Saturday, August 19, Donald Curry, from Seashore Trolley Museum,
addresses the near-capacity audience in the Rotary Hall of the
Gale Memorial Library in Laconia, NH. The
Donald and Narcissus project manager, Phil Morse, will speak on
Seashore Trolley Museum's ten Laconia Car Company-built
electric streetcars. PWM
Additional blog posts on Seashore Trolley Museum's Laconia Car Company-built Collection:
Click Here: No. 14 - 1912 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 14 - 1912 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 38 - 1907 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 60 - 1895 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 100 - 1906 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 108 - 1904 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 235, No. 50 & No. 9 - 1895, 1902, & 1904 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No 4175 - 1914 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 4387 - 1918 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 60 - 1895 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 100 - 1906 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 108 - 1904 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 235, No. 50 & No. 9 - 1895, 1902, & 1904 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No 4175 - 1914 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Click Here: No. 4387 - 1918 Laconia Car Company-built Collection
Laconia Historical Society and Museum Executive Director, Pat Tierney,
opens the public presentation with a welcome and introductions. Local
TV cable access recorded the presentation that will then be broadcast
in the area over time. PWM
One of the early guests to arrive before the start of the presentation
wasTheresa Doucet. Theresa lives in Laconia and mentioned that
her grandfather, Alfred Doucet, was a motorman for the Laconia
Street Railway. She went on to say that her grandfather generally
was the motorman when operating No. 17. She then shared
an image of her grandfather in the doorway of No. 17.
Alfred is standing inside at the top of the doorway in the
image above. Seashore Trolley Museum has the original body of
No. 17. It is not restored, does not have trucks, and is not
an accessioned vehicle in the collection of the Museum.
No. 17 at Seashore Trolley Museum may be the only
original streetcar body that survives that was built by the
Laconia Car Company for the Laconia Street Railway?
Image Courtesy of Theresa Doucet
A negative of No. 17 from the collection of the Laconia Historical
Society and Museum.
Of course, No. 17 seemed to be omnipresent over the weekend in
Laconia :) Cover of the book, "Slates, Shingles, & Shakes:
A Renovation Guide for Laconia's Historic Homes, published in
1978 by the City of Laconia. Courtesy of LHSM
Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on
August 18, 1914, so, of course, the Narcissus displays would include
Theodore Roosevelt-related items, such as Ken Burns' signed poster
from his documentary on The Roosevelt: An Intimate History.
As well as a Narcissus restored window, an exterior poplar arch for
a large leaded stained glass "eyebrow," a shoebox promoting
Laconia with an image of the Seashore Trolley Museum's
1906 Laconia Car Company-built No. 38, from Manchester, NH.
Also displayed is an original Western Electric portable phone exactly
like those used on the Portland-Lewiston Interurbans. PWM
Another Narcissus display. This one included a tri-fold with pictures of
restoration work, the Narcissus Blog address, and five of the forty,
restored original leaded stained glass windows from the 1912 Laconia Car
Company-built, Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) No, 14, Narcissus.
Also on display was a large print of the new original work of art by
Maine artist, Wade Zahares, who depicts The Narcissus operating alongside
the builder of the PLI, W. S. Libbey, with his wife Annie, as they are riding
in Libbey's very rare 1908 Stanley K 30-hp Semi-Racer. PWM
Two more Narcissus displays included items for sale. 100% of the
proceeds from the sale of Theodore Roosevelt-related books
(all signed by the respective authors), and Narcissus art prints and
greeting cards for sale. Click Here: if you would like to purchase
prints or greeting cards. PWM
Main Street view of beautiful Gale Memorial Library in Laconia, NH. PWM
Church Street view of the Gale Memorial Library in Laconia, NH.
The Laconia Historical Society & Museum, in cooperation with the
library, had beautiful exhibits on display that detailed the Laconia B & M
Railroad Station, the Laconia Car Company, and the Laconia Street Railway.
PWM
The Veteran's Square view of the 1892 passenger B & M Railroad Station.
"Celebrate Laconia" held a day-long celebration on Saturday, August 19,
the 125th anniversary of the station's dedication. PWM
New Salem Street view of the 1892 B & M Railroad Station in
Laconia, NH. PWM
Various businesses provided financial
support for the station renovation. PWM
The stonework is beautiful. PWM
Stonework and walkway to access the front
of the station by walking to one's left. PWM
Stonework and walkway to access the front
of the station going to one's right. PWM
Laconia, NH, home of the Laconia Car Company. Laconia Car
Company was a major manufacturer of railway vehicles. PWM
A number of the buildings built by the Laconia Car Company are still
in place in Laconia, NH. This was the last building the Company built.
Like most of the remaining Laconia Car Company buildings, "Streetcar
Place" has been repurposed and now is home to several
businesses, including Hector's Fine Foods & Spirits. PWM
Streetcar at the top of the menu of Hector's Fine Foods and Spirits in
Laconia, NH. PWM
The Laconia Historical Society & Museum (LHSM) owns this former Laconia
Car Company building. The LHM's archives and collections are held in
this building. This building was where sash trimming, glazing, and
varnishing were done while it was part of the Laconia Car Company.
PWM
Map with drawings of the Laconia Car Company buildings. Courtesy LHSM
Donald Curry is next to the old railroad tracks that are seen on the
map above. The next image shows the smokestack in the map above.
PWM
What is now seen as the top of the smokestack is not what was the top
when the Laconia Car Company had it built. The section of the
stack seen here has its interior "lined" and therefore is much
stronger and more stable than the section above where the lining ceased.
The unlined section deteriorated over the years and the crumbling bricks
began to break away causing safety concerns. The unlined section was
removed and the top was covered and sealed. The remaining section is
stable. PWM
Map of Laconia Car Company with descriptions written on the rooftops.
Courtesy of LHSM
Across the street from the Laconia Historical Society & Museum building
are (left to right) Laconia Car Company tenement buildings and
passenger shops. PWM
This full map gives you a real sense of the scale of the Laconia Car Company operations.
Courtesy of the LHSM
Had the privilege of looking through
some of the many materials in
the LHSM collection that has to do with
the Laconia Car Company.
Courtesy of LHSM
So cool to find materials that have to do with specific vehicles
built by the Laconia Car Company, which is now among the
amazing collection of electric railway vehicles at
Seashore Trolley Museum. Seashore Trolley Museum
has the last original car from the 4100 series, No. 4175. 4175
was among the cars built for the Bay State Street Railway. Builder
order No. 700 was received on April 4, 1913, for 50 City/Semicon
(semi-convertible) DE (Double End) Deck (Roof style) DT
(Double-Truck) 28-foot Nos. 4150-4199 with
Bay State 12 (original trucks).
4175 at Seashore Trolley Museum three days ago. Here it is being
prepared to receive one of its new fenders. 4175 is in the final
stages of its complete restoration. Currently, 4175 needs about
$10,000 for materials and some labor to finish up the restoration.
Contact this writer via email at p.morse31@gmail.com
if you would like to help 4175 financially reach its completion.
PWM
One of two newly-built fenders for 4175. PWM
The Narcissus was part of Builder Order No. 661 :)
Courtesy of LHSM
Breakdown with some details of the Builder Order No. 661 from 1912
Courtesy of LHSM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View
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 first captivate, fascinate, 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 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 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
