Laconia Car Company Works's Builder Order #661 shows the order for the
Narcissus and its three sister interurbans were created on April 24, 1912.
Seashore Trolley Museum has ten accessioned vehicles on campus that were
built by Laconia. This writer and Donald Curry will be visiting the Laconia
Historical and Museum Society in mid-August and will be searching for
additional information on the Laconia vehicles in the Museum's collection.
Order page courtesy of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society
Had to recognize the 105th anniversary of the order being placed to build the Narcissus and its three sister interurbans before I gave the Narcissus Restoration Update :)
The Laconia Historical and Museum Society archives, in Laconia, NH, where some Laconia Car Company Works records reside. The LHMS has in its collection, a list showing that in April 1912, the Laconia Car Company Works received the order to build four interurbans for the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad. This is the same month that Titanic set sail on its maiden and final voyage, as well as the month that Red Sox rookie, Ted Williams, hit his first major league home run (April 23) out of the new home field, Fenway Park, which first opened on April 20th. The PGLRR became the Portland-Lewiston Interurban in 1914.
April 11, 2017, was just warm enough for Donald Curry,
lead restoration technician, to sand the mahogany clerestory
window openings on the left side of the interior of the
Narcissus. Left side? Yes. Left and right are determined when
facing the number one end. This image has us facing
the number two end, hence, Donald is working on the left
side of the Narcissus :) PWM
The sanded mahogany clerestory arched window openings on the left side of
the interior of the Narcissus. All twenty-four arches failed, as seen here.
Thankfully, most of the pieces of the broken arches were split, but remained
in place and could be glued back into place. Those arches with missing
broken pieces had replacement mahogany pieces made and glued into place.
In this image, some of the various wirings. There is a mixture of
household wiring that was added by Mr. Vallee when the Narcissus
household wire will be removed. PWM
Seen here is one of the split mahogany
arches of the mahogany sash of the
clerestory window opening. The
mahogany board below, with the brass
screws, is the board that covers the
wiring. The "lines" seen in the
mahogany board are a series of inlaid
Holly (white) then Ebony (black)
followed by another row of Holly (white).
This beautiful inlay is used throughout
the interior of the Narcissus. PWM
Donald Curry working on restoring the
mahogany boards that cover the wiring.
The process is to carefully use denatured
alcohol to remove the old shellac coating
without causing damage or swelling of
the inlay of Holly and Ebony.
April 20, 2017, PWM
After the old shellac and or varnish is
removed, the boards are wiped dry and
then softly sanded smooth. And be
careful of the inlay Holley and Ebony.
Next the first of three coats of new
shellac is applied. The holes are seen in
the other mahogany boards that were
originally where the additional light bulb
sockets were to be. However, during
the original build at Laconia, a change
was made to not have these additional
lights, after the mahogany boards
had their holes drilled for the sockets.
So, rather than waste the mahogany,
each hole is covered with an ornate
circular mahogany "button". PWM
Mahogany boards with inlay of Holly and
Ebony awaits their turn at being
restored. PWM
Some of the ornate circular mahogany
"buttons" are still in place on some of
these boards from the Narcissus. PWM
One of the "buttons" - PWM
The exterior of the left side of the clerestory arched window openings of
the Narcissus are made from poplar and they all experienced the same sad
fate as their interior mahogany counterparts, broken/missing arched pieces.
The right side has had all of its exterior poplar arches repaired with vintage
poplar. As the weather warms up, the left side pieces will all be repaired as
well. PWM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
