2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days Event Weekend - AMAZING!!

One of the many fabulous moments of the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days

opening gala for the weekend event. When, on Friday, July 21, fourteen

descendants of W. S. Libbey, and their spouses, gathered in front

of the number one end of one of the Libbey patriarch's prized possessions,

the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, for a family photo

opp. Nine great-grandchildren, two great, great-grandchildren, and three

great, great, great-grandchildren of W. S. & Annie Libbey.

PWM

     The weather for the Friday opening of the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days event at Seashore Trolley Museum was hot! Very hot. The conditions did shorten the length of time some of the guests were able to stay and enjoy the scheduled activities. However, the activities generated photo opportunities and memories of experiences that will be fondly recalled for years to come.

     Registration began at 3 p.m., and shortly after 4, most of the guests boarded the 1901 open car trolley from Connecticut, No. 303, for the short ride to Morrison Hill Station. From the 1915 Portland-Lewiston way station, we walked up to the Town House Restoration Shop for a tour of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus. The Narcissus is undergoing restoration and is the beneficiary of the proceeds from the Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend.

Representing the New Gloucester Historical Society, guests

Tom Blake and Beverly Cadigan enjoy the short ride from

the visitor center to Morrison Hill Station. SB photo

     The guests were initially in two separate groups. One group was first on the floor of the shop to hear Donald Curry discuss aspects of the Narcissus restoration, while the second group of visitors was on the visitor gallery listening to Randy Leclair, shop foreman, discuss aspects of the restoration. The second group would later join the first group for photo opportunities of the Narcissus from the shop floor.

Guests along the visitor gallery as Randy Leclair explains aspects

of the Narcissus restoration. PWM

Guests listen to Donald Curry explain aspects of the

Narcissus restoration. PWM

With his son, Michael Meldrum, standing close, Phil Meldrum

sits patiently waiting while the Museum's crack shop staff

members, John Melanson and Randy Leclair cut and created a

replacement wood wheel for the right front of Phil's wheelchair.

The plastic spokes of the original wheel shattered when it was caught

in the track embedded in the shop floor. The autographed "new"

replacement wood wheel made for one of the memorable

experiences for the guests of the opening gala :) PWM

    Upon their return from the Narcissus tour, guests enjoyed light refreshments in the Museum's Exhibit Room while mingling and/or meeting with other guests. Guests had opportunities to purchase raffle tickets, a variety of Theodore Roosevelt-related books signed by the respective authors, or to bid on more than 30 silent auction items.

Guests enjoy the light refreshments while perusing the various

offerings that will financially support the Narcissus project. PWM

    The schedule of activities, following the meet and greet, opened with a welcome to the guests by the Narcissus project manager, Phil Morse :) The first of three presentations compared the timeline of the personal lives of two men who will forever be associated with Narcissus, Theodore Roosevelt, and W. S. Libbey. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914. W. S. Libbey was the enterprising builder of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI). Libbey was also personally involved in the decisions on the interior appointment and the naming of the luxurious interurban coaches. 

The screen in the background has the first slide of the presentation

by this writer, "The Narcissus, Theodore Roosevelt, and

W. S. Libbey: A Winning Combination." PWM

     The second presentation had Seal Cove Auto Museum's Director of Curatorial Affairs, Roberto Rodriguez, who was titled "Stanley Steamer Speed Records and the K Semi-Racer." W. S. Libbey's original 1908 Stanley K 30-hp Semi-Racer is at Seal Cove Auto Museum. It is viewed as being the most valuable Stanley in the world!

Roberto Rodriguez, Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Seal Cove

Auto Museum in Seal Cove on Mount Desert Island, Maine.

Notice directly behind Roberto is the not-yet-unveiled original artwork

by the Maine artist, Wade Zahares (seated far right), of the 

Narcissus with Libbey in his K Semi-Racer :) PWM

     The final presentation was by Maine artist Wade Zahares. Wade was commissioned by an anonymous donor [ :) ] to create an original work depicting the Narcissus alongside W. S. Libbey driving his very rare 1908 Stanley K Semi-Racer. Wade spoke of his personal connections to the Libbey family. Wade introduced his mother, Lida Schott Zahares, and his aunt, Nancy Schott Plaisted. The Schott sisters grew up in Lewiston and were neighbors to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of W. S & Annie Libbey! How cool is that? This Narcissus has connected so many intertwining personal stories, and Wade's is one more that adds to this rich, wonderful project.

Maine artist Wade Zahares addresses the guests just before the

unveiling of his original work, which is just to his left. PWM

     The moment we were all waiting for then arrived. Wade and Phil unveil Wade's amazing work,

"Fast Friends",  to hardy applause! Then Wade discussed details and answered guests' questions about his beautiful work.

Maine artist Wade Zahares talks about his newly unveiled original

work, "Fast Friends".

     The scheduled activities in the Exhibit Room wrapped up as the silent auction closed, raffle winners were announced, and guests had the opportunity to purchase prints of "Fast Friends".

Wade Zahares ' "Fast Friends" prints are available for purchase.

Click Here for details by PWM

Wade Zahares' "Fast Friends" greeting cards are also available

to purchase. Click Here for details

     The opening gala came to a close following a trolley car ride on the 1901 open car from Connecticut, No. 303, on a beautiful early evening, where guests thoroughly enjoyed the experience of riding on a beautifully restored, historic "Breezer".

303 at Talbot Park before heading back to the visitor center.

Motorman Ed Dooks interacting with guests from the vestibule of 303.

