A photograph of an unknown motorman of the Lewiston, Augusta &
Waterville Street Railway (LA&W). We would really like to know his name.
The LA&W operated from May 1, 1907, through September 30, 1919.
Please contact me if you have a lead.
Thank you. email: p.morse31@gmail.com
PWM photo
Donald Curry and I are volunteers at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. We often travel together to conduct presentations/lectures in communities that have some connection to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban line (PLI) in Maine or to the PLI interurban, Narcissus. The Narcissus is currently being restored at Seashore Trolley Museum in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop. In the spring of 2018, we have PLI presentations scheduled in Lewiston, West Falmouth, and West Cumberland (scroll down this page to see the specific dates, times, etc.) One of the points brought up early in the presentation is how one would travel between the Twin Cities using electric trolleys, prior to the PLI providing service starting in 1914. This blog post will provide some background in regard to that point.
The heart of the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Railway system
was Hulett Square, at the intersection of Main and Lisbon Streets in
Lewiston. A Waterville-bound car is shown turning into
Lisbon Street (left), while a car from Bath stands in front of the
waiting room. Currently, J. Dostie Jewelers occupy the street-level
space of the building on the left, formally known as the "Journal" building.
PWM postcard
From O. R. Cummings' "Maine's Fastest Electric Railroad"
Trolley service between Portland and the Twin Cities of Lewiston and Auburn had its beginnings on August 8, 1902, when the Portland & Brunswick Street Railway, incorporated the previous year, opened its 15.4-mile line from the college town of Brunswick southerly through Freeport and South Freeport to Yarmouth. At Brunswick, the Portland & Brunswick had a physical connection with the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway, constructed in 1898, and at Yarmouth, the Portland & Brunswick tracks dead-ended just a few feet from the rails of the Portland Railroad Company's Yarmouth Division, was built in 1898 as the Portland & Yarmouth Electric Railway.
Cover photo of O. R. Cummings' 1966 publication
The roundabout route between the Forest City (Portland) and Lewiston created by the opening of the Portland & Brunswick was 42 miles long, with a running time of more than three hours, and with two changes of cars - at Yarmouth and at Brunswick - initially being necessary. The service was frequent, however, and the combined fares of the three railways involved in the Portland-Lewiston trip were only 65 cents. (There would be a time between 1906 and 1919 that there was a joint operation between railways that eliminated one change of cars at Yarmouth).
Of course, there were steam railroad lines between Portland and Lewiston - the Maine Central Railroad and the Grand Trunk Railway - but there were few trains on either line on weekdays and even poorer service on Sundays.
The Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway, which also owned the local lines in Lewiston and Auburn, was absorbed by the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Steet Railway in 1907, and in 1913, the former Portland & Brunswick, which had been reorganized as the Brunswick & Yarmouth Street Railway in 1911, was merged into the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville system. (The Portland-Lewiston Interurban opened on July 2, 1914) The Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville went into receivership in December 1918 and was reorganized on October 1 of the following year (1919) as the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway.
"Electric Railway King of Maine"
Amos F. Gerald, "The Electric Railway King of Maine", seemed to have his hand in nearly every electric railway charter during the hay-day of electric railway development in the Pine Tree State.
Gerald created both the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath, and the Portland & Brunswick Street Railways.
Photo from O. R Cummings 1966 publication,
"Trolleys to Brunswick, Maine"
Cummings was a prolific writer of books about electric railway
systems throughout New England.
Bath carhouse of the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath and the parlor car,
"Merrymeeting" in 1899. This building was razed in 1911 and a smaller
barn was constructed from the materials. O. R. Cummings collection.
The "Merrymeeting" at the Tacoma Inn near Lewiston
The "Merrymeeting" was a double-truck (two sets of wheels & motors)
parlor car built by the Briggs Carriage Company of Amesbury, MA, for
the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway, at a cost of $7,000.
