park on a spur in Hampden of the Bangor, Hampden &
Winterport Railway. The park opened on Jul 15, 1898, and
closed down after the 1916 season.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Here is the newest release in the Maine Bicentennial series of electric railways in Maine. This blog post features the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway summary/images from the book, "Bangor Street Railway" by Charles D. Heseltine, published as Transportation Bulletin No. 81 January -December 1974 through Connecticut Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society copyright 1976 Roger Borrup and Charles D. Heseltine. Some text/images may be from the NEERHS 2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946. Additional images will be credited.
- 3.15.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - York Utilities Company 1923-1949
- 3.14.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Atlantic Shore Railway 1911-1923
- 3.11.2020-Maine Bicentennial Series - Portsmouth, Dover & York St Rwy 1903-1906
- 3.9.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Auburn, Mechanic Falls & NorwayStRwy1902-3
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Portland & Brunswick Electric Railway 1902-1911
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway Co. 1919-1941
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville St Rwy 1907-1919
- 3.6.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath St Rwy 1898-1907
- 3.4.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Hydro-Electric Company 1925-1945
- 3.4.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Penobscot Central Railway 1898-1906
- 3.3.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor. Hampden & Winterport Rwy 1896-1905
- 3.2.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway 1895-1905
- 3.2.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Railway & Electric Company 1905-1925
- 3.1.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Street Railway 1889-1905
- 2.23.2020 -Maine Bicentennial Series - Portsmouth, Kittery & York St. Rwy 1897-1903
- 2.22.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway 1899-1904
- 2.21.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Mousam River Railroad 1892-1899
- 1.31.2019 - Maine Bicentennial Series - The Norway and Paris Street Railway 1894-1918
- 1.27.2019 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Aroostook Valley Railroad 1909-1946
- 10.17.2018 - Maine Bicentennial - Portland Railroad History 1860-1941
Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway
Like so many of these early railways in the later part of the 19th century, the names initially included in the charter, sometimes go through an adjustment or two, before settling in on what the actual name of the railway is when trolleys start operating on the line. Even then, some of these lines change their names in short order after the operation of the line begins. This is such the case for what would become the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway, which actually never went to Winterport :)
The Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway (BH&W) had its inception on March 29, 1893, when the Hampden & Winterport Electric Railway & Light Company was chartered to build electric railways and lighting plants in the towns of Hampden, Winterport, Frankfort, and Prospect.
The electric railway was to connect with the Bangor Street Railway near the "Tin Bridge" of the Maine Central Railroad. Authorization was approved for capitalization on $500,000. Two years later, the incorporators secured a renewal of the charter and were authorized to operate both passenger and freight cars over the tracks of the Bangor Street Railway (BSR) into downtown Bangor. The BSR was granted equal rights over the proposed Hampden line.
Bangor and Hampden map.
Map by Charles D. Heseltine in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
Construction began during the fall of 1896. The initial incorporators of the company disposed of their interests in the company to a syndicate headed by the same group that controlled the Bangor Street Railway which meant the new line was closely allied with the BSR.
A certificate to operate was issued on December 11, 1896, for the first 1.1 miles from near the Tin Bridge to Stearns Mill in Hampden. The early trolleys were leased from BSR, who also supplied the crews to operate the cars. Charles Johnson was the first motorman and Charles Smith was the conductor. Both men were on hand for the final run when the Hampden line was closed in 1940.
Car No. 44 at Hampden Corner
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The Hampden cars used the BSR tracks from downtown Bangor to Market Square. The company never had its own carbarn. The name of the Hampden & Winterport Electric Railway & Light Company was changed to the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Street Railway (BH&W) on February 2, 1897.
No. 20 on Maine Street, Bangor, going to Hampden on the
new Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway before
the arrival of the line's own cars.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
On March 27, 1897, the company was authorized to build electric lines through Newburgh and Dixmont in Penobscot County and in Monroe in Waldo County, and also to run over rails of the BSR and onto the towns of Herman, Levant, Stetson, and Exeter. None of these proposed extensions was ever built, nor did the rails ever reach Winterport.
Another 3.4 miles of track was built from Stearns Mill to Hamden Lower Corner and it was opened on November 6, 1897. No further construction was carried out by this company, although in later years the line was extended to Hamden Highlands and to Upper Corner. Power for the line was supplied by the Veazie hydro-station.
Postcard Car No. 55 in Hampden
Postcard from O. R. Cummings Collection in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
One authority on New England covered bridges believed the covered bridge over the Sourdabscook Stream was the only covered bridge built exclusively for streetcar use.
The covered bridge crossing the Sourdabscook Stream in
Hampden.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
As of June 30, 1898, the line owned 4.52 miles of mainline track, plus additional sidings and turnouts, and trackage rights in downtown Bangor. Included in the siding was a .23-mile spur into Riverside Park, a company-owned pleasure resort. The fare for passengers was 5 cents and there were two fare zones. Frost's turnout was at the end of the first zone.
The Riverside Park, built by the BH&W, opened on June 15, 1898, and soon became one of the most popular attractions in the Bangor area. An open-air theater was built into the banks of the river which formed a natural amphitheater, admirably suited for the purpose. Weekly changes in programs drew large crowds.
Riverside Park midway, Hampden, opened June 15, 1898.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Boats were rented along the riverfront and a midway with attractions to appeal to all ages. Management prided itself on making every effort to keep the resort at a high standard.
Riverside Park midway, Hampden.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The park proved to be a traffic stimulator, and surprisingly, it was the only trolley resort in the Bangor area. And by design, it was located slightly beyond the initial 5-cent fare limit, which doubles the company's receipts.
One account tells of the attendant at the powerhouse having to hold the circuit breakers in by hand for an hour at the end of the day when so much current was being drawn by the many cars on the line.
The cost to build the entire line, including Riverside Park, had been a modest $114,604.
The company began using its own cars following the completion of the line through Hampden Lower Corner, though, in the summer months, cars from BSR were borrowed for the increase in riders for Riverside Park.
An early type of patented transfer ticket with an error as
delivered from the printer (the first plus sign should have
been a minus sign). The conductor was supposed to punch
the age, type of beard, and gender of the transfer recipient
as well as the date, time, and line requested. This
was to avoid fraudulent use of the transfers. This
type of transfer readily fell into disfavor with both
the conductors and the public.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Snow seems to have been the bane of the Hampden line. During 1899, the line was tied up for several weeks and crews had to use picks and shovels to make way for the plow, even resorting to ice chisels to break out the rails.
Snowdrifts were a common occurrence along the Hampden
line. Here is a car that had to be dug out by hand in 1899.
Car No. 1 of the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway, at the time of consolidation with Bangor Railway & Electric Company on June 30, 1905, had 4.52 miles of mainline track. The high watermark for passengers carried and passenger revenues were 1903, with 512,144 passengers carried and revenues being $26,345.
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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