond shape side supports (ash) (44)
Possible isolated supporting bracket from Sabbatus-where is it?
Seat cushions (20 + 2 pcs.)
Wood frames (ash)
Coil springs (cone shape) (0.125 wire) 300 pcs.
Corrugated spring supports (0.015 spring steel)________
Spring steel reinforcement strips (1 x 12 in.) ________
Horsehair or cotton batting
Burlap strips
Canvas under
Mohair upholstery
Perforated steel pin locating strips (44 pcs)
Seat backs (no ‘head roll’ for car 14) (22 pcs.)
Seatback handle (40) Bronze
Top protective strip
Wood frame
Coil springs (hourglass shape) (0.080 wire) (300 pcs.)
Horsehair padding
Cotton backing
Canvas under
Mohair upholstery
Non-reversing (2 pcs.) special back framing (may be able to use new cross seats) If we use them.
Major components required for seat restoration:
Iron castings –
Brass seat back handles
Wood (probable ash for all) Native, air-dried
Springs (contract)
Coil
0.125
0.080
Significant steps in the fabrication
Machining castings
Wood frames – design, obtain ash for framing
Mill ash and cut what is needed for full sets
Springs – assemble
Install assemblies in framing
Upholstering including backing and padding
Assemble
Smoker seats (Because these are very different, we will treat them separately at some time in the appropriate future.)
Bench type longitudinal with leather upholstery and fixed back (2 pcs. 6 ft.)
Probably supported by wood posts?
May have lifted up
Coil springs, padding, etc.
Under-seat heaters
We removed and partially disassembled two seat assemblies because it was convenient at this time to take them to the foundry. They are in good condition but, for fear of poor auxiliary wiring there could be a fire, they were not connected. We will still have the information needed for having new ones cast.
[1] The shrinkage of cast iron is 1/8 in./ft. This may not be a significant number for most pieces.
[2] Examples – specially tinted mohair upholstery, custom coil springs, corrugated spring steel plates
[3] Ernie Eaton & Donald Curry
[4] Some of the B R B & L cars ended up on the East Broad Top RR. I contacted Joel Salomon who’s active in the adjacent Railways to Yesteryear, asking the probable date of those to confirm the seats.
[6] Many of the screw holes remain on the floor as well as enough visible outlines of the oval-shaped pedestals to establish their locations.
[8] When 396 was being restored by Otto Preminger for The Cardinal, a large supply of mohair upholstery was purchased from the Maine Central RR (remains from their passenger equipment supply). So, 38 was re-upholstered and there still remains a significant role that is in store in my attic (after being rescued from the Bunkhouse attic). Mae Minnich did a lot of the work including the upholstering of the half-oval seatback trim. We were inexperienced at re-upholstering seats so we used what seemed to be the best available, foam rubber for padding. It is too soft so the mohair is somewhat loose.
[9] Fortunately, the wiring and reassembling of 38 were still underway so the car would not be used for service before next spring anyway.
Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing
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 run 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 each month. 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: 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.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
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
