In the Springfield, MA area, this 40-foot x 11.5" x 13.5"
timber is about to begin its transformation as two, 37-foot x
5" x 8" timbers are extrapolated during the
cutting/sawing/milling process. The two 37-footers will make
their way to Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry
Town House Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport, Maine.
There they will undergo preparations before being
installed as side sills in the National Register of Historic
coach from the famed Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
The project manager jumped out of his shoes when he
received a note that his Christmas present would be
delivered!
The project manager's Christmas present will be arriving a couple days after Santa has wrapped up from the very busy 24 hours of work today. The delivery arrangements had to be subcontracted due to the package dimensions being well over the maximum limits that Santa's sleigh capacity restrictions allow; in addition to the package exceeding the maximum limits of weight reindeer power. The speed requirements dictate the required schedule during the 24-hour Christmas present delivery cycle.
Vintage, 37-foot, southern yellow pine side sills for the Narcissus, have been on the project manager's Christmas list every year for four years. Being nice (and having lots and lots of friends who want to help) does pay off!
Here's a Christmas story for today. Later in September, a long-time Seashore Trolley Museum member, Ralph Littlefield, contacted me. Ralph has had an interest in the restoration of the Narcissus for decades now and he had a potential lead for us to access vintage timbers that may be applicable for use in the Narcissus. The name of the lead was Steve King, of SelectWood in Portsmouth, NH. I passed the contact info on to the Museum shop's manager of the restoration of the Narcissus, Ernie Eaton. Ernie, in turn, contacted Steve and over a few weeks, arranged for an onsite visit to view potential vintage timbers located in Springfield, MA at Armster Reclaimed Lumber.
Possible candidates for Narcissus side sills.
Springfield, MA at Armster
Reclaimed Lumber.
One other vendor was present during the site visit, Bruce Smith, from Rex Lumber in South Windsor, CT. Ernie learned that the vintage timbers came from a razed mill building in Thompson, CT. The building was built during the 1870s. After inspections and discussions, Ernie earmarked an 11.5" x 13.5", southern yellow pine, 40-footer. Over the coming days/weeks, details of specifications, milling options, shipping, etc., were worked out. The two 5" x 8", 37-foot-long-sills required for the Narcissus would be extrapolated from this one single massive 40-foot timber. Following is a series of images provided to us by the vendors of the timber. We are very grateful to everyone for making this wish come true and for providing photo documentation for the Narcissus files of the process. Thank you!
Look at the growth rings on this majestic
timber. Wowzer!
And the work begins
At SelectWood in Portsmouth, NH
These will be delivered to Kennebunkport on Friday!!
Click Here for the post of the sills arriving at Seashore Trolley Museum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.