CRANDIC Railway -16 photos plus 7 other Iowa-related Railways - 52 photos (1900s-1970s)

CRANDIC No. 117 - Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway Company

Foster Leavitt, Sr. and his brother, Edward "Eddie" Leavitt, like their father, Charles "Bob" Leavitt, worked as motormen and conductors for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad Company (B&SRR) in York County, Maine. The B&SRR began as a horsecar railroad, then transitioned to become an electric railroad. Foster and Eddie also were early members of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Foster, Sr's love of trolleys was also passed down to his son Foster Leavitt, Jr. Between the father and son, they collected hundreds and hundreds of photos of electric railways and railroads from all over the State of Maine and many cities in the U.S. This post includes the 16 photos of cars of the CRANDIC Railway Company and 52 photos from various other electric railways, including; the Charles City Western Railway Company, Des Moines City Railway Company, Fort Dodge-Des Moines-and Southern Railroad Company, Interurban Railway Company, Iowa Terminal Railroad Company, Mason City and Clear Lake Railroad Company, Sioux City Service Company, 

Foster, Jr's son, Mike Leavitt was very kind and shared the many photo albums with me. Mike allowed me to copy photos and gave me permission to share the photos. In sharing, I always credit Mike's grandfather/father and individuals who may be credited on the backs of the photos.

This post begins with 16 photos of cars of the CRANDIC Railway Company from Album No. 7 of the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection that his grandson, Mike now has in his possession. I included photos of the back of each photograph that have some information either stamped or written on the back. I believe only one of these photos has a date associated with it.

Album 6 has the other 52 Iowa-related photos. I did not remove these photos from the album pages and take photos of the back of each photo...some have dates associated with them (1900s-1970s), but many do not have dates...fyi

To show my appreciation to the Leavitt family, I'll share a few photos of them beginning the pictorial.

Foster Leavitt, Sr. (left) is the motorman. His brother,

Edward "Eddie" (right) was the conductor of Car 31 in 1938.

Like their father, Charles"Bob" Leavitt, both brothers

worked for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad for many years.

Charles "Bob" Leavitt at the Saco carbarn 1921.

Mr. Leavitt worked as a motorman at the

Biddeford and Saco Railroad for 39 years,

beginning in 1896. Seashore's Car 31 arrived

in Saco in June 1900 and Mr. Leavitt was one

of the motormen operating Car 31 from day 1.

Eddie Leavitt (left) was the conductor

and his brother, Foster Leavitt, Sr. (right) was the motorman

on Car 31 at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport

in 1977. Both operated cars at the Museum throughout

the 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s.

Click Here: for the post on the ten Maine railway-related cars in the Seashore Trolley Museum's collection that have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, including Car 31. 

June 23, 1999 - In 1999, as one of the activities to celebrate

the 60th anniversary of the SeashoreTrolley Museum and

the saving of Car 31, I organized a "Home Tour" for Car 31.

Car 31 returned to Saco, Biddeford, and Old Orchard Beach.

I did not know Mike Leavitt at the time, however, he, his wife,

and their two daughters attended the Saco celebration. Here they

are on Car 31 with Mike's grandfather, Foster, Sr's, motorman hat

on the bumper, that he wore while working for the B&SRR.

Mike's wife and daughters with Mike on

Car 31  on August 12, 2023, reenacting

their Car 31 photoshoot from 1999.

I just happened to take this photo of Mike's daughters

gifting their great grandfather's B&SRR motorman hat to

the Dyer Library with Car 31 in the background on June 23, 1999

Mike and his whole family are on Car 31. They represent

six generations connected with Car 31 over 123 years!

August 12, 2023

Foster Leavitt, Sr.'s Collection - Album No. 6.

In the possession of his grandson, Mike Leavitt.

No. 6

Foster Leavitt, Sr.'s Collection - Album No. 7.

In the possession of his grandson, Mike Leavitt.

Label with the list of contents inside Album No. 7.

Here we go...enjoy!

CRANDIC No. 53 - May 11, 1941

CRANDIC No. 53

CRANDIC No. 53

CRANDIC No. 178

CRANDIC No. 162

CRANDIC No. 120

CRANDIC No. 120

CRANDIC No. 110

CRANDIC No. 111

CRANDIC No. 116

CRANDIC No. 117

CRANDIC No. 117

CRANDIC No. 119

Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad Company

No. 72 - April 9, 1955 (Album No. 7)

From Album No. 6  (52 photos)

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 

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-resolution 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!

Theodore Roosevelt on the Narcissus when addressing

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

The Narcissus in the restoration shop in 2022 PWM

   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 each 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

* 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

* Seal Cove Auto Museum

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

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.