Deed Research - 1909-1917 - Portland Gray & Lewiston Railroad Company - Cumberland County

One of the maps filed with the Cumberland County Registry

of Deeds on May 7, 1910, by the Portland, Gray & Lewiston

Railroad Company. The maps were part of the formal plan,

filed on May 3, 1910, describing the locations and

descriptions of certain  lands in New Gloucester, Gray,

Cumberland, Falmouth, and Portland. 

     Do you currently live near the former right-of-way of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban? Do you currently own property that had the PLI ROW? Was there a rural waiting station on your property, like the one at Morrison Hill in West Cumberland? Do you have any PLI family stories you'd be willing to share with us?

     The restoration of the only surviving Portland-Lewiston Interurban is progressing at Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport. 1912, Laconia Car Company-built, National Register of Historic Places member, No. 14, Narcissus operated between Union Square in Lewiston and Monument Square in Portland. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus between the two Maine cities on August 18, 1914, and rode a PLI interurban again on August 31, 1916. Maine was very important to Theodore Roosevelt.

     As mentioned in a previous post, research for materials that might be helpful, for creating the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project, is an important task to complete in the next few months. The list of organizations to make inquiries in seeking Portland-Lewiston Interurban-related materials has expanded to more than twenty-five. Many of the organizations have been contacted and in some cases, research has commenced. This post will shed some light on the early findings from the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds in Portland. Both, the Androscoggin County and the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds were on the list, but a recent email from Beverly Cadigan of the New Gloucester Historical Society moved my visit to the two registries up in the list. On Friday. August 10, I spent two and a half hours in the office of the Cumberland County Registry. The registry office staff were very helpful and patient with me, thank you. 

     I have 190 copies of the pages of deeds and mandatory reporting of plans all in sheet protectors and cataloged by the book (volume) and page. I'll be looking them over for details of the transfer of ownership and for calculating costs paid, etc. I'll be stopping in at the Androscoggin County Registry next Wednesday while I'm in the Auburn-Lewiston area for research meetings at Bates College and the Androscoggin Historical Society. So, keep checking in for blog posts with info as more materials are collected.

     This interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project is, in large part, searching for materials that will help present the people-perspective story of how the Portland-Lewiston Interurban as a company, with its operations and its services, impacted people and their communities.

     An example of research materials below is a copy of the deed for Fred S. Martin of New Gloucester that includes the various conditions that the railroad had to meet. It must be a significant amount of land with a purchase price of $1,200 in 1909, plus the railroad's additional expenses to meet the conditions in the contract. 

Not seen in this image, but included at the bottom of

the deed is, that the words "and one half" were written between

the second and third lines from the bottom of the first page

before signing. John A. Morrill. December 9, 1909, and

recorded in the registry on December 20, 1909.

      The waiting station in Gray is referred to in the deed for John D. Anderson of Gray. He was paid $400 in 1909. If the construction didn't take place in two years, the land would revert back to him. 

John D. Anderson of Gray's deed, in 1909, has some

interesting stipulations.

      Several deeds have a stipulation of "constructing for the use by the grantors a cattle pass". These were made of concrete and there are still a couple of these in existence today. The cattle pass mentioned in the deed of Perley J. Leighton (and the other Leighton family members listed in the deed of 1909) is an example. In another deed from the Leighton family, there is a restriction to having the "easterly rail...shall not be nearer the most westerly corner of the grantor's house than fifty (50) feet." That's pretty darn close to the house!

Falmouth's Perley J. Leighton and other family members' deed

from 1909 with stipulations including construction

of a cattle pass.

     Some deeds include provisions that the railroad had to build a crossing that was capable of handling the weight, etc. of vehicles hauling timber and that the harvesting of timber could be done before the construction of the line, on land, transferred to the railroad, or that the grantor had rights to access lands to harvest timber, thus the reason to have the rugged crossing constructed.

The Benjamin C. Jordan (from Alfred) deed of land in 

New Gloucester has several interesting reservations

or provisions. One is if the railroad is discontinued in the

future or its location changes, the property ownership reverts

back to Jordan or his heirs. April 25, 1910.

     Below are maps for four of the communities in Cumberland County with the list of people in Cumberland County impacted as the Portland, Gray & Lewiston Railroad Company (predecessor to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad ) acquired their land to construct the original thirty-mile right-of-way between Auburn and Portland.

Cumberland - Map 1 c. 1915 Scale 1"=100' 

Courtesy Prince Memorial Library via

the Digitalmaine Repository

Cumberland - Map 2 c. 1915 Scale 1"=100' 

Courtesy Prince Memorial Library via

the Digitalmaine Repository

Cumberland                File Date of Deed

Shaw, Nelson M.          - 12-20-1909

Shaw, Charles L.          - 12-20-1909

Wilson, Lorenzo H.      - 12-20-1909

Morrill, George W.       - 12-20-1909

Wilson, Nathaniel L.    - 12-20-1909

Trefethen, Melville W. - 10-14-1910

Legrow, Fannie F.         - 03-30-1911

Ham, George A.           - 03-30-1911

Leighton, Willis H.      - 04-25-1911 (other grantor-Leighton, George R.)

