The "Electric Road" lived up to the expectations set in 1910 :)
October 26, 1910, page 10, Lewiston Evening Journal article
on the construction of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston
Railroad. Shortly after the opening of the high-speed
electric railroad in July 1914, the name was changed to
the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad. The caption
beneath the photo reads Hon. W. Scott Libbey, his son,
Harold, and Samuel Ferguson, grading on Gray Meadow.
(This page 10, with the date of Wednesday, October 26, 1910,
is actually located between pages 9 and 11 of the Thursday,
October 27, 1910, online edition of Lewiston Evening Journal).
Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony is one of W. Scott
Libbey's daughters. She and her sister, Alla, made
the suggestion to their father to consider naming
the majestic, luxury interurbans after his favorite
flowers. Gertrude contributed this newspaper
clipping to be used in the incredible PLI Employees
Scrapbook. The Scrapbook includes contents from
the four reunions held in Gray, Maine at the
New Begin Hall in 1938, '39, 40, and '41.
The newspaper clipping is seen above on the left page.
The written notes about the clipping (Lewiston Journal,
October 27, 1910), and the description of the article
mentioned was enough information to lead to finding the
article online. Scroll down this page to find the article.
The PLI Employees Reunion Scrapbook was made by
Charles Heseltine. He worked with the PLI Reunion
Committee and was thanked accordingly. Heseltine gave the
Scrapbook to his friend and electric railway history colleague,
O. R. Cummings. O. R. Cummings, is the well-known and
prolific publisher of dozens of books on the histories of
various electric railway companies. O. R. passed the
Scrapbook on to Seashore Trolley Museum's Library.
The Scrapbook, with its cover, closed, measures 30" by 24."
The contents of the 88-page Scrapbook have more than 200
photographs, dozens of newspaper clippings, poems, PLI
schedules, employee correspondence, and on and on.
The page on the left in the above photo has the list of all
employees, phone numbers, and place of residence.
Many newspaper clippings are about accidents or PLI
employees, their family members; during and after their
employment.
Memorial pages pay tribute to PLI employees.
Former employees' "life after the PLI" correspondence.
Over the years, I had heard of this scrapbook, but it wasn't until April 8, 2014, that I had the opportunity to see it and spend a few minutes looking through it. I was at York County Community College in Wells, Maine. For several years during that timeframe, the Library Committee of Seashore Trolley Museum would have their meetings in the school library. Amber Tatnall was the school librarian and served on the Museum's Library Committee. O. R. Cummings had entrusted the scrapbook to the Library Committee and Amber Tatnall.
On that day in April 2014, I used my phone to capture a video of the experience that Amber and I had while opening and turning pages of this incredible book. After seeing first-hand the contents and the condition of the contents held in the scrapbook, I knew that I needed to work toward having the scrapbook and its contents professionally conserved and digitized.
Below is the video taken on April 8, 2014. If needed, you may Click Here to access the YouTube video
As you looked at the above photos of the PLI Employees' Reunion Scrapbook, you may have noticed that the photos of the open scrapbook were each labeled at the bottom with the word; BEFORE
That is because, last Friday, November 11, 2022, I was able to pick up the newly conserved Scrapbook and the memory stick full of its professionally digitized contents!
Great Thanks to the staff at Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) in Andover, MA for the amazing work they did in cleaning, repairing, and photographing the contents during the conservation process.
The above photos were included in the memory stick that shows several "Before" and "After" images of the full pages.
Shortly, I will be putting together and releasing a blog post that will describe the work and steps in the conservation and digitizing process. Today's post is just a "grain of sand on the beach" as to how the contents in the scrapbook will be useful in the future for us to learn more about the history and the people involved in the building and operation of the "Finest and Fastest Electric Railroad in All-New England."
Back to this clipping - This info led to me being
able to find the nearly full-page story of the
early stages of the construction of the
electric railroad. Having dates and names
of the newspapers makes it so much easier to
locate stories.
This article is available online. That is not always the case.
See the link below to locate the article online. Scroll down
this page to see/read screenshots of the article.
This is a screenshot of the full page. The article includes photos and a map of the
initial right-of-way where the electric railroad would operate. In 2017,
Paul Libbey, a grandson of W. Scott Libbey, donated the original surveyor's map
of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad
right-of-way to the Seashore Trolley Museum. We raised the $11K needed to
clean, repair, digitize, conserve, and have a 28.5-foot-long copy of the map
completed. Click Here to open that blog post.
Beginning of the article.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
There are four images within this collage above.
The caption at the top of the image at the upper center reads-
"Making Deep Cut At North Gray"
The caption for the image on the left reads-
"Deep Cut And Location of Pass Under Grand Trunk Near Danville Junction"
The caption for the image on the right reads-
"The Big Cut Near New Gloucester Lower Cor."
The caption for the image at the bottom in the center reads-
"Stretch of Grading Near North Gray"
Click Here to see the post that compares the existing remnants of the PLI right-of-way with the original 1910 surveyors' map of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad.
The caption for this map (rotated so that Auburn is in the north and Portland is in the south) reads-
"Map Showing Route Of Lewiston, Gray, And Portland Electric Railroad
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 110+-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.
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Restoration work continues on the Narcissus at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The only surviving interurban of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad. 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
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
Androscoggin Historical Society, Lewiston
Eliot Historical Society, Eliot
Gray Historical Society, Gray
Kennebec Historical Society, Augusta
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Welshpool, NB, Canada
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Winthrop Maine Historical Society, Winthrop
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 run 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 every month. 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.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
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