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

Ibid

Ibid

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 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