the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 10, Arbutus.
Photo taken Wednesday, June 19, 2024. PWM
No. 10 Arbutus, with Lewiston terminal personnel (l-r) two unidentified men
then; R G Weeks, master mechanic; Guy W. Mitchell, barn foreman; H. L.
Wright, Mrs. Lucy Card Matthews, E J Chateauvert, Milan H Spinney, Charles
E Kennison, L R Penny. The Arbutus was used to make the maiden voyage over
the Portland-Lewiston Interurban line on June 29, 1914. Public operations
began on July 2, 1914. The stained glass window in the first photo is on the
Arbutus in this photo :)
Collection of Barney Neuburger from O. R. Cummings Collection
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Click Here: for the post on the beginning of the PLI in 1914
The article describes the schedule on Sunday, June 5th, 1938,
when the Arbutus visit takes place.
Biddeford Saco Journal - June 1, 1938 - page 5
The Portland Division ERA fans in the group were going to visit the Arbutus at Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony's home at Bay View, in Saco, Maine. When Mrs. Libbey was a young girl, she and her sister, Alla, suggested to their father, W. Scott Libbey, the majority owner of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, that he name the first six interurban cars after his favorite flowers. Mr. Libbey did as his daughters suggested; No. 10, Arbutus, No. 12, Gladiolus, No. 14, Narcissus, No. 16, Clematis, No. 18, Azalea, No. 20, Magnolia. In 1920, the PLI ordered No. 22, Maine. No. 22 was named Maine in honor of 1920 being Maine's Centennial anniversary year.
Click Here: for the post on the biography of W. Scott Libbey
Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony was a passenger on the Arbutus
when it operated for the public on the opening day of the PLI
on July 2, 1914. Mrs. Anthony also was a passenger aboard
the Arbutus during the final public trip on June 28, 1933.
Image and caption from the incredible scrapbook
containing materials from the reunions (1938-1941)
of the former employees of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
The PLI employees' Scrapbook is among the holdings
of the Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Click Here: for the post about the ending of the PLI in 1933
A few more details are mentioned in this article.
Portland Press Herald - June 4, 1938 - page 12
Photo of the Arbutus heading to Mrs. Anthoneys home in Saco.
Image and caption from the incredible scrapbook
containing materials from the reunions (1938-1941)
of the former employees of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
The PLI employees' Scrapbook is among the holdings
of the Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Click Here: for the post on what happened to each of the PLI Interurbans after 1933.
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Some of the activities that took place on June 5, 1938.
Portland Press Herald - June 6, 1938 - page 6
Before visiting the Arbutus at Mrs. Anthony's, the Portland Division ERA members on the fan trip, rode the Biddeford and Saco open trolley car, No. 246.
Double-truck, open trolley car, No. 246, of the Biddeford and Saco Railroad
Company on Saco Avenue, near the former location of the Old Orchard Beach
High School. It's June 5, 1938, with the ERA group on board with the
Portland Division ERA banner displayed on the dasher. No. 246
was originally operating for the Portland Railroad starting in 1911. It was
sold to the B&SRR in 1927. The final day for trolleys operating for the
B&SRR was July 5, 1938. No. 246 was the final open trolley car to carry
passengers at the end of the day on July 5, 1938. The motorman that
operated No. 246 on its final trip, was Foster Leavitt, Sr. Foster,
and his brother Eddie, would become members of the Seashore Trolley
Museum and operated B&SRR open car No. 31 in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_15_046
Evening Express - June 6, 1938 - page 11
One of the Portland Division ERA members with the Arbutus at
Mrs. Anthoney's home in Bay View, Saco, Maine on June 5, 1938.
O R Cummings Collection
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Biddeford Saco Journal - June 6, 1938 - page 3
The interior of the Arbutus. This photo was not taken while the Arbutus
was at Mrs. Anthony's. I included it so you could see it :)
The next three photos of the Arbutus at Mrs. Anthony's were taken in 1940.
During the 1940 visit to Mrs. Anthony's to spend time with the Arbutus, Ted Santarelli, the leader of the founders of the Seashore Trolley spent some time talking to Mrs. Anthony about the new trolley car collection in Kennebunkport, the Seashore Electric Railway (Seashore Electric Railway would become Seashore Trolley Museum). Ted asked Mrs. Anthony to consider having the Arbutus become part of the collection at the Kennebunkport site in the future. Mrs. Anthony's reply was that the Arbutus was a memorial to her dearly beloved father and she wasn't looking to give the Arbutus up. A few years later, towards the end of WWII, sadly, Mrs. Anthony had the Arbutus scrapped so the metal could benefit the War effort.
A few years later, in the 1960s, the members at the Seashore Trolley Museum were able to negotiate with the owner of the body of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus, and by building the owner a new home, to replace the Narcissus where they had lived, the members were able to acquire the Narcissus body.
Click Here: for the post on looking back 50 years at the Narcissus being acquired.
Arbutus in the yard of Gertrude Libbey Anthony (1940)
in Bay View, Saco, Maine. Image from the incredible
scrapbook containing materials from the reunions
(1938-1941) of the former employees of the
Portland-Lewiston Interurban. The PLI employees
Scrapbook is among the holdings
of the Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Arbutus in the yard of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony(1940)
in Bay View, Saco, Maine. Image from the incredible
scrapbook containing materials from the reunions
(1938-1941) of the former employees of the
Portland-Lewiston Interurban. The PLI employees
Scrapbook is among the holdings
of the Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Arbutus in the yard of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony circa
1940 in Bay View, Saco, Maine.
O. R. Cummings Collection
A round sandstone coaster of an Arbutus.
A series of coasters was created in 2021 for merchandise
that could be available for fundraising efforts to benefit the
Narcissus project. Artwork by Amy J. Gagnon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts
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!
Click Here: Donation Options
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.
Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project
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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