Part Two - 1939-1940: The Portland (Maine) Division of the Electric Railroaders Association

Robert C. Melcher presents to, Miss Mary Godell, librarian at

Warren Memorial Library  the "History of the

Westbrook Electric Cars"  from the Portland Division of the ERA -

local Maine electric railway historian, Charles D. Heseltine, was

also a key member of the ERA in researching and creating

the Westbrook history contents.

Portland Press Herald - April 10, 1938 page 38

 In 1937, Robert C. Melcher was the Superintendent of the  Portland Division of the Electric Railroaders Association (ERA). He was one of the ERA members who organized the Portland (Maine) Division of the ERA beginning in 1937. 

    Robert C. Melcher 

    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.

1939

Portland Press Herald - January 26, 1939 -page 20

Portland Press Herald - January 28, 1939 -page 2

Evening Express- January 28, 1939 - page 10

Evening Express - February 24, 1939 - page 22

Portland Press Herald - March 5, 1939 -page 30

Sun Journal - March 13, 1939 - page 12

Evening Express - April 15, 1939 - page 16

    In the above newspaper article (April 15), at the end, it mentions that the members of the Portland Division of the ERA had postponed the April 19th, annual excursion fan trip to the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway to take place on May 30th, Memorial Day.

Portland Press Herald - April 17, 1939 - page 14

    In the newspaper clipping below, (June 1), it states that Ellis E. Walker, Jr. participated in the Portland Division of the ERA rescheduled excursion fan trip at the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway on May 30th, Memorial Day.

Kennebec Journal - June 1, 1939 - page 20

Evening Express - June 16, 1939 - page 24

Biddeford - SacoJournal -June 19, 1939 - page 3

     I have not had any luck locating additional Portland Division of the ERA newspaper clippings through the rest of the calendar year of 1939...

1940

Evening Express - February 9, 1940 - page 22

Lewiston Daily Sun - February 10, 1940 - page 14

Sun Journal - February 10, 1940 - page 12

Portland Press Herald - April 14,1940 - page 16

Sun Journal - April 15, 1940 - page 12

Portland Press Herald - April 22, 1940 - page 12

Sun Journal - April 22, 1940 - pages 1 & 12

Lewiston Daily Sun - April 23, 1940 - page 2

 I have not had any luck locating additional Portland Division of the ERA newspaper clippings through the rest of the calendar year of 1940...

1945 - I did locate a clipping of Charles Heseltine going to Boston to make a presentation to

the Electric Railroaders National Association group there.

Portland Press Herald - April 15, 1945 - page 27

1947 - Here is an article on Electric Railway-related topics that Charles Heseltine provided to the newspaper...and mentions Charles is an ERA member.

Evening Express - August 25, 1947 - page 10

1948 - Here is an article about Charles Heseltine and a model Electric Railway setup he put together to celebrate a 50th anniversary in South Portland, Maine

 Evening Express - August 21, 1948 - pages 7 and 8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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