The Narcissus seems to be hovering above the floor inside the
Donald G. Curry TownHouse Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum.
Its trucks have been rolled out from under the Portland-Lewiston Interurban survivor.
Major sill work will follow shortly. October 2017 photo by PWM
This image of Narcissus was used in an advertisement to
promote the newest innovation for improved connectivity
by replacing the trolley wheel at the end of the trolley pole,
with the new trolley shoe with a carbon insert being advertised.
Photo courtesy STM
Extracted from The (Seashore) Trolley Museum Dispatch volume eight number four (Jul/Aug) 1965
THE NARCISSUS PROJECT
This month's DISPATCH heading shows one of the Portland-Lewiston cars as it looked at one time and as it might look again someday - but it's a long story and the ending is still in doubt.
Among the 20,000 plus visitors to the railway in Kennebunkport, each summer is a number from central and southern Maine. Many of these people ask to see one of the famous PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN cars. Unfortunately, the interurban was abandoned in 1933 and the equipment was broken up long before our society started its work.
Only one P-L-I car was saved only to be lost forever, broken up for junk in 1946. This car, No. 10, the ARBUTUS, had the distinction of making both the first and last trips over Maine's finest interurban electric railway.
No. 10 Arbutus with many shop crew members in Lewiston.
Taken just prior to the opening of the line in 1914.
The Arbutus just after the final trip in 1933.
Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony is on the right.
After abandonment, the ARBUTUS was taken to Camp Ellis near Old Orchard Beach and set up in a garden on the estate of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of the line's builder. Here it reposed, complete even to its destination signs on a short piece of track, protected from the elements by a portable shelter in the winter.
The Arbutus in Bay Views at Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony's
home in Saco, Maine. circa 1941.
In 1939 SEASHORE moved its first car to Kennebunkport, only a few miles away. Cars and equipment were saved that could not at any cost be duplicated in later years. It was, of course, tragic to realize that cars were saved from as far away as the Orient, Australia, and New Zealand, and yet one of the finest interurban specimens of all was now beyond recall.
Those who knew or took the trouble to find out were aware of a certain legacy of the famed interurban line. Various artifacts and photos exist in private collections. A short history, by now long out of print, had been written by O, R. Cummings. Grass-grown rights-of-way exist for the enjoyment of those who know where to look. The knowledgeable are aware that certain presently existing buildings in the Lewiston area and Portland areas served once for a more noble purpose. Two hulks, (alas without equipment of any sort), the remains of suburban cars 40 and 42, (small cars, not the big fast cars), long used as sheds at South Casco, were strong enough to be picked up and moved to Kennebunkport to await possible restoration. The body of car No. 22, named Maine, was greatly modified for use as a diner and even now repose on Park Street in Lewiston, still retaining a vague trolley car-like aspect if nothing more.
Maine as a diner in Lewiston.
At Sabattus for many years, the hollow shell of the NARCISSUS, No. 14, the former sister car of the ARBUTUS, has been used as a summer camp.
The Narcissus when was a summer camp in Sabattus.
The memory of the line refuses to die in the minds of residents along the route and elsewhere who remember that Maine once had an interurban line equal to any. Newspaper articles appear from time to time and the legendary speed of the cars increases with every passing year.
Toward the end of 1964, there were significant rumblings heard by those who are tuned to such things. The long-dead interurban was beginning to show faint but certainly unmistakable signs of life. A new, larger, and finer edition of the history of the line was nearly ready for publication. The owner of the remains of the NARCISSUS revealed that he would soon retire and move to Sabattus. Rather than live in an old car body he would modify it into a house.
The Narcissus is ready to travel to Kennebunkport. The
"replacement" year-round home is seen in the background.
October 1969. Photo courtesy of Danial A. Vallee.
In Oshawa, Ontario, a pair of Baldwin motor trucks, complete with motors, the property of the CNR, became surplus. These trucks are similar and in appearance identical to the trucks the NARCISSUS once had. In Chicago, seats like those the NARCISSUS once had might become available. It became clear that it was a technical possibility to restore the NARCISSUS to full operation. The examination of the car's body revealed that it was surprisingly sound. It had retained stained glass windows and the interior woodwork was in good condition. Up to now, there had been a minimum of modifications. Negotiations have been going on. It appears that the car body can be saved --IF it is replaced with a small framed cottage (frame and exterior only -- no interior). The CNR has agreed to hold the Baldwin trucks intact for a time awaiting further word.
NARCISSUS is the last Maine car available for restoration. For the people of the area it served, the NARCISSUS should be meaningful as a tangible living link with the past.
While Seashore did everything within its limited means to save cars in the local Maine area after the war, (and did manage to save the Aroostook Valley and nearby Sanford cars as well as Biddeford & Saco 31), the typical cars of the large systems of Bangor, Waterville, Augusta, and Lewiston-Auburn, and Portland are gone beyond recall. Surely, a restored Portland-Lewiston Interurban, especially one of the early, ornate Laconia manufactured cars, would be fitting to represent the local State of Maine in a collection that has become world-famous. Operating over the finest electric line in the State, between its two greatest population centers, the interurban cars acquired fame out of all proportion to the length of the line and it would be fine indeed to relive this bit of history at Kennebunkport on a nearly identical roadbed.
One of the five (of eight) restored mahogany sash
windows from the bulkheads of the Narcissus.
Thank you, Jim Mackell, volunteer extraordinaire :)
October 2017 photo PWM
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-running 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 on a monthly basis. 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 in 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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