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 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 deed in 1909 has interesting
stipulations.
A number of 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 grantors 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 prior to 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 a number of 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 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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