Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project: Part One - 1937-1938: The Portland (Maine) Division of the Electric Railroaders Association

Part One - 1937-1938: The Portland (Maine) Division of the Electric Railroaders Association

Photo courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum

Updated: September 9, 2024

In 1937, Charles D. Heseltine was the State Secretary for the Electric Railroaders Association (ERA). He was one of the ERA members who organized the Portland (Maine) Division of the ERA beginning in 1937.

Here is a brief bio of Charles D. Heseltine that is written on the author's background page of the 2015 publication; The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946, by Charles D. Heseltine and O. R. Cummings, Edited by Amber Tatnall & Herbert Pence, published by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society in Kennebunkport, Maine (Owner/Operator of the Seashore Trolley Museum).

Charles D. Heseltine (1911-1989) - graduated from South Portland (Maine) High School in 1929. He continued his family's tradition of firefighting in 1939 when he joined the South Portland Fire Department. Heseltine served as a professional firefighter in South Portland for 30 years. He was an avid photographer and electric railway enthusiast. On retirement, Heseltine worked for the Maine Historical Society as a custodian. One likes to think that the close proximity of the Society's amazing historical resources on Maine's street cars had its allure to this lay historian. Heseltine was an active author on street railway topics. He wrote about Bangor Street Railway for the Transportation Bulletin #81 and co-authored "Aroostook Valley Railroad: History of the Potatoland Interurban in Northern Maine" with Edwin B. Robertson. The hand-drawn maps in the atlas (book) illustrate his fine attention to detail and deep love for the street railways of Maine.

This post is focused on the newspaper articles/clippings that have been located as I have begun searching for more details about the fan trips the Portland Division of the ERA organized. I'm searching for copies of the newsletter that the Portland Division distributed; The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the March 1938 issue (the very first issue) of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the April 1938 issue of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the May 1938 issue of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the June 1938 issue of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the July 1938 issue of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

Click Here to see the Feb-Mar 1939 issue of The Maine Electric Transiteer.

I'll be adding details and photos to this post as the materials become available.

The Portland Division of the Electric Railroaders Association was established on October 4, 1937. That day was the 77th anniversary of the establishment of the Portland and Forest Avenue Horse Railroad.

1937

Portland Press Herald - September 25, 1937 - page 6

Portland Press Herald - October 6, 1937 - page 22

Portland Press Herald - November 3, 1937 - page 20

Evening Express - November 3, 1937 - page 19

Portland Press Herald - November 5, 1937 - page 10

Portland Press Herald - December 1, 1937 - page 10

Evening Express - December 1, 1937 - page 22

Portland Press Herald - December 3, 1037 - page 36

Evening Express - December 3, 1937 - page 13

1938

Portland Press Herald - January 5, 1938 - page 20

Portland Press Herald - January 7, 1938 - page 20

Evening Express - January 7, 1938 - page 21

Portland Press Herald - January 19, 1938 - page 14

Portland Press Herald - January 24, page 12

Evening Express - January 24, 1938 - page 6

Portland Press Herald - February 2, 1938 - page 2

Portland Press Herald - March 2, 1938 - page 16

Portland Press Herald - March 4, 1938 -page 24

Evening Express - March 4, 1938 - page 13

Portland Press Herald - April 8, 1938 - page 30

Portland Press Herald - April 9, 1938 - page 4

Evening Express - April 9, 1938 - page 9

Portland Press Herald - April 10, 1938 - page 38

Ibid

Lewiston Daily Sun - April 11, 1938 - page 2

Portland Press Herald - April 18, 1938 - page 10

Evening Express - April 18, 1938 - page 11

Lewiston Daily Sun - April 20, 1938 - page 14

In the list of "Those on the excursion..." - "Osgood" Adkins

is actually, Oscar Adkins, a former PLI employee...fyi

Portland Press Herald - April 21, 1938 - page 22

Portland Press Herald - April 26, 1938 - page 6

Evening Express - April 26, 1938 - page 9

Portland Press Herald - May 4, 1938 - page 18

Evening Express - May 6, 1938 - page 11

Portland Press Herald - May 25, 1938 - page 16

Portland Press Herald - May 27, 1938 - page 12

Biddeford-Saco Journal - June 1, 1938 - page 5

Journal Tribune - June 2, 1938 - page 1

Portland Press Herald - June 3, 1938 - page 10

Portland Press Herald - June 4, 1938 - page 12

Portland Press Herald - June 6, 1938 - page 6

Evening Express - June 6, 1938 - page 11

Biddeford -Saco Journal - June 6, 1938 - page 3

Evening Expres - August 31, 1938 - page 18

Portland Press Herald - September 6, 1938 - page 11

Lewiston Daily Sun - September 6, 1938 - page 4

Kennebec Journal - September 6, 1938 - page 8

Portland Press Herald - October 5, 1938 - page 18

Evening Express - October 5, 1938 - page 9

Portland Press Herald - October 9, 1938 - page 47

Portland Press Herald - October 20, 1938 - page 20

Portland Press Herald - November 5, 1938 - page 14

Portland Press Herald - November 19, 1938 - page 14

Portland Press Herald - December 3, 1938 - page 14

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 Maine:

Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza

The Book Review, Falmouth

The Bookworm, Gorham

Letterpress Books, Portland

Maine Historical Society Store, Portland

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland

Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk

New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester

Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland

Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport

Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations

Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester

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!

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 2020 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 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

* 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, 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.