One never knows what curious things may turn
up when working on a restoration project like
the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14,
Narcissus :) Photo by Ernie Eaton
The above image of two, circa 1952, "Friend or Foe" Trading Cards that were found being used as "shims" on woodwork removed from the Narcissus.
Here Heidi and Seth are working to remove
the long horizontal window sill from the left
side of the Narcissus. Upon inspecting the right
side window sill, Seth noticed there were
several "shims" in places where repairs had
been made to the sill many years ago.
Photo by Ernie Eaton
Ernie did some online research and found that in the early 1950s, Topps had trading cards series called "Friend or Foe". A card would have clues, a silhouette, and a list of specs. The next card in the series would have the correct answer. There were 200 aviation vehicles in the series. Here are images of what the cards originally looked like that were found in the Narcissus as shims
Portions of box tops from the 1940s biscuit
company, Loose-Wiles, maker of the well-known
baker of the Sunshine Biscuits. Ernie Eaton Photo
"Shims" PWM
"Shims" were found where repairs had been made
in the mid-forties/early fifties. PWM
The above image: ash board was part of a major order of green ash purchased for the Narcissus and delivered on December 9, 2015. The ash has been stored while it dried and is recently being used for use making various repairs or for making replacement components, like the vertical wall studs. PWM image
The dried ask is being cut
to replace the vertical
studs in the exterior of the
passenger compartment.
There are singles and
doubles.
Heidi is making cuts to
the interior of one of the pieces
needed to make a double.
The interior cuts that Heidi
made were for placing
other wood components
that makes up a double.
Heidi placed a premade
piece to check the cuts she
has made.
The making of a double,
The holes are there for a metal rod to pass through. One
threaded end of the rod attaches to the roof clerestory
roof edge and the opposite threaded end attaches to the
side sill. PWM
Here is an original double
in need of replacement. You
see the steel rod.
A couple of the new singles
on the left side have been
installed.
And three singles on
the right side has been installed.
Two covers on one of the motors that are in one truck
that is being considered for use in some way as we
work up a plan to build two trucks for the Narcissus
has specs and descriptions in Japanese. We were able to
send the photo to a Thornton Academy student in Saco,
Maine, who is from Japan. She did the translation.
Volunteers and shop staff were able to locate two Westinghouse HL-15B controllers that were acquired for the Narcissus way back in the late 1960s. They will be refurbished.
There are many brass components to be cast
for the Narcissus. Here is a pair of brass ends for one handrail.
The wooden rail has brass ends that attach to the body
on either side of a doorway.
A brass bell was acquired for use on the interior of the car
A rope is attached and is pulled by the conductor to notify
the motorman.
Seth is cleaning and fine-sanding mahogany trim pieces.
Seth is working on the newly made mahogany
sash for the large leaded stained glass
"eyebrows." One large eyebrow sits over a
pair of passenger windows. These sashes
were made by Lary Shaffer. The process
was tedious and time-consuming.
Spirit Varnish - Clear
the interior mahogany finish continues.
Spirit Varnish - Red
The exterior finish on all the mahogany
trim looked "red" to folks admiring the
majestic coach as it passed. Trim
includes sash of all the forty ornated
leaded stained glass, and sash of
all other windows, as well as all
doors.
Red indeed
Theodore Roosevelt received an 8.5-pound trout while on Narcissus in Lewiston on August 18, 1914. On Thursday, February 21, 2019, I was researching other aspects of the electric railway influence in local towns and in doing so, focused more on the local reporting on the impact of the electric railways. And happened upon this gem of a story in the August 19, 1914, issue of the Lewiston Evening Journal, page 5, under the "Of Local Interest" column...see above :)
Researching is like prospecting for gold....every once and a while, you uncover a valuable nugget! ⛏⛏💰
It reads: " No one could appreciate such a gift as was presented by Frank N. Curtiss of New York City to Col. Theodore Roosevelt. It was an 8 1/2 pound Lake Auburn trout, which Curtiss caught early, Tuesday morning. Curtiss made the presentation after the Colonel and party had boarded the Narcissus and they were waiting near the car barn to start. "What do you think of that?" exclaimed Roosevelt. "Isn't that bully?" Doubtless, the former President had the trout served for his breakfast on Wednesday, for this was the expressed intention when it was turned over to the private secretary.
How wonderful is this story?
The Narcissus and its TR connections continue to provide amazing stories 
.
I wonder where the 8.5-pound trout was being kept on the
Narcissus when the picture was taken in Gray, not long after
leaving Lewiston on August 18,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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