Dyer Library Presentation - Trains & Trolleys of Saco (Maine) : The Leavitt Connection 4-15-2025

Dyer Library and Saco Museum 371 Main Street, Saco, Maine,

Lower photos - Foster Leavitt, Sr, Foster Leavitt, Jr, and Edward Leavitt

(Foster, Sr's younger brother) Postcard of the first-day operation of

the Flying Yankee in 1935. It stopped in Old Orchard Beach.

Both images in the Foster Leavitt, Sr., Collection, courtesy of Mike Leavitt

Lower right photo of a portion of the Foster Leavitt, Jr. diorama

made by him to commemorate his experience when he was 5 years old,

1935, and joined his parents in riding the Flying Yankee that first

day from OOB station to Saco - PWM photo

    Here is the series of slides I used during the presentation at Dyer Library on Tuesday evening, April 15, 2025. This blog post will add some details and some links for posts related to several of the topics mentioned throughout the talk. Thank you to Mike Leavitt, son of Foster Leavitt, Jr., for sharing family photos and stories with me. The Leavitt family has 125 years of direct connections with the Seashore Trolley Museum's Biddeford & Saco Railroad open car No. 31. This presentation provides some information on those family connections that include local community connections in Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach. The Dyer Library and Saco Museum together have been a wonderful basis for the Leavitt family archives.

Sign at the main entrance for the Seashore Trolley Museum in

Kennebunkport, Maine, at 195 Log Cabin Road. Below the sign is Car 31,

on July 15, 1939, as it waits to be delivered to the initial 10 acres of land

in Kennebunkport, which is now where the main entrance is today.

Photos in the Seashore Trolley Museum

The aerial view on the right shows the main entrance on the lower left and

much of the main campus of the Seashore Trolley Museum. 

Google Earth screenshot

Dyer Library has donated many dioramas and individual models to the

Seashore Trolley Museum from their Foster Leavitt, Jr. collection. The

Trolley Museum will display the Leavitt pieces in the Museum's new

Model Railroad building. Photo STM

Interior photos of the Trolley Museum's model railroad/railway 

Photo STM

Interior photos of the Trolley Museum's model railroad/railway 

Photo STM

A few of the incredibly beautiful railroad and railway items made by

Foster Leavitt, Jr., donated to the Seashore Trolley Museum. Photos PWM

Top left screenshot from Great Documentaries YouTube page

Top right photos of the front and back cover of the DVD of PWM

Click Here: to go to the YouTube documentary or click on the video below

Click Here: to see the post 90 Communities in Maine with Electric Railway Service

Click Here: to see the post 57 Million Passengers Carried on Maine Electric Railways 1915

Click Here: Biography of the Electric Railway King of the Pine Tree State - Amos Fitz Gerald

The Leavitt family has been connected to Car 31 for 125 years!

Top left - Charles "Bob" Leavitt worked for the Biddeford & Saco RR (BSRR)

for 39 years beginning in 1896. He was a motorman and conductor and

operated Car 31, beginning when Car 31 first arrived in Saco in 1900. Both of his

sons, Foster Leavitt, Sr., and Edward "Eddie" Leavitt, also worked for the BSRR

and operated Car 31 (top center photo - Foster is motorman, Eddie is conductor).

Top right - Foster Leavitt, Sr, Foster Leavitt, Jr, and Eddie Leavitt, 1939.

Lower Left - Foster Leavitt, Sr., and Edward "Eddie" Leavitt on Car 31 at

Seashore Trolley Museum. They were members and operators during the

1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s at the Trolley Museum. Lower center and right -

Mike and Judy Leavitt with daughters Natalie and Amanda in 1999 at 

Dyer Library/Saco Museum, and in 2023, with all their family members

on Car 31 at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Photos from Mike Leavitt, PWM, and STM

Photo in the O R Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Biddeford & Saco Railroad

Left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Right - PWM

Photos on the left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos on the right - Foster Leavitt, Sr., courtesy Mike Leavitt

Map - Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Newspaper - Biddeford Daily - June 7, 1900

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 arriving and other activities of the B&SRR in 1900

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Atlantic Shore Line Railway 1900-1910

Photo left  - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo right - courtesy McArthur Public Library 

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo top left  - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo bottom left - PWM - right - courtesy Donald Curry Coll.

Photo/postcard - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on the history of the Portland Railroad going through Scarborough

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

 

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo left - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo right - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos - O. R. Cummings Collection courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Trolley Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Stained glass photo - PWM

Click Here - for the post on Electric Railway Fans visiting the B&S RR and Mrs. Anthony at Bay View

to spend time with 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 10, Arbutus

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Postcards - PWM

Photos - O. R. Cummings Coll. Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

In June 1999, the Seashore Trolley Museum brought Car 31

to Saco to begin an 8-day "Home Tour" to celebrate the 60th

anniversary of Car 31 being saved and establishing the Seashore Trolley Museum.

The bottom photo is from 1999 in Old Orchard Beach with the

 same building in the background, 60 years after the photo

of Car 31 in the same location was taken on June 18, 1939.

Photo top right  - O. R. Cummings Coll. Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum

Photo bottom right - PWM

Click Here - for the post on the Fan Trip on June 18, 1939 - Car 31 Chosen to be Saved

Click Here - for the post on the 1999 Car 31 Home Tour Celebration

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 as one of the Ten STM National Register of Historic Places Vehicles

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the final day of trolley operations at the Biddeford & Saco Railroad, July 5, 1939

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Photos from the O. R. Cummings Coll. at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Newspaper clipping from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection courtesy Mike Leavitt.

