The Narcissus as she looked when secured to the "Highway
Monster" upon arrival at Seashore Trolley Museum on
Halloween, 1969. Image by Norman Down
Forty-eight years ago today, the Narcissus arrived at its new home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
The sole surviving high-speed wooden interurban from the legendary Portland-Lewiston Interurban system that operated between two major population centers in Maine, the Narcissus is currently under restoration in Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration shop. The Narcissus had the honor to have Theodore Roosevelt as a passenger on August 18, 1914. The Narcissus Project blog is dedicated to disseminating information to the public through social media sources to raise awareness about the Narcissus restoration, its life story, and connections to the communities it served from 1914 into 1933.
Below is the write-up from the 1969 Annual Report of how the Narcissus was able to be acquired.
1969 Annual Report (page 6) New England Electric Railway Historical Society/Seashore Trolley Museum
Interest in this car body, which has finally arrived at Seashore, is as old as the Society itself. Starting in 1937 there were annual trips run on the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway system operating out of Lewiston on the 19th of April. One of the highlights of the Sabattus line was the once-a-year inspection of the beautifully preserved body of Laconia number 14, which has been better known by its name the Narcissus. It was during such a trip on April 19th, 1939, that three of Seashore's Pioneers were making the first plans to acquire a Biddeford and Saco open car in June or July, whenever the buses would arrive to take over New England's last regular open trolley operation.
Later on, when two of these Founders were getting initiated into the Street Railway business the hard way, in the backyard of the Saco car barn, getting the first car of the first Trolley Museum rigged to make it over the road journey to a small piece of land in Kennebunkport; there was little need to recall the Narcissus slumbering away in Sabattus because only 8 miles away at Bay View, reposed the sister car, number 10, the Arbutus. Far more famous for running the first and last trip over the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and appropriately preserved in fully operating condition on a section of real rails and ties from the line, on the property of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of the famed interurban builder, W. Scott Libby, there was every reason to hope that if the fledgling Society became successful, this handsome and complete Interurban might be donated to this new Seashore Electric Railway. But, this was not to be the case, as the car was broken up during World War II at a time when many of our members were overseas.
A more famous sister to the Narcissus, the
Arbutus is seen here on display at Gertrude
Libbey Anthony's home in Bay View, Saco,
Maine. Image from O. R. Cummings 1967
book, "Maine's Fast Electric Railroad."
Over the years rumors continued to persist that the Narcissus was still remarkably well-preserved and the Society by now was sufficiently well-equipped with transportation equipment and willing to gamble on acquiring a car body of merit that might be re-equipped at a later date. Accordingly, contact was made with the owner, Mr. J. Henri Vallee of Lewiston. By then, the general manager of the Museum, Dwight B. Minnick, and a verbal agreement made that the car could be acquired by the Society in exchange for equivalent housing if so done before Mr. Vallee's retirement.
J. Henri Vallee in Sabattus, Maine. The
Narcissus in the background. The roof frames for
the new "replacement" house can be seen in the
background to the right. Image courtesy of
Daniel A. Vallee.
Mr. Vallee, it appeared, had been a passenger on the Interurban on the first and last days of operation and had a sentimental attachment to it and the excellent state of preservation of the car bore testimony to this.
Various portable houses were looked into but fell short of expectations. It was concluded that a simply framed house would have to be built. On at least three separate occasions in the intervening years, Museum personnel attempted valiantly to enlist the local interest and get some sort of a project going so that title could be obtained to the Narcissus. For a multiplicity of reasons these endeavors failed. One ray of hope came, however, in 1965 when through the intercession of Governor Reed of the State of Maine, a pair of suitable Baldwin motor trucks were made available by the Canadian National, from their Oshawa Railway subdivision.
More enthusiasm for the project began to be generated by our growing Portland group, many of whom had worked their way up in our summer shop force and could visualize the results that could be obtained with the Narcissus if once gotten to the Museum's own shop. In 1967 Museum member, William Dox of Portland was asked by Trustees of Seashore to contact Mr. Vallee and see if the offer was still open. Once confirmed, Society historian and trustee O. R. Cummings, in the process of rewriting his history of the PLI, decided to turn over the funds from a project to the Narcissus fund and to make available all the
over-cost proceeds from the publication and sale of "Maine's Fast Electric Railway". This generous offer of O. R. Cummings gave the project the impetus that was needed for, not only was time running out on the offer but, the deterioration was setting in on the car. The trustees appointed a committee composed of Cummings, Donald Curry, John Coughlin, William Dox, Jr., and John H. Fancy until he became too occupied in other areas.