Shaw, Nelson M.         - 04-25-1911

Leighton, Oscar W.     - 04-25-1911

Leighton, Enoch M.    - 05-23-1911 (other grantor-Dearborn,  Albra A)

Wilson, Lorenzo H.    - 11-22-1911

Wilson, Nathaniel L.  -11-22-1911

Ham, George E.         - 05-18-1912 (other grantor-Ham, Edna R.)

Leighton, Willis H.    - 08-08-1912 (other grantor-Leighton, George R.)

Morrison, Rufus B.    - 09-06-1912

Wilson, Scott             - 09-06-1912(all grantors-Wilson, George N., Herman, M, Loemma P., Alvah L.)

Wilson, Lorenzo H.   - 06-07-1913

Morrison, Rufus B.   - 06-13-1913

Wilson, Scott            - 07-19-1913(all grantors Wilson-Wilson, Mildred F.,  H. M., Loemma P., George. N., Ella A. J.)

Ramsey, Sarah J.      - 02-08-1915

Falmouth 1909 - Map 1 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 2 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 3 - CCRD

Falmouth 1909 - Map 4 - CCRD

Falmouth

Merrill, Alfred          - 12-20-1909

Watts, Mary E.         - 12-20-1909

Leighton, Perley J.   - 12-20-1909 (other grantors-Leighton, Susan A, Elmer J., Eugene R.)

Dingley, Henry M.   - 04-02-1910 (other grantor-Gross, Edward W.)

Pratt, Milton B.        - 02-09-1911

Harmon, Isaac          - 03-30-1911

Hicks, Howard         - 03-30-1911

Leighton, Roland     - 03-30-1911

Hampson, John A.   - 04-25-1911

Roberts, Richard      - 04-25-1911(other grantors-Roberts, Orestes E., Wilson, Julia L.)

Stuart, Harriet E.      - 04-25-1911

Woodbury, John F.    - 05-23-1911 (other grantor-Sommers, Susan J.)

Blake, Fred M.          - 05-23-1911

Huston, Julia L.         - 05-23-1911

Noyes, Arthur S.       - 06-17-1911

Field, James A.         - 12-30-1911 (other grantor-Field, James A.)

Leighton, Edith J.     - 06-19-1912

Pancoast, Edith F.     - 08-08-1912 (other grantor-Pancoast, Clara B.)

Marston, Fred           - 10-30-1912

Marston, Elmer        - 12-12-1912

Cole, Charles M.      - 10-27-1913

Gray 1909 - CCRD

Gray

Merrill, John T.               - 12-20-1909

Cole, Hewett D.              - 12-20-1909

Fogg, Frank C.                - 12-20-1909

Bishop, Stanley                - 12-20-1909

Yeaton, Victor H.             -  12-20-1909

Humphrey, S. G.               - 12-20-1909

Osgood, Elmer L.              - 12-20-1909

Crosby, George J.              - 12-20-1909

Caswell, Edgar S.              - 12-20-1909

Hancock, James T.             - 12-20-1909

Anderson, John D.              - 12-20-1909

Webster, Martha(Mary) A.  - 02-15-1910

Cummings, Ruth J.             - 02-15-1910

Colley, Charles W.              - 02-15-1910

Hunt, Julia E.                      - 04-02-1910

Merrill, John T.                   - 04-02-1910

Webster, Frank W.              - 04-02-1910

Hill, Ardelia M.                 - 04-02-1910

Emery, Rebecca F.             - 04-02-1910

Emery, Fred W.                 - 04-02-1910

Cushing, Louis T.             - 04-02-1910

Hancock, Wilbur P.          - 04-02-1910 (other grantor-Harriet F.)

Frank, John W.                 - 04-02-1910

Hill, Luther W.                - 04-02-1910

Skillings, B. F.                - 04-02-1910

Thompson, Mary A.       - 04-02-1910

Verrill, Ernest R.            - 04-02-1910

Clark, Charles F.            - 04-02-1910

Dunn, Walter C.            - 04-02-1910

Chipman, William A.   - 04-25-1910

Libby, Florence Hunt   - 04-25-1910

Hill, Charles F.             - 04-25-1910

Carey, Albert A.           - 04-25-1910

Latham, James W.        - 05-18-1910(all grantors-Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Thompsom, William    - 07-19-1910

Webster, Simon            - 09-22-1910 (other grantor-Dolloff, Sarah A.)

Alden, Alton R.           - 04-25-1911

Latham, James W.       - 04-25-1911(all grantors-Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Osgood, Elmer L.        - 12-13-1911

Latham, James W.       - 06-19-1912(all grantors-Latham, Levi B., Philbrook, Betsey M, McGowan, Sarah M.)

Webster, George L.     - 09-16-1912(all grantors-Hirst, Charles W., Lillian R., James T., Ellen A., Nute, Eva C., Webster, Toy W.)

