The back cover of the 1969 Annual Report has Cecilia Clapp at
the controls of 1905 Connecticut Company open car No.
838 on the mainline. This is north of where the crossing
is now to Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop.
The building on the right was Syracuse Station, temporarily
(1963-65) marking end-of-the-line. The station
used to wear an old NYC station sign "Syracuse".
The building on the right was Syracuse Station, temporarily
(1963-65) marking end-of-the-line. The station
used to wear an old NYC station sign "Syracuse".
Now that it is officially 2019, let's start the 80th Anniversary Year for Seashore Trolley Museum off with a look back at some of the tidbits of its operations in the 1960s. These blog posts are not meant to be detailed, comprehensive accounting of the historical significance of the organization, just a fun peek back to reminisce.
Click Here for the post - "80th Anniversary Year-A Look Back at the 50s -Seashore Trolley Museum
Click Here for the post - 80th Anniversary Year - A Look Back at the 60s -Seashore Trolley Museum
Click Here for the post - 80th Anniversary Year -A Look Back at the '70s -Seashore Trolley Museum
Click Here for the post - 80th Anniversary Year -A Look Back at the '70s -Seashore Trolley Museum
Click Here for The Birth of Seashore Trolley Museum Blog Post
Click Here for the post - 1901 Tower C Boston Elevated Railway to STM 1975
The 1960s were incredibly active in all facets of the Museum as it expanded its worldwide collection and its infrastructure to store, exhibit, and expand its growing public operation. The donation of the motor generator in 1961 allowed for negotiations to start with Central Maine Power for a proposal to purchase electricity to be used in coordination with the MG set to power the Museum's operation.
The "New" Riverside car barn was featured in 1960
Annual Report. The decision was also made in 1960 for
"Reunification". In order to handle the equipment and public
visitors that will be at the "Shop" location following the
reunification (where the Museum campus started originally
and is currently) from Route 1 "Terminal" operation, there
was a need to extend the track, add car barn facilities,
visitor parking, and have a visitor gift shop and bathroom
facilities at the Shop location. It all was accomplished
in time for the busy summer of 1961.
1960 would be the final year of public operation at the "Terminal."
Here is 1905 Connecticut Co. No. 838 at the gift shop at the
terminal. This photo was part of a family album.
Courtesy Sharon Cummins
This family photo album includes images of their visit to the
"shops" facility at the main campus off Log Cabin Road.
This photo was part of a family album.
Courtesy Sharon Cummins
The "shops" campus had many more trolleys on display for
visitors to see and step into.
This photo was part of a family album.
Courtesy Sharon Cummins
At the terminal, 1903 Dunedin, NZ, No. 105 is out in the sun
on the left. It was stored in the building at the terminal for
several years. 1930 Liverpool double-decker tram from
Liverpool, UK. Courtesy Sharon Cummins
It was very common during the three years of the terminal
operation for a trolley ride, that visitors would visit the "shops"
campus either before or after visiting the terminal. At the
"shops" campus, there were many more cars available to see.
Here is 1930 Cinninatti Car co. No118 next to Shop 1.
Courtesy Sharon Cummins
1911 Nagasaki, Japan No. 134 at the shop lead.
Courtesy Sharon Cummins
Acquiring additions to the collection did ease up a bit in
the 60s compared to the 50s. 1914 Rome No. 279 arrived
in April 1960.
From the November-December 1960 "Dispatch", here is a list of volunteers from Saturday, November 5, 1960. These volunteers assembled for a promotional publicity program sponsored by Savogran Co. of Norwood, MA. They were promoting a new paint remover product, "Special Strypeeze". Local newspapers and radio promoted the event. Car 925, the 1894 parlor car from Boston MTA was the chosen candidate for the task. In less than 2 hours, the whole side of 925 was stripped of approximately 14 coats of paint. Then lunch, catered by "Dot's Lunch" in Kennebunk, was served in car 134, the 1911 closed car from Nagasaki, Japan, while on the new track at the rear of Riverside carbarn. Volunteers: George Sanborn, Frank Cheney, Fred Perry, Russ Munroe, Cecilia Clapp, Paul Castiglione, Mrs. Stephenson, Ted Santarelli, John G. Smith, Clayton Sargent, Mrs. Sargent, Ernest Brigham, Evelyn Perry, Don Curry, Larry Shelvey, Art Duncan, Chalie Duncan, Lois Gardner, Paul Newsome, Mrs. Gene Corringale, Mrs. Marie Cloud Higgins, Clement K. Stodder, Glen Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Kouvlier, with Mr. Higgins of the Savogran Co. instructing.
