Image from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Employees' Scrapbook.
The large scrapbook in the possession of Charles D. Heseltine, using photos, newspaper
clippings, original ephemera from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI); including poetry,
personal cards, notes, and notations from employees and their families. My understanding is
that Heseltine passed the scrapbook on to O. R. Cummings, who in turn, passed it on to the
clippings, original ephemera from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI); including poetry,
personal cards, notes, and notations from employees and their families. My understanding is
that Heseltine passed the scrapbook on to O. R. Cummings, who in turn, passed it on to the
New England Electric Railway Historical Society's (NEERHS) Library.
This Narcissus blog post features one of this year's highlights at this summer's
2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days event at Seashore Trolley Museum. A presentation on W. S. Libbey's 1908 Stanley Steamer Model K 30-hp Semi-Racer.
W. S. Libbey was a successful businessman who designed and built the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI). The Narcissus operated on the PLI from 1914 until the summer of 1933, when operations ceased. Construction of the PLI was from 1910 until 1914. In 1908, W. S. Libbey had a Stanley Steamer automobile built for him, to his specifications. Mr. Libbey would drive his Stanley on inspection trips as the PLI was being constructed. This rare, original Stanley Steamer K-30 HP Semi-Racer is on display at the Seal Cove Auto Museum on Mount Desert Island (ME). Seal Cove Auto Museum Curator, Roberto Rodriguez, will conduct an engaging presentation on the very rare, Libbey Stanley Steamer. Mr. Rodriguez's presentation on Friday, July 21st, will be one of the activities for the opening of the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event at Seashore Trolley Museum. Advance ticket sales for this limited-seating opening will be available online in the spring. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend.
have activities that appeal to all ages.
Proceeds from the weekend benefit the
Narcissus project. Theodore Roosevelt was
a passenger on the Narcissus on
August 18, 1914.
Poster design by Patricia Pierce Erikson
Here are a couple of newspaper stories featuring W. S. Libbey and his K 30-HP Semi-Racer Stanley Steamer. I feel I learned a lot about W. S. Libbey's personality by reading through these stories; his zest for life, his sense of humor, and the public's appeal to the man.
The Lewiston Evening Journal dated November 20, 1929, had this story about W. S. Libbey and his K 30 Semi-Racer:
In a personal letter expressing pleasure at the editorial of the Journal regarding the old Stanley Steamer and its race with the "narrow gauge" from Strong to Kingfield, Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony says that her father's old Stanley Steamer of 1914, is kept intact at the old farm up in Wayne (ME) as a memento of the days when he used to go "hell-bent" thru Gray Corner toward the end of the line, while they were building the Interurban.
And this reminds us. Every now and then Mr. W. S. Libbey, to whom this old Stanley belonged, used to come around and ask us to ride to some places. Mr. Libbey was in the old Journal office when we went there to work in 1883, for he was telegraph manager for the Western Union and dreaming all the time of being a manufacturer and builder. Remarkable personality - the most resolute man we ever knew, at the same time the gentlest and the most unyielding as was his mood.
He took us out many times in that Stanley Steamer. It had been built to order - a replica, as to the engine of the car that had broken the world's record on the beach at Ormond, Florida. It was geared three to one - if that is correct - or so that when she "turned over one she went a mile" as Clarence Rand used to speak of her. A mile a minute was nothing for her when she was "behaving" - and in those days a mile a minute was going some.
_________
The first time he ever gave us a ride in that car we went to Hebron (ME). Mr. Libbey had what might be called a pastoral day. He drove along at ten to fifteen miles an hour along unfrequented country roads, thru sand and wheel ruts, past quiet farms thru very door yards and we had a lot of fun. His mind, so active and often so belligerent, was at peace. He seemed to delight in hearing my exclamation of joy at these woodsy roads and these autumn hills robed in crimson. We did go up the hill at Hebron rather fast. In fact, it appeared that he was intending a dramatic climax; for "W.S." was a speed-demon, fearless, a practical joker in a way. We went up Hebron hill a mile-a-minute and he yelled in glee as "she" did it. The result was a sort of pastoral, as near as I could write one, about the ride. Mr. Libbey was a great sentimentalist also - liking such things as nature when he gave it a look.
