A single page, within the 88-pages of
the incredible Portland-Lewiston Interurban
(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 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.
As you looked at the above photo of the PLI Employees' Reunion Scrapbook, you may have noticed that the photo of the open scrapbook was each labeled at the bottom with the word; BEFORE
That is because, on November 11, 2022, I was able to pick up the newly conserved Scrapbook and the memory stick full of its professionally digitized contents!
This is one of several posts that will include materials and related stories connected to the contents of the PLI employees' reunion scrapbook. This post includes materials related to the preparation and opening of the electric railroad from 1911 to 1914.
Below is the video taken on April 8, 2014. If needed, you may Click Here to access the YouTube video
in a video, I took using my phone.
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.
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 will be one of several that will highlight how items such as the PLI Reunion Scrapbook, family diaries/journals, and newspaper clippings that are held by family members, historical societies, and museums, can be utilized to bring local history to life through the personal descriptions and recollections of activities/events that were noted in the various ephemera. The contents of those various items that relate to the PLI will be useful 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."
A newspaper clipping taped into the
PLI Reunion Scrapbook (seen on the page
in the first photo above) The hand-written
description next to the clipping reads;
Lewiston Journal, July 2, 1909.
The above clipping is actually on the front page of the
Lewiston Saturday Journal edition dated July 3, 1909.
This newspaper is available online through Google News Search.
Click Here - July 3, 1909, Lewiston Saturday Journal - Through Google News Search - The online edition of the article on the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad Company meeting is on the front page. The link takes you to the July 2nd edition of the Lewiston Evening Journal...which also includes the July 3rd edition of the Lewiston Saturday Journal. You will need to scroll through all the pages of the 2nd and onto the front page of the 3rd.
Screenshot of the online article in the
July 3, 1909 issue of the Lewiston Saturday Journal.
Click Here to view the post on deed research of the properties acquired for building the 30-mile private right-of-way for the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad.
Click Here to view the post on the conservation of the original 1910 surveyors' map (28.5 feet long) of the 30-mile-long right-of-way between Auburn and Portland.
Click Here to view the post on the recent comparison of where the original 30-mile right-of-way was with what remnants of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban exist today.
Diary entries
The PLI Scrapbook has hundreds of items attached to its 88 pages; newspaper clippings, poetry, schedules, memorial materials, cards, photos, etc. Many names of former PLI employees, their addresses, and phone numbers, along with names of local community residents are included. As information from the scrapbook is used to further research the PLI activities in the various communities the high-speed electric railroad operated, local historical societies and community members have become interested in locating PLI-related materials they may have within their collections.
Personal diaries and journals were created by many local community residents during the years the PLI was being constructed or while it operated in those communities. As these local accountings are uncovered, they add interesting personal stories to the history of the PLI.
Nancy Wilson Latham and Kathy Allen MacDonald grew up in West Cumberland and have deep family roots in the community. They worked together in reading through family diaries and found some very interesting entries involving connections to the electric railway.
The 1912 Diary of Henry Wilson (Henry Wilson had the farm on Mill Road in West Cumberland that Nancy Wilson Latham lived in as she was growing up during her youth. Henry's 1912 diary has several entries concerning activities relating to the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (shortly after the public operations began, the name was changed to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban).
* July 23, 1912 - Today the poles were set in place through the fields of Wilson Farm for the electric road.
* September 5, 1912 - Sam Fergerson came here and hired the shop (this was a small building on the Wilson Farm). The shop was cleared out over the next few days and the railroad men put their tables into the shop and put their cookhouse into the dooryard. Then the stable was made ready and the stable cellar for the railroad horses.
* September 10, 1912 - Charles Cummings and another fellow came here this afternoon and slept in my room.
* September 12, 1912 - Laying of track through the Wilson Farm fields commenced.
* September 18, 1912 - Took them to the junction. The electric locomotive came up through our field and stayed overnight.
They worked on the line until October 17 (1912) and the railroad men went away with all the horses.
Photos of construction and other early days of
the electric road on one of the 88 pages in the reunion
scrapbook of the former employees of the
Portland-Lewiston Interurban (1938. '39, '40, & '41).
A photo from the above page in the scrapbook with Harry
Ferguson c 1913. Harry Ferguson photo
The "messengers" trolley wire mentioned in the image above
is for the phone system that the electric road uses. We have
one of the "cell" phones that are identical to the ones used in
the PLI vehicles. Harry Ferguson photo
Spiking the rail to the ties as mentioned in Henry Wilson's
diary entries above. Harry Ferguson photo
The electric locomotive that was mentioned in Henry Wilson's
diary entries is shown above. Harry Ferguson photo
Harry Ferguson is seated 4th in the front row on the left.
This is a group photo from the 1941 reunion. This was the
last reunion of the former PLI employees.
1913 Diary of Henry Wilson -
* April 22 & 23, 1913 - W. Scott Libbey stayed and got dinner.
is considered by some to be the most valuable
Stanley Steamer in the world. It is among the
collections at Seal Cove Auto Museum on Mount
Desert Island.
Various entries of Henry hauling lots of boards for use by the electric roadmen. And lots of entries about hauling water for the steam shovel used at the Morrison Hill gravel pit. A man named Ashley (unsure if that is his first or last name(?) and his wife. Henry hauled ice for them. Henry hauled (probably meaning he used his horse-drawn wagon) Ashley on Monday evenings to the station to get the money box.
* December 1, 1913, seems to be the last day of work on the rail.
* December 14, 1913 - Henry went out and looked over the railroad company things.
The steam shovel in the above photo taken at
Morrison Hill in West Cumberland is the one mentioned
in Henry Wilson's diary entries above.
Dated October 18, 1913, an entry in the diary
of New Gloucester resident Andrew C. Chandler
Image courtesy of Tom Blake, the curator
at the New Gloucester Historical Society
On Sunday, May 17, 1914, just six weeks before the official public opening of the electric railroad, W. Scott Libbey died. This would cause the restructuring of Libbey's businesses later that year and lead to the name of the electric railroad being changed from the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad.
Click Here - May 18, 1914, Lewiston Evening Journal - Through Google News Search - The online edition of the article on the death of W. Scott Libbey is on the front page.
Front page article in the Lewiston Evening Journal -
May 18, 1914.
Click Here to view the Libbey family biography
of W. Scott Libbey.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Click Here to view more background information about W. Scott Libbey, including materials from the Biographical section of History of Maine.
May 18, 1914 entry of the death of
W. Scott Libbey who had stayed with
Henry Wilson at his farm in West
Cumberland for two
days/nights in April 1913.
Also, on July 2 and July 3, 1914, entries
in the diary of New Gloucester resident
Andrew C. Chandler
Image courtesy of Tom Blake, the curator
Page in the PLI Employees' Scrapbook
The hand-written note above this image reads Lewiston
Journal July 1, 1914
Click Here - July 1, 1914, Lewiston Evening Journal - Through Google News Search - The online edition of the article on the opening of Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad is on page 12.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Click Here - July 3, 1914, Lewiston Daily Sun - Through Google News Search - The online edition of the article on the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad opening is on page 12. The link takes you to the July 2nd edition of the Lewiston Daily Sun...which also includes the July 3rd edition of the Lewiston Daily Sun. You will need to scroll through all the pages of the 2nd and onto July 3rd to page 12.
July 3, 1914, Lewiston Daily Sun
article on the opening day of the
Electric Railroad.
Passenger tickets from the first day of public operation of
the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad on July 2, 1914.
Click Here to view the post that summarizes the opening of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad
1914 Diary of Henry Wilson -
* July 2, 1914 - The Electric road began to carry passengers and collect fares. Willis came out on the 8 am car.
* July 8, 1914 - Went to Portland on the Gladiolus car at 9:12 and came out on the car that gets to school house at 12:48.
* July 16, 1914 - The railroad team went away from here to Lewiston.
* October 28, 1914 - Carried a switch point down to West Falmouth for the R.R. Co. in pm.
* November 11, 1914 - George Davis called and paid for hauling the switch point to West Falmouth. A man called here for the R. R. Co. and looked over the things the cook needed.
* November 12, 1914 - A railroad man called and gave cook supplies that Co. left
* December 17, 1914 - Willis and I burnt the brush that the railroad men put over onto our land.
George Davis is mentioned in Henry Wilson's diary entry
above. George is seated 2nd in the front row on the right.
This is a group photo from the 1941 reunion. This was the
last reunion of the former PLI employees.
Two other former PLi employees who attended the 1941 reunion in Gray at the New Begin Hall were Forest Greenwood and Joseph Levigne. Forest Greenwood is standing near the middle, between two fellas wearing white shirts and ties. Joseph Levigne is seated second from the left. There are four reunions specifically cataloged in the 88-page PLI Employee Scrapbook; June 29, 1938, June 29, 1939,
June 30, 1940, and June 28, 1941. All four of the reunions were held in Gray, ME at the Newbegin Hall. It is noted in newspaper articles of the times, that combined, the total of former PLI employees and their
family members that attended each of the reunions well exceeded 100 in attendance. The PLI operated a very short distance behind the Newbegin Hall seen behind the group in this image. Forest Greenwood donated several items to the Gray Historical Society that were related to his employment at the PLI. Forest also donated a few PLI-related items that belonged to his friend and fellow PLI employee, Joseph Levigne. Click here to open the post about the items donated to the Gray Historical Society. The image of the former PLI employees attending the 1941 reunion is from the PLI employees' Scrapbook in the O.R. Cummings Collection at the Library of Seashore Trolley Museum.
Page in the PLI Employees' Scrapbook
Newspaper clipping from November 27, 1914, Lewiston
Evening Journal with the testimony of the experience
of Mrs. French being a passenger during the early
months of the operation of the electric railroad.
Click Here - November 27, 1914, Lewiston Evening Journal - Through Google News Search - The online edition of the article has a Mrs. French from Portland, while making her opening remarks on parliamentary law, at the Central Maine Hospital, referred to her ride to Lewiston on one of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad interurbans. The story is on page 7, in the far left column, under the title "Of Local Interest." The link takes you to the November 25th edition of the Lewiston Evening Journal...which also includes the November 26th and 27th editions of the Lewiston Evening Journal. You will need to scroll through all the pages of the 25th, and 26th, and then onto November 27th to page 7.
Ibid
Local residents, along the electric railroad in 1914, that did not live in Lewiston and or in Portland or one of the limited number of stops in between, were not happy that they did not have easier access to riding the high-speed luxury electric railroad interurbans. Complaints won over and in 1915, several more stops were added to the line. There would be a "local" schedule added to the "limited" schedule.
Beginning in the late spring of 1915, there were several
local stops added to the schedule. Two larger double-truck
cars, No. 40 and 42 were added to the fleet to be the
main sources of local passenger service. These two cars were
not interurban and were not assigned names.
A 2018 photo of the 1915 Portland-Lewiston waiting station
from Morrison Hill in West Cumberland has been
at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine,
for more than 30 years. PWM photo
Click Here for a short history of the waiting station.
The last passenger car added to the PLI fleet was No 22,
Maine, in 1920. The large interurban was named Maine
to commemorate Maine's Bicentennial in 1920.
Photo from G. F. Cunningham within the
O. R. Cummings Collection
Click Here to view the post on the seven high-seed luxury interurbans of the PLI and their fate following the end of operations in 1933.
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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 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
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