The main entrance to Oakland Park - you can see the bandstand
in the background in the center where a person in white is standing.
CMP Collection 2115 - Box 359 - Folder 7
Brown Research Library/Maine Historical Society
This blog post features the summary of the Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway in O.R.
Cummings' book, "Transportation Bulletin No. 6, Part 1. January 1952 - "Rockland, Thomaston & Camden Street Railway," issued by the Connecticut Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Additional photos will be credited accordingly. Several photos and some text are from the book, The Trolley Parks of Maine, by Amber Tatnall, Randy Leclair, and Doreen Rogan: New England Electric Railway Historical Society. The CMP Collection 2115 at the Brown Research Library at the Maine Historical Society also provided a couple of photos.
Click Here - post on the history of the Rockland, Thomaston, and Camden Street Railway 1892-1931
Click Here - for the post on Rockland, South Thomaston, and St. George Railway 1902-1918
Click Here: for the post on Riverton Trolley Park 1896-1933 (Portland)
Click Here: for the post on Underwood Spring Trolley Park 1899-1907 (Falmouth)
Click Here: for the post on Casco Castle Trolley Park 1902-1914 (South Freeport)
Click Here: for the post on Merrymeeting Trolley Park 1899-1906 (Brunswick)
Click Here: for the post on Island Park Pleasure Resort and Trolleys 1902-1928 (Winthrop)
Oakland Park
During the early part of 1902, the Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Street Railway purchased a large tract of land in Rockport, about a mile above Glen Cove, and created Oakland Park, said to be one of the finest street railway amusement centers in Maine.
Construction of the spur to Oakland Park circa 1902.
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_026
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
A short ride of twenty minutes from the waiting rooms of the Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Street Railway brings one to Oakland Park, it was owned and operated by the trolley company as an amusement park for the entertainment of its patrons.
An artificial pond was created on which row boats and a hand-power cable ferry, afforded especially enjoyable entertainment for the children. In addition, there were various forms of amusement provided
as did most trolley parks. A casino offered opportunities for refreshments and dancing; and many open-air meetings, conventions, and reunions were held in the grove which was arranged with seats and a speaker's platform. A fine sea wall extended around three sides of the park with gravel walks among shade trees, and ocean views that delighted the eye. Opportunities for bathing and fishing off the rocks, baseball, croquet, etc.
Map from the 2015 NEERHS book, "The Illustrated
Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric Railways
1863-1946"
Open car No. 9, was built in 1892 for Rockland,
Thomaston, & Camden Street Railway is at Oakland Park
waiting station, Rockport, c1902. Destination sign - Highlands
& Quarries with an unidentified open car on the line waiting
for No. 9 to depart. Eastern Illustrating and Publishing image
in the O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_207
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
This park, with 72 acres, had big stone pillars guarding the entrance, and set in them are many interesting relics, such as a cannonball of the War of 1812, stones of volcanic origin, etc., with much of the architecture favoring the Japanese in style, there was a casino, a large pine grove arranged with seats and a platform for speakers, an artificial pond, a baseball diamond, croquet lawns, and facilities for bathing and fishing, as well as for other forms of recreation usually found at amusement parks. Flower beds of brilliant colors added the necessary touches of refinement and beauty.
Map of Oakland Park
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_067
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
.jpg)
Trolley car No. 4 at the Oakland Park waiting station, Rockport, ME.
Photo by the Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
At the main entrance to Oakland Park - at the bottom on the right, you can see the bottom of the
large slide :) CMP Collection 2115 - Box 359-Folder 7
Brown Research Library/Maine Historical Society
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
CMP Collection 2115 - Box 359 - Folder 7
Brown Research Library/Maine Historical Society
Open car No. 11 at the Warren waiting station leaving for
Rockport and Camden. The advertisement placard reads that
the Camden Band was playing at Oakland Park on Sunday,
August 16th, which would mean 1903.
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_101
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Summary from the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
The waiting station at Oakland Park in later years with signs
advertising entertainment. From the book,
The Trolley Parks of Maine - The Seashore Trolley Museum
.jpg)
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
Car No. 1, a 10-bench open was built in 1892, sits at the Oakland
siding with Mr. Wickhan Whitey, conductor, and Mr.Sam Linicott,
motorman. O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_127
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
Entrance to Oakland Park
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_030
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_037
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
In later years, free motion pictures were shown at the casino. During the winter, the artificial pond was kept free of snow for skating parties. In summer, there were twilight baseball games, with local teams participating. Band concerts were held on evenings and Sundays.
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
Dance Hall/Casino at Oakland Park
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_41_035
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library
From the January 1952 publication,
Rockland, Thomaston, & Camden Electric Railway
by O.R. Cummings. PWM book
During periods of heavy riding to the park, extras followed the regular Camden cars as far as the park station. Here they unloaded, changed ends, and returned to Rockland to await the next regular for Camden.
No admission was charged to the park, the only cost to patrons being for meals purchased at the restaurant. Everything else - band concerts, baseball games, etc. - was free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
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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.
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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