Latham, Abbie J.        - 01-30-1914 (other grantor-Latham, Abbie)

New Gloucester 1909 - CCRD

New Gloucester

Edwards, Mary A.          - 04-29-1909

Merriam, Harry M.        - 04-29-1909

Edwards, Estella            - 04-29-1909

Tripp, Alfonzo               - 04-29-1909

Whitman, Sophia H. D. - 04-29-1909 (all grantors-Dawes, Walter E., Dawes, James S., 

Witham, John P.             - 04-29-1909

Lane, J. M.,                    - 04-29-1909 (other grantor-Lane, C. H.)

Frost, Warren                 - 04-29-1909

Tarbox, Addie                - 04-29-1909

Proctor, Charles A.         - 04-29-1909

Greeley, Thomas J.         - 04-29-1909

Eveleth, Nathaniel          - 04-29-1909 (all grantors-Eveleth, George L., Eveleth, Frank A., Jordan, Margaret E., Eveleth, George L. P.(heirs))

Adkins, Benjamin S.      - 12-20-1909

Martin, Frederick S.       - 12-20-1909

Bodge, William              - 12-20-1909

Humphrey, John W.       - 12-20-1909

Bonney, Henry S.          - 12-20-1909

Sawyer, Joseph W.        - 02-15-1910

Bailey, Hanson L.         - 02-15-1910 (other grantor-Bailey, Mary E.)

Snow, Lizzie M.           - 02-15-1910

Bennett, Charles P.       - 02-15-1910

Woodbury, Nellie E.    - 02-15-1910

Snow, William H.       - 02-15-1910

Edwards, Estella         - 04-02-1910

Tripp, Alfonzo           - 04-02-1910

Tarbox, Addie           - 04-02-1910(all grantors-Gilbert, John A., Gilbert, Nellie M., Loring, Dora E.)

Lane, John M            - 04-02-1910 (other grantor-Lane, Charles H.)

Proctor, Charles A    - 04-02-1910

Merriam, Harry W.   - 04-02-1910

Jordan, Emeline K.   - 04-25-1910

Witham, John P.        - 04-25-1910

Jordan, Benjamin C. - 04-25-1910

Dawes, Walter, E.     - 07-19-1910(all grantors-Dawes, James S., Whitman, Sophia H. D.)

Chandler, Charles P. - 07-30-1910(all grantors-Chandler, Andrew C., Roland C., Fred H.)

Thompson, Arthur E.- 10-13-1910

Bennett, Charles P.    - 11-09-1910

Tufts, Frank M.         - 03-30-1911

Huston, Elijah           - 11-18-1911

Small, B J R              - 11-18-1911

Sawyer, H. M.           - 11-18-1911

Edwards, Wallace W.- 11-22-1911 (other grantors-Edwards, Mary A., Edwards, Helen B.)

Frost, Warren            - 02-23-1912

Carsley, George F.    - 03-07-1912 (other grantor-Carsley, Harriet B)

Haskell, Maud W.    - 10-30-1912

Greeley, Fred P.       - 06-29-1914(all grantors-Greeley, Millard, G. H., Greeley, Thomas, Bryant, Laona

Portland

Bedlow, Horace D.      - 06-13-1910 (all grantors-Bedlow, Lucy C., Bedlow, Joseph J., Titchener, Sophia K.)

Davis, Charles             - 04-26-1911 (All grantors-Gurney, Andrew H., Cobb, Gardener, Cobb, Hannah M., Cobb, Albert C, Cobb, Frederick H., Cobb, Frank W., Cobb, John C.)

Cobb, John C.(heirs)   - 04-26-1911 (all grantors-Cobb, Frederick H., Dole John(heirs), Kuch, W. F., Dole, William H. H., Knight, John F., Wilson, Wallace, Harris, N. W., The New England Land Company, True, Norman, Central Park Improvement Company, Parmenter, J. G. (heirs), Parmenter, Maria B., Parmenter, Lena C., Bean, Nellie B., Parmenter, Mae D., Parmenter, Clara M., Richardson, A. L., Bailey, W. B., Brown, M. B., Goodridge, Charles L., Hammond, John H.)

Parmenter, Mae D.       - 05-23-1911 (other grantor-Parmenter, Clara M)

Wilson, Wallace H.      - 05-23-1911

Parmenter, Lena C.       - 09-25-1911

Permenter, Nellie D.     - 09-25-1911 (other grantor-Parmenter, Maria B.)

Bryant, Lucy S.             - 09-16-1912 (other grantors-Bryant, Hubbard W.)

Brown, Martha B.         - 12-12-1912

Richardson, Charles E. - 01-30-1913(all grantors-Richardson, Eliza J., Herbert A., Macomber, Mary E., Bryant, Florrie A.)

Bryant, Judson B.         - 01-30-1913

Cobb, Hannah M.         - 03-15-1913

Cobb, Frederick H.       - 01-08-1917(other grantor-Cobb, Margaret, Riverton Company, )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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!

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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