1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban waiting-station from
Morrison Hill in West Cumberland, Maine awaits 1906
Connecticut Company No. 1160 at Seashore Trolley Museum
in Kennebunkport, Maine - May 2018 PWM
Planning for campus improvements at Seashore Trolley Museum turns into the implementation of the plans for campus improvements. This process is not new, it has been ongoing for many years at the Museum. Museum members, individuals, and businesses alike, as well as grantors, continue their generous financial support that allows the Museum to make enhancements to program offerings, infrastructure upgrades, and its expansion, track work, and general campus improvements. Thank You!
One of the campus areas that will be benefitting from general upgrades in the coming months and years, is the Morrison Hill Station area up towards the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop and northwesterly, parallel to the mainline from the treeline (where the Burma Shave signs are currently).
Upgrades started in the Morrison Hill Station area later in the 2017 operating season when the track department began building one-of-two new switches to replace the two existing switches in the shop yard and shop lead. In addition, Morrison Hill Station window sills, door sill, and some window trim were replaced and painted. The interior and exterior received a new coat of paint. The interior also had flooring installed. The first items for the new Narcissus/PLI display were installed. The remainder of the display was installed in May 2018.
As work on Morrison Hill Station carried on in the later summer and early fall of 2017, the idea of upgrading the existing border of the path from Morrison Hill Station to the shop began to evolve into a much larger vision to expand the pathway to include visitor respite space, garden areas, and to position visitor access to the area to include a visually appealing line of sight for photographing historic electric railway vehicles as they passed by on the mainline with stops at Morrison Hill Station. The improvements that are proposed will be phased in over time. With the Museum's 80th anniversary year 2019, and Maine's Bicentennial Celebration year in 2020, this area, with its enhancements, will become a visitor favorite.
Schematic of the aerial view of the area from Morrison
Hill Station parallel along Riverside Carhouse and
towards the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration
Shop. The existing conditions site plan schematic is by Kevin
Downing at KW Architects PC in Wells, ME
Downing at KW Architects PC in Wells, ME
This area is east of the mainline and north of
Morrison Hill Station will be one of the premium vantage points
for seeing and photographing historic electric railway vehicles.
View looking north from Morrison Hill Station. A new path
will allow visitors and photographers to walk to the east
from the existing path to access seating areas with fieldstone
and gardens. The new path will then meander north and west
crossing the existing path near the treeline, continuing
northerly and somewhat parallel to the mainline.
(Scroll down to see the landscape architect's design)
PWM May 2018
This area will become a prominent vantage point for relaxing
and for taking photos of historic electric railway vehicles
traveling along the Museum's Heritage line, such as seen here
as 1906 Connecticut Company No. 1160 passes by.
PWM May 2018
A panoramic view of the area that will be transformed in the
coming months and years into premium trolley viewing
vista and visitor respite.
Cobblestones as the border of the entrance area east of
Morrison Hill Station that approaches the Donald G. Curry
Town House Restoration Shop. Notice in the background
one-of-two new switches that the track department has built
to replace the existing switches in the shop lead/yard.
PWM May 2018
Cobblestones as the border of the entrance east of the
Morrison Hill Station approaches the Donald G. Curry Town
House Restoration Shop. PWM May 2018
Cobblestones as the border around Morrison Hill Station
replaced old railroad ties. PWM May 2018
New benches on the Morrison Hill Station platform feature
memorial plates of individuals who were passionate about
seeing the Narcissus restored, but sadly, will not be with us on
the day we celebrate the completed restoration.
PWM May 2018
Lee Johnson is memorialized in this second memorial plate
in the series dedicated to those who were passionate to see
the Narcissus restored. The first plate featured
Daniel Vallee. PWM May 2018
Saco, ME take a break from removing old railroad ties
and hauling cobblestones to the site.
PWM May 2018
PWM May 2018
Inside Morrison Hill Station, is a display of the
330-F series Western Electric magneto field
phone. The earlier series, 330-E was used
as emergency phones in the PLI vehicles. A
330-E has been acquired and will be installed
in the Narcissus. PWM May 2018
There is no better venue for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for
the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus
celebrating the completion of its restoration, then having the
Narcissus on the tracks, next to the PLI waiting station from
Morrison Hill in West Cumberland before making a mainline
trip while full of guests.
Draft concept design by Kevin Downing at
KW Architects PC in Wells, ME
1906 Connecticut Company No. 1160 pauses at
Morrison Hill Station before continuing its trip to the
visitor center loop. PWM May 2018
the path from Morrison Hill Station looking
north towards the Donald G. Curry
Town House Restoration Shop.
PWM May 2018
The final 30 or 40 cobblestones are in place
along the east side of the path nearest to the
restoration shop. PWM May 2018
A panoramic view from the path after cobblestones
first replaced railroad ties as the border. PWM May 2018
"Waiting For the Narcissus" by Maine artist,
Wade Zahares. Greeting cards are available in the Museum Store.
Wade Zahares painted the original artwork of the greeting
cards in July 2017 when the tiger lilies were in bloom.
PWM photo July 2017
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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