Lulled into security by this quiet ride a second invitation was accepted. Mr. Libbey was in a different mood. We were going to Falmouth (ME) to see operations at a place, where the road looks down from an eminence into the broad valley and where Mr. Libbey said he was going to build a cottage of his own someday.
On the way down, he forgot everything but getting there and the Stanley began to turn over, with her long strokes and equally long strides. She began hitting on nothing at all except atmosphere and an occasional nubble. He was doing what he called "giving me a ride". I called it giving me a fright.
Ashamed to call it off, disliking to show a white feather I was terrified, for the Stanley Steamer was an open car, small light body, all cut-offs wide open; steam roaring from the exhaust and good at this moment for 80 miles an hour.
Up the road coming towards us was another car - toiling in the wheel ruts which were a feature of all automobiling in those days. The driver of the other car seemed either unconscious of his duty to turn out and give what Mr. Libbey called half-of-the-road or else he was unwilling.
If you had known Scott Libbey at all, you would have known that he would never be crowded. He wanted half-the-road - maybe a trifle more, especially if anyone else wanted the same. So we drove madly together, neither budging. Never was I so terrified in my life. The intervening space lessened with tremendous speed. Mr. Libbey never budged. The other fellow looked up and saw us coming and never budged. I saw nothing but death ahead. Mr. Libbey held his place and suddenly the other fellow swerved a trifle and those two cars passed with not over six inches leeway, our car going forty-five - a terrific speed for those days.
As we passed Mr. Libbey threw back his head and roared, in glee.
"Hah," shouted he, "D'jer see me make him turn out!"
Yes, I had seen him make him turn out and I had seen the narrow squeak by which, each giving a little, probably the collision had been averted. I often wished I could have known the other chap and had him and Mr. Libbey meet. I'll bet they were a good deal alike. "D'jer see me make him turn out." Selecting his own rights and sticking to them was probably the riling spirit of both those men. Certainly, it was Mr. Libbey's. He never bothered other people, but when he had a right-of-way, believe me, it was HIS. He cared for nothing on earth as a pleasure of a real lasting sort, except fighting obstacles. When he was building a dam, he was happy. When he had a river to buck; a hill to remove; a mountain to level - he was happy. When it was done - he was restless. He liked the Stanley car because it was a "holy terror." It gave him something to subdue - something in Nature, inanimate.
________
So far as we recall, only one or two of that type of Stanleys were ever made. I believe that as she left the Lewiston garage or Rand and Harvey's they used to say, in the enthusiasm of those days, that she made three turns, and then she was in Portland. "She " was supposed to have an abnormally long wheel-base. We may suppose it was as much as 96 inches.
Mr. Libbey once bought a National car - the biggest car we had ever seen here about and one wonders if it were as big as it then seemed. It was, of course, high and its tonneau was a roving elevated architecture.
People liked them big. It indicated as Jack Ruggles said when he bought his boots three sizes too big "that you were getting more for your money."
........
A.G.S.
The caption reads: The old gag "That tire's only flat, on the bottom." won't
work in connection with the old Stanley Steamer owned by W. Scott Libbey
Sr. These wheels are flat all around the rim, but, boy, could they roll
just the same. On exhibition at the Auto Show at the Armory, Friday and
Saturday, the old dust-raiser holds interest for Roland Levesque, the driver,
and Reginald Levesque, the skipper, Raymond Ouellette, in the back, looks like
a stowaway that doesn't believe the thing's gonna go (forward) unless somebody pushes.