Here is the official press release photo promoting the
Savogran Co. paint remover being used by STM volunteers
on No. 925 in November 1960. PWM photo
The back of the press release photo has the text of the
press release. PWM photo
Here's the Nagasaki Car 134 on June 25, 1960.
This photo was taken just north of Clough's Crossing
on the mainline.
Adequate shelter for the collection is mentioned on this page of the
Nov-Dec 1960 Dispatch.
This page from the Nov-Dec 1960 Dispatch has this map that shows
the "Shops Track Layout". Remember, the term, "Shops", means
the area of the original campus started in 1939 and is part of the
current Museum campus.
1961 brought the initial construction of what would become,
after some additional construction, the restoration shop. The
track entrance to the existing shop building is still called the
Quonset hut, even though the hut itself collapsed a few years
after this photo was taken.
1961 Seashore Trolley Museum Campus Map
Seashore Trolley Museum, the Museum of Mass Transit,
has its first bus listed in the roster of 1962 Historic Cars of
the Seashore Trolley Museum. 1934 Eastern Mass Street
Railway H-9 bus.
1963 brought the first trackless trolley into the collection of
Seashore Trolley Museum, Museum of Mass Transit, 1948
No. 8361 from Boston, MA.
Jan.-Feb. 1964 Dispatch kicked off the 25th Anniversary Year with a cover
that had a reprinted copy of the notice of June 18, 1939, "Swan Song"
of the B & S - Farewell to the Biddeford & Saco. The trip that started it all.
The Jan.-Feb. 1964 Dispatch continues the 25th Anniversary Year
with John E. Amlaw and Charles A. Duncan, writing nearly three
pages of their recollections of how the young men went about getting
the collection started in 1939/40. Page of 3
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
The "Highway Monster" continued to be busy
as volunteers traveled around the country
bringing vehicles to the Museum campus. Here
the cover of the 1965 Annual Report with
1921 Hamburg, Germany No. 2710 on the
HM as it tours through Boston in front
of the Trinity Church prior to heading to Seashore.
1965 Annual Report has South
Boston track work, mainline view of
CMP poles are being relocated, which
allowed for track extension, the
last roof truss placed in the new
Highwood carbarn, and 1930
Quebec interurban exits the Quonset
hut after receiving a new coat of
paint.
Maine Governor John H. Reed became
a new public trustee in 1965. This year he
and his staff negotiated a pair of Baldwin
trucks with motors from Oshawa, Ontario,
as a gift from the Canadian National
Railways. The trucks were acquired for
use in the restoration of the as-yet-to-be-
acquired, 1912, No. 14, Portland-
Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus.
1966 was the first year that the Seashore Trolley Museum hosted the Annual Convention for the Association of Railway Museums. The convention took place on October 22 & 23, 1966. The Museum had more than 75 vehicles in its collection in 1966. A then, recorded daily attendance of 783 riders on August 10, 1966.
1966 brought a couple of North Shore cars to Seashore. Here is
1930 No 755. 1928 No 420 arrives - see below.
1928 North Shore car No. 420 is loaded at the Kennebunk
train station prior to traveling to Seashore.
Russ Munroe took this fine photo of 755 and 420, trained,
at the end of the mainline with 1905 Connecticut open car
No. 838 in the background. This was part of a photo page
insert in the Jul.-Aug. 1966 Dispatch.
Jul.-Aug. 1966 issue of Dispatch had the Narcissus as the
header on the cover page. It would be three more years before
the Narcissus arrived on campus.
Mainline track extension work was a must. A photo from
the 1966 Annual Report.
Track crew. A very resourceful, hardworking group of
individuals. That can be said of the track crews throughout
STM's history, including today!
1967 Seashore Trolley Museum campus map. Proposed
carbarns are seen on the Butler Grove land
From the 1968 Annual Report
1968 Annual Report update on the "City"
restoration work.
Maine Governor Kenneth M. Curtis
became a public trustee in 1968.
One of the most significant announcements in 1969 was that the Museum's Chairman of the Board, John G. Smith made a donation of enough land to the East of the original triangle to permit upgrading of the "front door approach". This would lead to the creation of what is now the public entrance and road to the Museum parking lot and visitor center. Construction and track extension work also started on Butler Grove building #2, i.e, Central carbarn. The Museum campus would be undergoing more major landscape changes in 1969 and well into and through the 1970s. Last, but not least, on October 31, 1969, the Narcissus arrived on campus. Fifty years ago!
From the 1969 Annual Report
A portion of the text in the 1969 Annual Report describing
the long-awaited arrival of the Narcissus.
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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