     The Friday gala was just the opening act for the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event to benefit the Narcissus project. The winner of the 50/50 raffle was Sherri Alcock. The winner of the poster, "The Roosevelt: An Intimate History," signed by Ken Burns, was John Grady. John then donated the poster back to the Narcissus project :) Thank you, John!

Saturday activities included children's book author Suzanne Buzby Hersey,

signing and selling her books. Her big seller was her book,

"My Maine". PWM

The 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Days event is one of two special

weekends for members of the John Libby Family Association to

visit the  Trolley Museum. W. S. Libbey is a descendant of John Libby.

John Libby settled in Scarborough, Maine, in the early 1630s. The

next JLFA members' weekend at the Trolley Museum will be

during the JLFA's 113th reunion in September 2017 PWM 

Chad Pinkham and his daughter Corinne are set up early in

preparation for visitors. This was the third year that they

volunteered at the Teddy Roosevelt Days event. PWM

The Narcissus project display for Teddy Roosevelt Days - PWM

"Fast Friends" prints are on sale on Saturday and Sunday of the

Teddy Roosevelt Days event - PWM

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

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 captivate, fascinate, then generate 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 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

Libb(e)y Family Connection to Narcissus becomes Personal

First Congregational Church in Black Point, Scarborough,

Maine. The Black Point area of Scarborough is where

John Libby established his home in the 1630s. W. S. Libbey, the

founder of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, is a descendant of

John Libby. And, "Surprise", so is this blogger!

Image February 22, 1952. PWM

     This blog was created in April 2015 to introduce readers to the Narcissus 1912 Project. The project features the restoration of this National Register of Historic Places vintage electric interurban railway vehicle at the  Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The blog includes posts on the restoration of the 1912 high-speed, luxury interurban, its history, and connections to its most famous passenger, Theodore Roosevelt.

This post introduces a connection to Narcissus that is quite personal to this writer.

     The Narcissus was built in 1912 in Laconia, NH, at the Laconia Car Company Works, for the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad. The PGLRR would later become known as the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and served the communities of, and between, Portland and Lewiston, Maine, from 1914 to 1933. The man behind the construction of the interurban line between the two prominent cities in Maine was W. S. Libbey.

      Early in August 2015, I had the pleasure of meeting family members descended from W. S. Libbey. A copy of a family-produced biography of W. S. Libbey was shared with me by Mark Libbey Conley. Mary is a great-granddaughter of W.S. Libbey. I found his biography fascinating. In his biography, his family wrote of W. S. Libbey, "With the same care and precision he had devoted to all his affairs, Libbey conceived of the Interurban as the fastest, quietest, most luxurious transportation yet available.....Each richly furnished car was given the name of a flower." We are restoring his Narcissus.

     Early in September of 2015, Mary reached out to the John Libby Family Association (JLFA) and asked them to invite me to attend their next annual meeting. I received an invitation flyer that explained the reunion's details, including directions to the meeting house. The reunion would be hosted at the First Congregational Church in the Black Point area of Scarborough, ME.

     Hmmm....that church? Seems like I know that church? My mother grew up in Scarborough. Sure enough, my parents were married in the First Congregational Church in Black Point!

W. S. Libbey is a descendant of John Libby (Many Libbys, whether the name is Libby or Libbey, are descended from John Libby of the Black Point area of Scarborough, ME). The 111th JLFA reunion was taking place later in September. I attended the reunion. Had a table set up with materials explaining the Narcissus project. 

This blogger's parents' wedding at the First Congregational Church

in Black Point, Scarborough, Maine. L-R, Emily True Morse

(groom's mother), Warren O. Morse (groom), Nancy Hughes Morse

(bride), and Ms Alphaetta Plummer Hughes (bride's mother). The

strong Libby connection to this blogger is via the Plummer side

of the bride's mother :) Image 2-22-1952 PWM

     Now that's a coincidence! My parents were married in the church where the Libby reunion was taking place. I invited two students from the Residential Life program at Thornton Academy in Saco, ME,  to join me at the reunion.

     Allen Humphries is a board member of the John Libby Family Association. Allen had introduced himself to me at the reunion, and a few days later, was very kind to share some photographs he had taken. As it turns out, Allen had also done some genealogical research about my family. He informed me of his research. That through my father's side of the family, he (Allen) and I were 11th cousins! He went on to say that I was also the 10th cousin of a couple of the reunion attendees. A week later, Allen researched my mother's side of the family and found that through the Plummer side of my maternal grandmother, Ms Alphaetta, I was descended from John Libby, the Patriarch of the John Libby Family Association. So, I was related to one-third to one-half of all the attendees at the reunion!

No wonder I've been so drawn to the Narcissus :)

Here is the Libby Tree for this writer:

1)  John Libby - b: Abt. 1602 in Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet, Kent, England
2)  Matthew Libby - b: 1663, Scarborough, ME
3)  Matthew Libby - b: Abt. 1695
4)  Zebulon Libby - b: 1737
5)  Robert Libby - b: 1769
6)  Eliza Libby - b: 1804 (married Simeon Clay)
7)  Jonathan Clay - b: 1827
8)  Ms Alphaetta Clay - b: 1854 (married William L. Plummer)
9)  Clifford L. Plummer - b: 1877
10) Ms Alphaetta Plummer - b:1900 (married Dean Marcellus Hughes)
11) Nancy Hughes - b: 1932 (married Warren O. Morse)
12) Philip W. Morse

13) Sam & James Morse

I have sent in membership dues to join the John Libby Family Association. I look forward to learning more about my cousins and, in particular, where the W. S. Libbey branch of the family is connected to me.

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

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

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 captivate, fascinate, then generate 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 donating 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 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