The Lewiston Evening Journal story of October 17, 1939, relives tales of W. S. Libbey and his Stanley:
Scott Libbey's Old Stanley Steamer is to be shown at Armory
At the Automobile Show in the Armory, Friday and Saturday an interesting automobile is going to be exhibited; one that will make many Lewiston and Auburn residents do some thinking and will cause some of them to remember exciting, hair-raising, breath-taking, adventurous rides. There will be others in this section of Maine who wish, if they could, see the "old boat," would have the same sensation, from in its day, 25 years ago. It was widely known, and its owner widely respected. It is the W. Scott Libbey Sr.'s old Stanley Steamer.
It was a great car for those days, just as its owner was one of the great men of his time.
No one will ever know how fast it was in those days, but anytime that Scott was in a hurry it didn't in the least disturb him to yank the throttle open to the point where she was doing 70, which was traveling, on the roads of those years.
Usually, there was something that mattered with the speedometer so that it didn't register. Mr. Libbey never admitted that such was the fact. He would always explain that something had "happened" to it and he'd not had the time to fix it. In the minds of those who knew him, it was accepted that whatever had "happened" did so thru the well-directed hand of W. Scott Libbey, Sr.
The old machine, which was of the runabout type, painted yellow, has been stored at the Libbey summer place in Wayne since his death in 1914. It had been there for some time before that, as the year or two earlier he purchased a more up-to-date gas-motored touring car. Incidentally, if memory serves correctly, this was the first car equipped with electric lights to be owned in these cities. It wasn't as fast as the old runabout, but it had more room.
Favorite Pastime
One of Mr. Libbey's pastimes was giving his friends rides. It might well be described as his favorite outdoor sport.
He would invite them to go for a ride or if they said they had to go someplace, would offer to take them. Once they were in the seat he'd head for the open road and then away they'd go. He'd give the engine all it would take and that meant speed, for those old steamers would travel.
Road conditions bothered him not in the least. he had an iron nerve and feared nothing. Above all else, he had unbounded confidence in W. Scott Libbey. he knew that he could drive, knew the roads, knew the car and that was enough for him.
His passengers didn't always have that same confidence. They would all have been willing to take his judgment in a business deal and would have risked their last dollar on his financial judgment, but their necks were different. When he had landed them at their destination and, as they got out, said in his quiet voice:
"I'll give you a ride again,"
They invariably answered:
"I'm _____ if you will!"
Ride To Be Remembered
This writer had many of those rides, not all because he loved them, but in the line of duty. In his day, W. Scott Libbey, Sr., produced many good stories, and it frequently became necessary for the writer to take trips with him. W. S. knew he was frightened and was always seeing if he could force an admission to it. The wildest was on a trip from Portland.
We had been to Portland on a trip for progress in the construction of progress on the Portland Interurban electric road, which he and his partner Harry M. Dingley were building. It had been an all-day trip, visiting practically every section of the line, ending with a very late supper at one of the construction camps.
In those days Portland Road was a much different story from what it is today. It was sandy, rocky, and rough. Most of today's automobile drivers would refuse to drive over it. If they did they'd refuse to try and do more than 15 miles an hour if they'd try. Libbey usually idled along at 30.
It was a clear cool, bright moon-light night in late September. The hour was late when the camp was left, so it was around 1 a.m., when the long grade in Cumberland, on the Auburn side of the Gray Road woods, was reached. Mr. Libbey had been coming along at a speed that was more than sufficient for the writer, but when he struck his town grade he gave her the gun.
How that car traveled!
The writer's cap blew off and it was two miles further on before he was able to speak. By that time it wasn't worthwhile to go back and try and find it, so nothing was said. At last, he spoke:
"How'd (you) like it?"
"Can't you go faster?"
The writer's teeth were chattering when he said it.
"You're a liar!"
It was a gleeful shout by Mr. Libbey.
The automobile show will be open at 1 p.m., Friday. All available space has been taken by local automobile dealers, but there will be room for such extra attractions as a gas model airplane demonstration.
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
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