c 1901 Titled: Underwood Park.
The description says: "This photograph depicts the Spring
House and Gazebo at Underwood Spring Park in Falmouth Foreside."
From the J. A. Waterman Negatives Collection at
the Osher Map Library, USM, Portland, Maine
Underwood Spring Park - July 18, 1899 - 1907
Underwood Spring Park was one of several popular pleasure resorts (known as trolley parks) in Maine, built by electric railway companies to enhance their ridership. The Portland & Yarmouth Electric Railway opened the Underwood Spring Park on July 18, 1899. Late in 1900, the Portland & Yarmouth Electric Railway became a division of the Portland Railroad.
Click Here: for the post on Casco Castle Trolley Park 1902-1914
Click Here: for the post on Merrymeeting Trolley Park 1899-1906
Click Here: for the post on Riverton Trolley Park 1896-1933
Built upon an underground spring that gushed forth a quarter of a million gallons of healthy water every 24 hours. Day-trippers from Portland could depart Monument Square every 30 minutes (every 15 minutes during peak times) for 20 cents for a roundtrip. Every evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., an engineer would operate the electric fountain, manipulating its controls to create a shifting rainbow of color in the water.
Built 1897 by the J. G. Brill Company, Philadelphia, PA
for Portland & Yarmouth Electric Railway showing
Underwood destination while sitting at the Yarmouth carhouse.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_38_102
From Oxford Street to Washington Avenue
across Tukey's Bridge and on to Yarmouth.
Map from the 2015 NEERHS book,
"The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street
& Electric Railways 1863-1946"
In Yarmouth, passengers could then board a Portland and Brunswick Street Railway to continue along the coast or, in Brunswick, could board a trolley car for Lewiston and then on to Augusta and Waterville, etc. Eventually, an agreement was reached between the two lines, and service was provided starting in 1906.
Yarmouth Division Mileage
Monument Square to:
Washington Avenue Carbarn 1.25
Veranda Street Siding 2.14
Marine Hospital Siding 2.55
Martin's Point Siding 3.25
Cemetery Siding 4.60
Foreside 5.97
Underwood 7.08
Spear's Hill 8.78
Russel's Siding 9.50
York Siding 10.36
Moxey's Siding 11.40
Yarmouth Carbarn 12.11
Terminus - Yarmouth 12.44
The milage above is from O. R. Cummings
1957 book, Part 1, "Portland Railroad."
J. G. Brill Co., Philadelphia, PA built Nos. 4, 5 & 6
10-bench open trolley cars in 1896 for the P & Y Elec. Rwy.
Here is No. 5 on the main line, across from the entrance to
the Underwood Spring Park. For the first month, passengers
would disembark here and walk into the park.
These 10-bench opens would carry 50 passengers.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_053
One-way rates for the PRR.
From O. R. Cummings
1957 book, Part 1, "Portland Railroad."
The popularity of the Underwood Spring Park, was immediate when it opened in July. The P&Y reacted quickly in August, by building a loop from the main line into the park which enabled the trolley cars to deliver passengers directly to the front door of the casino that was erected there.
Here No. 5 is seen on the spur from the entrance
into the Underwood Spring Park and is about to enter the loop.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_038
Here No. 31, a 14-bench open that could carry 70 passengers,
is about to enter the loop.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_042
Here No. 7, a 10-bench open, is at the front door of the casino,
where passengers arriving will disembark. Then, passengers may
board, who are looking to depart the park.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_041
Here No. 11, a 10-bench open, is at the front door of the casino.
The destination sign reads, Portland. Notice in the photo on the left,
there is a waiting area for passengers with benches. Once on board,
No. 11 will depart, with its destination being Monument Square
in Portland.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library;
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_041
Underwood Spring Park featured a handsome, three-story casino, set in a beautiful wooded landscape. The casino's dining room was bright and spacious. Visitors dined on shore dinners while enjoying views of the harbor. The casino had a sitting room and a music room decorated with potted palms. The card room was on the second floor and decorated in purple and red. Comfortable armchairs were upholstered in rich Bagdad cloth with trimmings. Across the hall from the card room was the smoking room, in red. A large dance hall was located on this floor as well. (Description by Charles D. Heseltine in an unpublished manuscript - from 2012, NEERHS book, "The Trolley Parks of Maine)
The next few images of Underwood Spring Park are from the 57 glass plate negatives (13 x 10.5 cm each) taken by J. A. Waterman and are among the Digital Philanthropy Collection at the Osher Map Library in the Smith Center for Cartographic Education on the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine.
Alternative Title: Waterman Negatives [57 Glass Plate Negatives]
Creator: Waterman, J. A.
Date Range: circa 1898 - circa 1910
Historical Content: Images of later nineteenth and early twentieth-century town(s) of Maine.
Notes: Glass plate negatives taken by J. A. Waterman. Images depict Gorham, Kittery, Falmouth, Yarmouth, and Portland.
c 1901 Titled: Underwood Park, Falmouth.
The description says: "This photograph depicts the Gazebo
at Underwood Springs Park in Falmouth Foreside.
From the J. A. Waterman Negatives Collection at
the Osher Map Library, USM, Portland, Maine.
Underwood's open-air theater offered entertainment after the fountain show. Vaudeville acts, under the direction of the Gorman Brothers of Medford, MA, came through every week. The annual appearance of the celebrated song and dance team, Primrose and West, was greatly anticipated by theater-goers. (Description by Charles D. Heseltine in an unpublished manuscript - from 2012, NEERHS book, "The
Trolley Parks of Maine)
c 1901 Titled: Underwood Park Shows Rustic Theater, Piano Player.
There is no further description.
From the J. A. Waterman Negatives Collection at
the Osher Map Library, USM, Portland, Maine.
c 1901 Titled: Underwood Park from Casino Looking Toward Shore.
The description says: "This photograph shows the fountain and
shore at Underwood Spring Park in Falmouth Foreside."
From the J. A. Waterman Negatives Collection at
the Osher Map Library, USM, Portland, Maine.
Postcard - O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_036
Falmouth had Maine's only electric fountain at Underwood Spring Park.
Postcard - O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_035
Every evening between 8 and 9 p.m., an engineer would operate
the electric fountain, manipulating its controls to create a shifting
rainbow of color in the water. The casino and theater burned down in
1907 and were never rebuilt. O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_26_037
There are very few remains of Underwood Spring Park to be found today. Below are two newspaper
articles that look back at the park.
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Ibid
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Ibid
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Ibid
.jpg)
Ibid - October 23, 1963
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Lewiston Sun Journal - January 7, 1967
.jpg)
Ibid
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Ibid - January 7, 1967
We continue the restoration work on the Narcissus, the only surviving interurban coach of the PLI. Please consider making a donation to the Narcissus Project to help the restoration work continue to completion.
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. 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
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
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
Print: A Bookstore, Portland
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 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 a one-time donation or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically each month. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, Jill, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2712 ext. 5.
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: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can email: finance@NEERHS.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, Jill, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2712 ext. 5,
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 - 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, majestic stained glass windows.
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.