The photo on the right has Ralph Meserve sitting in the CMP office

with Foster Leavitt, Sr., circa 1960

Left - Foster Leavitt, Sr. (L), is with his brother, Edward Leavitt is at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Upper photo - Motorman Foster Leavitt, Sr. with conductor Edward Leavitt on Car 31 at STM

Right - Foster Leavitt, Sr. at STM

Newspaper clippings and photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Book photo on right - PWM

Newspaper from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photos and newspaper clippings from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photo on left - PWM - Newspaper clipping from the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll.

courtesy Mike Leavitt. Photo of Ralph Meserve courtesy of Tricia Erikson

Photo left - Foster Leavitt, Sr. Coll. courtesy Mike Leavitt

Photo right - PWM

1999 photos - PWM - 2023 photos courtesy Mike Leavitt

Top photos - PWM

Bottom photo from the Seashore Trolley Museum

Click Here - for the post on Car 31 arriving in Kennebunkport on July 15, 1939

Click Here - for the 7-minute video of B&SRR trolleys operating 1936-1939, or click below 

Click Here - for the 9-plus min. video of B&SRR trolleys operating 1936-1939 and buses operating 1953, or click below

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

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 first captivates, then 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 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

Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad Company - 24 Photos (1930s-1950s)

No. 105 - January 22, 1950, in North Lithium, MD

Foster Leavitt, Sr, and his brother, Edward "Eddie" Leavitt, like their father, Charles "Bob" Leavitt, worked as motormen and conductors for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad Company (B&SRR) in York County, Maine. The B&SRR began as a horsecar railroad, then transitioned to become an electric railroad. Foster and Eddie were early members of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Foster, Sr's love of trolleys was also passed down to his son Foster Leavitt, Jr. Between the father and son, they collected hundreds and hundreds of photos of electric railways and railroads from all over the State of Maine and many cities in the U.S. This post includes the 24 photos of cars operating in Washington (D.C.), Baltimore (MD), and Annapolis (Md) area (the 1930s-1950s).

Foster, Jr's son, Mike Leavitt, was very kind and shared the many photo albums with me. Mike allowed me to copy photos and gave me permission to share the photos. In sharing, I always credit Mike's grandfather/father and individuals who may be credited on the backs of the photos.

Included in this post below are 24 photos of cars operating in Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis areas from Album No. 7 of the Foster Leavitt, Sr. Collection that his grandson, Mike, now has in his possession. I included photos of the back of each photograph has some information either stamped or written on the back. Not all photos have dates, and a couple do not identify the trolley number.

To show my appreciation to the Leavitt family, I'll share a few photos of them beginning the pictorial.

Foster Leavitt, Sr. (left) is the motorman. His brother,

Edward "Eddie" (right) was the conductor of Car 31 in 1938.

Like their father, Charles"Bob" Leavitt, both brothers

worked for the Biddeford and Saco Railroad for many years.

Charles "Bob" Leavitt at the Saco carbarn in 1921.

Mr. Leavitt worked as a motorman at the

Biddeford and Saco Railroad for 39 years,

beginning in 1896. Seashore's Car 31 arrived

in Saco in June 1900, and Mr. Leavitt was one

of the motormen operating Car 31 from day 1.

Eddie Leavitt (left) was the conductor

and his brother, Foster Leavitt, Sr. (right), was the motorman

on Car 31 at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport

in 1977. Both operated cars at the Museum throughout

the 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s.

Click Here: for the post on the ten Maine railway-related cars in the Seashore Trolley Museum's collection that have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, including Car 31. 

June 23, 1999 - In 1999, as one of the activities to celebrate

the 60th anniversary of the Seashore Trolley Museum and

the saving of Car 31, I organized a "Home Tour" for Car 31.

Car 31 returned to Saco, Biddeford, and Old Orchard Beach.

I did not know Mike Leavitt at the time. However, he, his wife,

and their two daughters attended the Saco celebration. Here they

are on Car 31 with Mike's grandfather, Foster, Sr's motorman hat

on the bumper, that he wore while working for the B&SRR.

Mike's wife and daughters with Mike on

Car 31  on August 12, 2023, reenacting the previous Car 31 photoshoot from 1999.

I just happened to take this photo of Mike's daughters

gifting their great-grandfather's B&SRR motorman hat to

Dyer Library with Car 31 in the background on June 23, 1999

Mike and his whole family are on Car 31. They represent

six generations connected with Car 31 over 123 years!

August 12, 2023

Foster Leavitt, Sr.'s Collection - Album No. 7.

In the possession of his grandson, Mike Leavitt.

Label with the list of contents inside Album No. 7.

Here we go...enjoy!

No. 6 

No. 18 - May 17, 1941

No. 18 - January 22, 1950

No. 22 - September 14, 1933

No. 23

No. 27

No. 31

No. 36 - September 14, 1933

No. 51 

No. 64 - August 5, 1947

Number unknown - January 22, 1952

No. 82

No. 91 - 1936

No. 102 - March 12, 1949

No. 105 - January 22, 1950

No. 200 - May 26, 1941

No. 201 - January 22, 1950

No. 202 - January 22, 1950

No. 203 - March 12, 1949

No. 203 - August 24, 1940

Number unknown - January 22, 1950

No. 325 - January 22-1950

No. 605 - July 1940

No. 06 - 1938

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

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 first 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive