The combination carhouse and terminal at Middle Street
in Lewiston when it first opened to public operations in
June/July 1914. This is a single photo, from one 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 Newbegin Hall,
in 1938, '39, 40, and '41.
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, as I first looked through the scrapbook. 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 of the scrapbook during the conservation process in 2022.
Lewiston Terminal/Carhouse/Dispatcher
Car No. 12 was named Gladiolus. W. Scott Libbey, the builder of
Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad was encouraged by his two daughters,
Gertrude and Alla, to name the original six high-speed, luxury interurban coaches
after his favorite flowers. PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
Car No. 10, Arbutus, exiting the Lewiston carhouse at Middle Street.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The doorway on the left of the above photo is the entrance
to the ticker counter. PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
A photo of the only known surviving porcelain
signage promoting ticket sales. This particular signage was
at the ticket counter at the Lewiston terminal.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The ticket window at the Lewiston terminal.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The dispatcher's office was upstairs over the ticket counter area.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The dispatcher communicated with the operators of the electric railroad equipment utilizing a private phone line with portable phones in each vehicle, a phone at each substation, and a phone booth at each end of the 30-mile right-of-way entrance/exit.
Click Here - to view the post on the portable "cell phone" of the PLI.
Here are excerpts of phone use, and descriptions of phone use from Portland to Lewiston on the Arbutus during the summer of 1921, from O. R. Cummings's 1967 book, Maine's Fast Electric Railroad speaking to the use of the telephones:
pg. 41
"When necessary, train crews were given orders at the substations, the operators of which displayed flags to notify the conductors to call the dispatcher. These operators also noted the time of train arrivals and departures and forwarded the information to the dispatcher for entry on the train sheet. For emergencies, each car was equipped with a Western Electric portable telephone set and a jointed contact rod so conductors could tap the telephone wire running alongside the track and call the dispatcher."
Albert C. Clement uses the portable telephone to call orders as
No. 34 augments the snow-fighting force along Hotel Road,
Auburn, in March 1920.
Photo from O. R. Cummings' 1967 publication;
Maine's Fast Electric Railroad: Portland-Lewiston Interurban
Inside the Lewiston terminal carhouse. On the far left is
No. 90, the electric locomotive. We then see the number two
end of the Wason-built interurban, No. 20, Magnolia. Its
number one end is facing the open doorway to Middle Street.
Then at the next open doorway entrance is another of
the early interurbans (unknown #). On the right, we see
one of the Laconia-built interurbans (might be No 16,
Clematis) with its number one end also facing Middle Street.
If not No. 16, it could be No.10, Arbutus, No. 12, Gladiolus,
or No. 14, Narcissus.
2009_2_27_125 from the O. R. Cummings Collection -
Seashore Trolley Museum
No. 90, the electric locomotive that is inside
the Lewiston carhouse in the above photo.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The passenger windows are one way you can tell which builder constructed any of the PLI high-speed luxury coaches, and also, which end of the interurban coach you are looking at.
If the leaded stained glass design, above each of the passenger windows, is a series of verticle plumes, Wason is the builder. Wason is the builder of No. 20, Magnolia, in the image below.
If the first passenger window on the end of the passenger compartment is a single-sash, this is the Number two end. In the image below, No. 20, Magnolia, a single-sash passenger window is on the far left, making that the number two end of the luxury, high-speed coach.
Wason built No. 20, Magnolia, in 1912, for
the Portland-Gray, and Lewiston Railroad.
Shortly after opening in 1914, the name would
be changed to the Portland-Lewiston Interurban
Railroad.
If the design of the stained glass over each of the passenger windows has a center circle with a couple of extending "stems" with "leaves," the builder is Laconia. In the image below of a Laconia-built interurban, you see the stained glass windows with a design that resembles a flower blossom with stems and leaves.
If the first passenger window in the passenger compartment is part of a pair with a large stained glass "eyebrow" over the double sash windows (which indicates where the smoking compartment is located) this also indicates it is the number one end. These interurbans tended to travel forward with the motorman at the controls in the vestibule of the number one end.
The image below of a Laconia-built interurban has the first windows in the passenger compartment at the far end on the left. It is a double-sash pair with a large stained glass window eyebrow over the pair. This is the number one end.
To the far right is the first passenger window on the number two end, which is a single sash with a small stained glass window above the single window.
The name/number of this Laconia-built
interurban is a challenge to read, but it looks like
it might be No. 16.
No. 16, Clematis at the Laconia Car Company (Laconia, NH)
being prepared for shipping to Maine in 1912.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The above photos have a closeup of the stained glass "eyebrow" windows over pairs of passenger windows on a PLI Wason-built interurban on the left (vertical blooms) and Laconia-built interurban on the right (center circle with branches extending out from the circle)
The former PLI carhouse/terminal entrance
on Middle Street in Lewiston. 2017 PWM
The former PLI carhouse/terminal building on Middle Street
in Lewiston. 2017 PWM
The substations erected at Danville, Gray, and West Falmouth were neat red brick buildings, the first two being approximately 25' by 40.' All three buildings still exist today (2022) though Gray and West Falmouth have been converted to private residences with various additions/changes made over the years.
The Gray substation doubled as a passenger station, with wood-framed waiting stations initially being provided at Danville and West Falmouth. In 1924, Danville and West Falmouth brick substations had modifications to include the passenger waiting rooms (there were also passenger shelters with frame construction at Upper Gloucester, New Gloucester, South Gray, West Cumberland, and at other more important stops along the line).
Three-phase 60-cycle alternating current from the Deer Rips hydroelectric station (supplemented in 1915 by a steam turbine plant in Lewiston) was transmitted at 10,000 volts at Danville, where it boosted to 33,000 volts for the stations at Gray and West Falmouth. The high-tension line poles were separate from those used for the trolley overhead and were 40 feet high. No. 1 copper was used between Deer Rips and Danville and No. 2 copper wire the rest of the way. The poles also carried the wire for the private phone system.
The Portland-Gray, and Lewiston right-of-way through
Chandler's Woods, New Gloucester shows the evidence of
the early electric railroad construction. Poles on the right
carried 600 volts of direct current to power the
railroad's equipment and the poles on the left carried
high-tension lines. 2009_2_27_068 A Gerald
Cunningham photo in the O. R. Cummings Collection
In 1920, CMP bought Androscoggin Electric Company which included the ownership of Porland-Lewiston Interurban. In about 1925, CMP extended the transmission line from West Falmouth to Portland.
Each of the substations initially had one General Electric 300 Kw. rotary converter, with an output of 600-650 volts direct current, and three 100 Kw step-down transformers. The Danville station also had three 200 KVA 10,000/33,000-volt step-up transformers.
The operators at the substations doubled as company agents and there were two men at each station, one working from early morning until mid-afternoon and the other being on duty from mid-afternoon until the last car completed their runs at night.
Danville
Maine Lidar map shows the PLI heading south
over Moose Brook and then becomes what it now
Oras Lane where the interurban would stop at the
Danville sub-station/passenger station (corner of
Oras Lane and Poland Spring Road) before
crossing Poland Spring Road to then run parallel
with Eastman Lane.
Inside the double doors on the left of the substation is
where the rotary converter and transformer equipment was
located. PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Inside the double doors on the left of the substation
where the rotary converter and transformer equipment was
located. PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Danville substation is on the right.
M. Clyde Grover worked the early shift at the
Danville substation for several years.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
The large rotary converter wheel is on the left with other
electrical transformer-related equipment on the right in this
photo of the inside of the substation in Danville. The double
doors to the outside are to the left of the rotary converter.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
No. 22, Maine, departing the Danville substation and
heading north to Auburn/Lewiston along what is now
Oras Lane. PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Leroy Libby worked the second shift
at the Danville substation in the later
years of PLI operations.
PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
The large rotary converter wheel is on the left with other
electrical transformer-related equipment on the right in this
photo of the inside of the substation in Danville. The double
doors to the outside are to the left of the rotary converter.
PLI reunion scrapbook in the O. R. Cummings Collection
Oras Lane when looking north towards Auburn/Lewiston with
the former Danville substation on the right. PWM 2017
PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
The former Danville substation at the corner of Oras Lane
and Poland Spring Road in 2017 PWM
Double doors that once opened
to access the rotary converter and
other electrical equipment at
the Danville substation.
2017 PWM
Doorway to where passengers
could buy a ticket inside the
Danville substation. 2017 PWM
Gray Sub-station
Maine Lidar map shows the PLI heads south
from Colley Hill Road, through what are
now the baseball diamonds behind
Pennell and New Begin Hall in Gray,
and then a stop at the Gray
sub-station/passenger station before
crossing Yarmouth Road, then continuing
south through Gray Meadows.
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
August 18, 1914 - Theodore Roosevelt aboard the Narcissus, waving to
the gathered townspeople in Gray, Maine. The Narcissus has been listed
on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. It is currently under
restoration at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
The former substation building in Gray is a private
residence. T. Blake image 2020
West Falmouth Sub-station
Maine Lidar map shows the PLI right-of-way
as it exits the West Falmouth
sub-station/passenger station and heads
a little southwest between Gray Road and
I-95 towards Portland.
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
No. 16, Clematis, at the West Falmouth substation.
Former POTUS, Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger
on the Clematis from Portland to Lewiston on
August 31, 1916.
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
The former substation in Wets Falmouth is a private
residence. T. Blake photo 2020
The former substation in Wets Falmouth is a private
residence. T. Blake photo 2020
Portland Terminal
The Portland terminal was an irregularly shaped two-story structure. Because of the descending grade between Cumberland Avenue and Portland Street, only one story was at street level on Cumberland while both stories were above ground on Portland Street. The track entrance was on Portland Street, along which the Portland Railroad had a double iron running in an east-west direction.
Original plans called for all interurban cars leaving Portland to start from the terminal and the upper floor, with its entrance on Cumberland Avenue, was to contain a waiting room and toilet facilities. However, instead, cars were routed through Monument Square and the Interurban used the Portland Railroad's waiting room at Congress and Elm Streets. Consequently, the upper floor of the terminal was leased to various business concerns over the years.
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
The former Portland terminal on Portland Street.
Donald Curry photo
The former Portland terminal on Cumberland Avenue.
Donald Curry photo
The former Portland terminal on Cumberland Avenue.
PWM
Photo from the PLI reunion scrapbook in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
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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