O. R. Cummings' book that he signed
over the royalties to the
Narcissus fund. PWM
Basic work accomplished by the committee was the building up of a fund to pay for the labor involved and locating a builder who would undertake to complete the exterior of the building within these limits. And then through interest generated in the project, securing donations of the actual building materials needed. A necessary adjunct was, of course, the selection of basic house design, and a bill of materials could be drawn up. A USDA extension service dwelling was selected as a prototype. Also, a legal agreement had to be drawn up for signature by both parties which enabled the Museum to erect a dwelling structure on Mr. Vallee's premises as well as assure the donation of the car body to the Museum when the new structure had been closed in and become weather-tight.
As soon as the PLI history was published, every effort was made to concentrate the sale promotion and distribution in the areas formerly served by the Interurban. Newspapers in the Portland and Lewiston areas were cooperative in relating all newsworthy developments in the campaign. By the fall of 1968 sufficient funds were on hand to get the project underway. As soon as commitments of donations for 80% of the materials required for the building had been received as a result of some 40 solicitations, a search was instituted for a builder willing to undertake the erection of a building satisfactory to Mr. Vallee's needs and within the means of the special fund.
Due to extremely bad weather setting in by late October (1968), the first builder found himself bowing out because of other commitments but recommended Mr. Joseph R. Blais of the Lewiston area, as one of the few other builders able to construct such a dwelling within the limitations set forth. Museum forces then came up and working in two of the nastiest weekends on record, in the alternating pouring rain and heavy snow moved the body of the "Narcissus" off of its footings onto temporary blocking and separated and removed other appendages as necessary. But, despite their valiant efforts to get the operation back on schedule, even worse weather followed. The project had to be called off until late May of 1969. From this point on, all progressed smoothly, the builder following the letter of authorization to within a margin of some $24.
Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers arranging
to move the Narcissus onto the "Highway
Monster." Image courtesy of
Daniel A. Vallee.
On July 30th, 1969, Mr. Vallee signed and delivered the transfer of title to the Narcissus to the committee members closing what was probably the longest, most arduous, and expensive acquisition project ever undertaken by the Society.
The Narcissus loaded on the "Highway
Monster" connected to Seashore Trolley
Museum's "Mack", with J. Henri Vallee's
new home in the background.
Image courtesy of Daniel A. Vallee
The story doesn't end here, however, as the course of the acquisition of the building materials, commitments were made to try to give the donors a certain amount of advertising publicity in return for their donations, some of which ran to well over $300 in value. This was to be done by fixing a side banner on each side of the car, under the windows, indicating the names of donors of materials. For this and various other reasons, a small deficit was incurred in the project, which has since been met by donations from members of the committee and members of the Libbey family who have shown a great deal of interest in the project.
Preparations for the trip were being made, but because of the general activity of the summer at the Museum and the non-availability of transport equipment, the Narcissus sat at its prior location, waiting for the next step. Finally, in early October, a large crew of 12 members of the Society, in a solid weekend's work, moved the body aboard the "Highway Monster", which had been skillfully maneuvered into position alongside the body a month before. Meanwhile, Mrs. Eleanor Libbey Awalt of Auburn, who had consented to and started work with the acquisition committee a year before in the raising of funds, provision of publicity in the Lewiston, Auburn, and New Gloucester areas, acted as a clearinghouse for that purpose, alerted news media and historical groups along the route on the impending move.
A certain amount of showmanship and Ingenuity came into play to make the "Narcissus" look the part a little more. The weather letter boards were covered over with masonite strips painted in Pullman Green and authentically lettered, Portland-Lewiston Interurban, and corrugated aluminum was fitted on lower sections missing matchboard, and also hastily painted Pullman Green. The illusion was quite good and the excellent conditions of the stained glass windows did much to help this.
The Portland-Lewiston Interurban masonite strips from 1969
are still in place on the Narcissus on October 23, 2017, as
restoration work continues on the exterior. PWM
The long-awaited move took place on Halloween of 1969. Despite delays with last-minute requirements for a house moving permit, excellent planning and skillful maneuvering of the Mack and Highway Monster aided by an alert escort made it possible not only to retrace as closely as possible the interurbans old route through Lewiston-Auburn, New Gloucester, Gray, and West Cumberland, but, even to its street run in Portland via Forest Avenue, Congress Street, and Monument Square. Finally, after its 35-year lonely vigil at Sabattus, The "Narcissus" joined its new family at the Trolley Museum. A costly acquisition indeed, but, the car is basically sound, most of the needed equipment is now on hand, and its restoration is scheduled to get underway this summer with an enthusiastic crew.
