Brunswick, Maine, Merrymeeting Park - circa 1899 -
with its majestic three-story casino on the hill in the background.
The park was built by the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street
Railway. O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_082
Electric street railway companies might not have considered themselves complete without having a pleasure resort destination available for their patrons during the golden years of the trolley era. The Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway, was formed by Amos Fitz Gerald of Fairfield, ME, later known as the "Electric Railway King of the Pine Tree State," and his associate, Isaac C. Libby of Waterville, ME.
Click Here: for more on Trolley Parks in the heart of Maine by Seashore Trolley Museum.
Click Here: to read the lengthy history of Riverton Park in Portland
This blog post features images from the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway Merrymeeting Park. Much of the text and some images are from the book, Trolleys to Brunswick, Maine 1896-1937, by O. R. Cummings, presented as Transportation Volume 73 by the Connecticut Valley Chapter and the National Railway Historical Society- January-December 1966. Additional images are credited individually. Several photos are from the book, The Trolley Parks of Maine, by Amber Tatnall, Randy Leclair, and Doreen Rogan: New England Electric Railway Historical Society - 2012. All others are credited as noted.
Passenger ticket
O. R. Cummings Collection
Seashore Trolley Museum
Click Here: to read more on the history of the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath Street Railway
Merrymeeting Park was opened to the public in the summer
of 1899, the attractions included this $30,000 casino.
Casinos of the day were not gambling establishments.
The three-story casino had broad verandas, a very large dining
room, a dance hall, a parlor, and smoking rooms. PWM postcard
Merrymeeting Park embraced a tract of 147 acres, all enclosed with a wire fence, located 1.5 miles from Brunswick. The enclosure embraced an area of cleared land, formerly farming land, which sloped away in two directions to the Androscoggin River. Interspersed with trees and bushes along some of the roughest portions, and a large section of a forest of native trees, at the edge of which was a deep ravine, where an open-air theatre was located.
One of the attractions was a large pond, which was fed by numerous springs; and divided by a wire fence, one side being known as the swan pond and the other as the duck pond.
Twenty-six miles from Lewiston. Notice the castle-like stone
attachment to the veranda. Amos F. Gerald, the builder of the
Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath line, loved castles and frequently
incorporated a castle into the trolley parks he was
associated with. PWM postcard
The principal park building was the large, three-story, casino, which was located at the highest point of ground in the park, from which a fine view of the river could be had in either direction. In the river were numerous wooded islands, the shores of which were outlined by tall trees, presenting a scene of quiet beauty seldom equaled.
Map showing the location of Merrymeeting Park, in
relationship to Brunswick, Maine.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_076
Seashore Trolley Museum
The main entrance to the Merrymeeting Park was at this
trolley stop that featured a long, covered, platform
with waiting rooms. The entrance was a lofty trestle
spanning the Maine Central Railroad tracks,
which was parallel with the trolley line tracks,
and ran through a deep gorge between the
tracks and the resort.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_077
Seashore Trolley Museum
Merrymeeting Park was located one and a half miles from
Brunswick on a 147-acre tract along the Androscoggin River -
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_079
Seashore Trolley Museum
On approach to the casino, the visitors passed through the zoological department in which there were numerous houses, cages, and pens for the fine collection of animals that formed the principal attractions.
The collection included a herd of buffalo, bears, moose, elk, deer, and foxes.
Vast lawns, ponds, and groves of trees made for a relaxing atmosphere.
Trolleys to Brunswick, Maine 1896-1937, by O. R. Cummings
In the park's zoological garden, visitors could see a
herd of deer, monkeys, crocodiles, brightly colored birds,
and several buffalo. The zoo was also home to a stuffed
horse, purported to be the largest in the world.
PWM Postcard
Park visitors might wander along wooded pathways
strung with colored lights to the outdoor theatre.
The amphitheater, with a seating capacity of 3,000 patrons, was
built into the face of a sloping hillside, with an
open stage at its foot. Entertainments included minstrels,
vaudeville acts, magic shows, trapeze artists, tap dancing,
and comedy routines - and of course, the diving horse act.
Stock companies regularly performed comedic and
dramatic theatrical productions. The amphitheater had
programs that included band concerts too.
PWM Postcard
Frequently, the attendance in the early years at the park was from 2,000 to 4,000 people on a given day.
When patrons were looking to depart the park, the trolleys
were parked along the platform, ready to receive riders.
The cars were headed in both directions, as the park
attracted people from Brunswick and Bath and from
the Lewiston direction. The fare from Brunswick was
5 cents, with a free admission to the theatre and park
attractions.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_078
Seashore Trolley Museum
The main entrance to the Merrymeeting Park was this
trolley stop. O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_080
Seashore Trolley Museum
The "Merrymeeting" parlor car was popular for
being chartered by a group for special occasions.
It could be chartered for $10 a day. A special occasion was
frequently a group going to Merrymeeting Park.
Photo courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library.
Photo from O. R. Cummings 1959
publication, "Trolley Parlor Cars of New England"
A stately three-and-a-half-storied building with brown shingle
siding, white trim, and a tower served as the park's casino.
Wide verandas encircled the first and second stories where
guests could lounge in Adirondack chairs, An arched
stone entranceway, complete with a turret,
greeted guests as they entered by trolley.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_082
Seashore Trolley Museum
The casino's dining room could seat 100 guests and had a wind-ranging menu, serving American,
French, German, and Italian cuisine. The most popular meal, however, was the 50-cent shore dinner. The restaurant had a standing order for ten barrels of lobster every Sunday to satisfy the appetites of hungry
day-trippers.
The bridge walkway to the wide dance platform, with
the majestic casino on the hill in the background.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_085
Seashore Trolley Museum
On fine evenings, guests could go dancing by the pond. A rustic bridge crossed the pond and at its center was a wide dance platform illuminated by an arc light. On bright moonlit nights, the arc light could be turned off to create a more romantic atmosphere.
Rustic bridge in the background and the dance platform
in the center. Under the trees in a grove were
several Fairfield lawn swings.
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_084
Seashore Trolley Museum
The rustic bridge.
Light refreshments were available at a stand called the
"Round house."
O. R. Cummings Collection - 2009_2_19_086
Seashore Trolley Museum
Map from the 2015 NEERHS book,
"The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street
& Electric Railways 1863-1946" - Seashore Trolley Museum
The park's popularity did decline fairly quickly though. Attendance rates, perhaps due to the comparatively pricey 30-cent fare, proved to be Merrymeeting Park's downfall. The park never made enough of a profit for the railway and closed in 1906 after only seven years of operation.
The casino and other buildings were razed and the animals were taken away, but the park grounds were
open for picnics and outings until 1915 when the property was sold by the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Railway for $17,500.
The main gate at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station was just about opposite the former entrance to Merrymeeting Park - of which no traces remain today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
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Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem. This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!
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The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.
Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban
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.
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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
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