Photo courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library. Text from
O. R. Cummings 1959 publication, "Trolley Parlor Cars of New England"
The "Merrymeeting" parlor car was delivered in May of 1899. It could be
chartered for $10 a day and was taken over by the Lewiston, Augusta &
Waterville Street Railway in 1907. It remained in service as late as 1917.
It was stored until 1920 when its trucks were removed for use on a
freight car and the body was scrapped :(
Photo courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library. Text from
O. R. Cummings 1959 publication, "Trolley Parlor Cars of New England"
Pleasure Resorts
In O. R. Cummings 1966 publication, "Trolleys to Brunswick, Maine"
No self-respecting street railway company considered itself complete without a pleasure resort during the golden years of the trolley era, and both the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath, and the Portland & Brunswick maintained such facilities to help generate summer excursion traffic.
Click here for more on Trolley Parks in the heart of Maine by Seashore Trolley Museum.
Merrymeeting Park
Merrymeeting Park was opened to the public in the summer of 1899,
the attractions included this $30,000 casino. Casinos of the day were
not gambling establishments. The three-story casino had broad verandas,
a very large dining room, a dance hall, a parlor, and smoking rooms.
PWM postcard
Twenty-six miles from Lewiston. Notice the castle-like stone attachment to
the veranda. Amos F. Gerald, the builder of the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath
line, loved castles and frequently incorporated a castle into the
trolley parks he was associated with. PWM postcard
Merrymeeting Park was located one and a half miles from Brunswick on a 147-acre tract along the Androscoggin River. On approach to the casino, the visitors passed through the zoological department in which were numerous houses, cages, and pens for the fine collection of animals that formed the principal attractions. The collection included a herd of buffaloes, bears, moose, elk, deer, and foxes. Vast lawns, ponds, and groves of trees made for a relaxing atmosphere. Frequently, the attendance in the early years at the park was from 2,000 to 4,000 people on a given day. The park's popularity did decline fairly quickly though and was closed after the 1906 season.
PWM postcard
The amphitheater had seats for up to three thousand patrons and programs
that included band concerts, vaudeville, magic shows, minstrels, comedies,
and dramas. PWM postcard
Lake Grove Park
Lake Grove Park was located three miles from Lewiston at Auburn Lake. The attractions included a small rustic theater, with an open stage. The setting was well shaded, and scattered among the trees were quite a number of animals including bears, moose, and elk. On the lake, a large number of boats were kept, which were hired for boating and fishing. parties. Lake Grove was Maine's first park developed by a railway - opened in 1883 by the Lewiston and Auburn Horse Railway. It closed in 1928.
PWM postcard
PWM postcard
PWM postcard
Tacoma Inn
The Tacoma Inn, near the intersection of Sand & Woodbury Ponds, was a favorite spot for factory and commercial outings. Only 14 miles from the Lewiston waiting station, there were many charter trips from Lewiston and Auburn to the Inn. An annual excursion was that of the Healy Asylum, a boys' orphanage in Lewiston. This yearly event was financed by a bequest in the will of W. Scott Libbey, builder of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Bates College and probably Colby College classes and groups held outings and reunions at the inn.
A feature attraction at the Tacoma Inn was the "High Diving White Horses."
The handsome white horses, "King" and "Queen" would jump into Sand Pond
from a high platform (info provided by Historical Society of Litchfield, ME)
PWM postcard
New Meadows Inn
Another attraction on the Lewiston-Bath line was the privately-owned New Meadows Inn, on the bank of the New Meadows River in Bath. The inn was world-renowned for the quality and abundance of its shore dinners. Because of heavy traffic to and from the famous eating place, the railway provided a passenger platform, a small waiting station, and a siding near the inn.
Trolley stop at the New Meadows Inn platform. The Inn was between the
Merrymeeting stop (3 miles) and the Bath carhouse (2.5 miles).
O. R. Cummings collection at STM
A trolley on the Portland line to Yarmouth, Maine, where riders could then
board a trolley to Brunswick, change to a third trolley, and then be
on the way to Lewiston. PWM postcard
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.
Patricia Pierce Erikson photo
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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