The first page of the Portland-Lewiston
from the O. R. Cummings Collection at
the NEERHS Library. PWM
Plans for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed restoration of Seashore Trolley Museum's 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No, 14, Narcissus are being developed. With that timeline comes additional benchmarks for the research, development, creation, and implementation of a comprehensive plan to tell the story of the Narcissus. This interpretation plan may include educational programming, exhibit and display offerings, as well as outreach programs in a variety of formats, including on-site, off-site, social media, and online curriculum.
One of the first steps in this process is to identify resources that may be available for use in telling this amazing story with so many enduring storylines. The National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus, is, by itself, majestic - a gem of exquisite beauty, and worthy of its own high-end, hardcover coffee-table book with images taken by professional photographers. However, the depth and breadth of this beauty's allure are even more fascinating as one looks into its genealogy.
The first step towards identifying resources that may be helpful for interpretive offerings is to make a list of known holders of artifacts, ephemera, etc. related to, or connected with, the Narcissus, the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Laconia Car Company, W. S. Libbey, Theodore Roosevelt and his connections in Maine, J. Henri Vallee, etc., and of course, Seashore Trolley Museum. Once that list is made, research is done within the collections of those various organizations, and a digital inventory is created, which leads to the creation of a digital bibliography of all items held in those various collections that have some connections to the Narcissus Project. As an example, the Maine Historical Society has within its vast repository, the Central Maine Power Collection/Archives. The digital bibliography for that collection alone is 300 pages. The number of files on electric railways in Maine, including the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, within the CMP Collection, is incredible, and very exciting to think about possibly uncovering some of the materials for use in the Narcissus interpretation programming. This research and creation of a digital bibliography will be done by a person being paid a stipend. While a qualified person is being sought to conduct the research and create the digital bibliography this summer, we can look at the Museum's Library resources to identify PLI-related items that may be used and included in the digital bibliography.
Seashore Trolley Museum is owned and operated by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society (NEERHS) in Kennebunkport, Maine. The NEERHS was chartered as a 501c3 non-profit organization in Maine in 1941, though the organization has its origin back on July 5, 1939, when a small group of young men made a deposit of $108 to the Biddeford & Saco Railroad to purchase the 1900 open trolley car, No. 31. Over these past seventy-nine years, the organization's Library has amassed an incredible collection of ephemera, photographs, maps, blueprints, car cards, film, slides, and a variety of electric railway corporate records. In addition, many electric railway enthusiasts have donated their extensive personal collections to the NEERHS Library. Within the extensive archival collection of the NEERHS Library is electric railway author, O. R. Cummings' collection.
O. R. Cummings was a passenger in one of the interurbans of the PLI only once - in 1932 when he accompanied his mother to her 20-year reunion at Bates College. They traveled from Newburyport, MA to Portland, ME by train and continued on to Lewiston over the PLI. He so very much wanted to see the day the Narcissus was fully restored to operating condition. He even signed over his royalties to the Narcissus restoration fund from his 1967 book, "Maine's Fast Electric Railroad: Portland-Lewiston Interurban". O. R. was given the PLI Employee Scrapbook by its maker and fellow electric railway historian, Charles Heseltine. O. R., in turn, gifted the scrapbook to the NEERHS Library in 2013.
The PLI Employee Scrapbook has 112 pages (78 have attachments) of incredible memories from the construction & operating years (1910-1933) of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and of the four reunions (1938-1941) of former PLI employees. In looking through the scrapbook my first time (see the short video below), one of my first reactions was to say that these photos and other attachments in the scrapbook need to be professionally conserved and, if possible, digitize the contents so that they would be available for use in creating exhibits, displays, and educational offerings.
Knowing we had this one-of-a-kind precious PLI employee scrapbook as a potential resource for creating interpretation materials - if quality digital images of the items held in the scrapbook were made available. The next step became clear. To find where the scrapbook contents could be professionally conserved and while doing so, have the contents professionally digitized.
I reached out to Dugan Murphy, Executive Director at Maine Archives & Museums. Dugan was very helpful and shared contacts of individuals and organizations that might be good candidates to consider for the conservation. NEDCC stood out and as it turned out the Museum Library team was familiar with the organization in Andover, MA. I contacted Michael Lee, Director of the Paper and Photography Conservation at NEDCC with information on the scrapbook and included the link to the short video clip of Amber Tatnall and me first turning pages of the scrapbook. Michael forwarded my request to NEDCC's Director of Book Conservation, Mary Patrick (MP) Bogan. MP replied to my request and was very enthusiastic about the project and found watching the video to be very helpful in assessing early needs. We made the appointment to bring the scrapbook to NEDCC to receive an estimate to conserve the scrapbook and its contents, as well as an estimate for digitizing its contents. We included bringing the original PLI elevation map as well to also receive estimates for conservation and digitizing the fragile and irreplaceable PLI artifact (more on the map below).