Banner remnants from the 1969 road trip of the Narcissus
traveling from Sabattus Pond to Seashore Trolley Museum
were found while cleaning up and sorting materials from
the Narcissus shortly after it entered the Donald G. Curry
Town House Restoration Shop. PWM
The Narcissus has been at the Museum for Forty-Eight years and it now has its turn to be restored to full operating status. It is currently in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Work is underway on phase one, to restore the exterior of the Narcissus. Adequate funds have been raised to finish the exterior. The fundraising for the Narcissus now focuses on the work and materials necessary to complete the restoration of the ornate interior. please continue reading below for some of the next steps and follow the Narcissus project blog to keep up to date with the progress and ways you can help. Thank You
Thank you to everyone who helped the Narcissus to this point. We still need to continue to collectively spread the word about the project. I encourage you to invite others to join the effort to bring this beauty back into being the majestic, elegant, operating representative of Maine's premier electric interurban railway.
One way to explain what the Narcissus project is about is by sharing the posts from the Narcissus project blog: www.narcissus1912.blogspot.com
Lots of folks find the posts very interesting.
In April (2019), the blog surpassed 212,000 total page views!
The blog is a great way to spread the news of Narcissus.
Let's keep it going :)
Planning for gifts?
Boxes of ten greeting cards, with envelopes, are now available to purchase. 100% of the proceeds from these sales will benefit the Narcissus Project.
Greeting Cards of Narcissus in "Fast Friends" by
Maine artist, Wade Zahares.
Wording on the back of "Fast Friends"
Greeting Cards of Morrison Hill Station of
"Waiting for the Narcissus" by
Maine artist, Wade Zahares.
Greeting Cards:
Box of Ten (10) with envelopes - 4"x 6" - blank inside - $20
(Free shipping via USPS)
Free Shipping on all orders placed with me before November 30, 2017
To order Greeting Cards - email p.morse31@gmail.com
All proceeds from the sale of these items will be added to the PLI Education Fund No. 917.
Free Shipping on all orders placed with p.morse31@gmail.com
What's next for Narcissus? 2017/2018
Restoration work will continue on the exterior of the Narcissus.
All roof ribs were removed, repaired, primed, and replaced.
Ten needed to be replaced. The left side has had its end boards
secured to the roof rib tenons. The right side end boards are
nearly all in place. Image 10-23-17 PWM
Donald Curry working on securing the right
side end boards to the roof rib tenons.
10-23-17 PWM
Major side sill and bolster work is in the early stages of work.
The bolster will be removed, assessed, repaired, pieces
replaced as necessary, primed, painted, and then reinstalled.
Side sills and the attached steel channel will be removed,
assessed, repaired, and replaced as necessary. 10-23-17 PWM
Morrison Hill Station
In recent weeks, the petite 1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban waiting station, originally located in West Cumberland (ME) has had; window and door sills replaced and painted. Window trim boards replaced and painted, metal roof edges repaired and painted, the west-facing roof panels sanded and painted, exterior walls (yellow) north, south, and west repainted, the tiny wooden electrical box that feeds the 600 volts (DC) lights of the building fully rebuilt, primed and painted, and many interior upgrades. All these improvements (and a few more to follow) are in preparation for the building to be the home of an exhibit next season about the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
This picture was taken on October 23, 2017. 1915
Morrison Hill Station is looking great with fresh upgrades and
paint. PWM
Inside Morrison Hill station. New floating oak flooring,
newly painted kickboards, trim, and awaiting installation.
10-20-17 PWM
Interior of Narcissus
Patented interlocking rubber floor tiles in the smoking
compartment and down the center aisle of the passenger
compartment floor of the Narcissus. We will be seeking
contractors and prices on making new tiles, as well as
seeking solutions to properly repair the tiles, if possible,
for reuse. 10-23-2017 PWM
 |
| Seats for the Narcissus. We will make all 20, mohair plush upholstered seats from scratch. We have prices from two foundries to cast all the various metal components. Funding the cost to cast original patterns and then the various components is the highest priority for fundraising now. Image of 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. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum |
 |
| One of the original passenger windows in its mahogany sash has been restored along with seventeen others. Six will have to be made from scratch. We have many of the original brass components too. PWM |
 |
One of the newly restored (5 of 8 completed so far)
mahogany sash windows that are contained in the two
bulkheads. Additional interior work will include rewiring
the Narcissus. When the body was the Vallee summer home,
120-volt household wiring was added and much of the original
wire was removed. October 2017 image PWM
|
 |
| The center ceiling panels have ornate gold leaf fleur-de-lis. The interior walls are all mahogany with an inlay of Ebony-Holly- Ebony. The forty leaded-stained glass windows above the passenger windows are breathtaking. PWM |
We continue the restoration work on the Narcissus, the only surviving interurban coach of the PLI. Please consider making a donation to the Narcissus Project to help the restoration work continue to completion.
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 100 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. During 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 a one-time donation 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 207-967-2712 ext. 5.
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 on filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can email: finance@NEERHS.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 207-967-2712, ext. 5,
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 - 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
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