1941 group photo of the final reunion of the employees of
the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. There were four reunions,
1938, 39, 40, & 41, all were in Gray.
From the PLI Employees Scrapbook.
A short video showing us flipping through
pages of the PLI employee scrapbook for the
first time in April 2014.
On Monday, May 7, Amber Tatnall, Randy Leclair, and I traveled together to Andover, MA. Randy is the restoration shop foreman who also serves on the Library Committee. Amber Tatnall is the Librarian at the York County Community College in Wells, Maine. Amber is a Museum member and formerly served on the Library Committee. At the NEDCC reception area, we were met by Jonathan Goodrich, Registrar, who in turn introduced us to MP Bogan, Michael Lee, and later, Terrance D'Ambrosio, Director of Imaging Services, who would join us. In an examination room, the scrapbook was carefully opened and several pages were turned and contents examined. Questions were asked and answered. The elevation map was taken to a separate examination room, in case there was mold contaminates that might become airborne when the map was examined. The scrapbook and the map were handled and examined as the precious, fragile, significant artifacts that they are.
Written reports on the current condition and the options for conservation and digitizing forwarded to us in a few weeks. On May 24, 2018, we were in receipt of said reports for both items.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
(NEDCC) PLI Scrapbook Current
Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan Pg. 1
Northeast Document Conservation Center
(NEDCC) PLI Scrapbook Current
Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan Pg. 2
Northeast Document Conservation Center
(NEDCC) PLI Scrapbook Current
Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan - Pg. 4
(Photography & Digitizing Options)
Northeast Document Conservation Center
(NEDCC) PLI Scrapbook Current
Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan - Pg. 5
(Photography & Digitizing Options)
A little background on the PLI Elevation/grade map before seeing the NEDCC report. In November 2017, I had an exciting opportunity to travel to Lewiston (ME) to visit Paul Libbey. Paul is a grandson of W. S. Libbey, the builder of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. Paul is a young nonagenarian and still goes to work at a mill that his grandfather first acquired in 1888. The name of the mill has changed, but it is still in the family. Harold Libbey, Paul's uncle, created the PLI elevation/grade map. Sadly, Harold contracted the flu during the pandemic and passed away in 1919.
Harold's gang refers to Mrs. Helen C. Libbey's husband,
Harold S. Libbey, son of W. S. Libbey. Mrs. Libbey is
seen here in the upper right with their daughter, Eleanor. The Libbey
family would camp out along the route during its construction.
Harold, who graduated from MIT, would write letters
to his father with updates on the progress. Harold
also created maps with precise measurements of
elevations and grades of the line. Image from the
Portland-Lewiston Interurban Employees Scrapbook which
is among the collection of the NEERHS Library.
The street view via Google Earth of the Scotia Company on Lincoln Street
in Lewiston (ME). This is where I met Paul Libbey and his son Mark.
Paul's grandfather, W. S. Libbey, bought this building in 1888, along with
the Cumberland Woolen Mill.
Paul Libbey was a most gracious host. He gave me a tour
of the mill operation and spent the time talking with me
about the mill business, and his grandfather's keen business
sense of timing. I so very much enjoyed my visit.
Paul was very kind and made a gift to the Museum of the
original PLI map showing the various elevations and
grade of the line that his uncle Harold had created
during the construction of the line 1910-1914.
PWM photo
Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) PLI Elevation Map
Current Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan - Pg. 1
Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) PLI Elevation Map
Current Condition Report and Recommended
Conservation Treatment Plan - Pg. 2
(Photography & Digitizing Options)
These estimates for conserving and digitizing the scrapbook and the map will be extremely useful as we seek funding through donors and applications to grantors. We are so very fortunate to have these items. The right thing to do is professionally conserve them. Having quality digital images from the items to work with in developing the interpretation programs for the Narcissus Project is very exciting. Additional materials that may be useful in developing the interpretation programs will be forthcoming from the identification of those materials as the digital bibliography is made available.
Click Here Update: June 2019 Original 28-foot-long Surveyor's Map Conserved!! Thank You:)
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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
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