4th Anniversary of the Narcissus Project Blog 4-22-2019

The right side of Narcissus on 4-17-2019.

Two "double" vertical ash window posts have

been installed in addition to the single posts. 

The new steel channel (seen underneath the

original) has had all the holes drilled and now

awaits the "new" vintage 37-foot southern

yellow pine side sill so that they can be attached

to the passenger compartment. PWM

     The Narcissus Project Blog released its first post on April 22, 2015. Thank you to Patricia Pierce Erikson for encouraging me, then helping me, to set up the original Narcissus project blog and post. This post will be the 195th for the blog! The blog has had more than 212,000 total page views to date.  That's an increase of 71,000 from a year ago. Originally, the statement of purpose was, "This blog will introduce readers to the Narcissus 1912 Project, the renovation of a vintage electric interurban railway car at the Seashore Trolley Museum." Since that first post, research has led to the Narcissus project blog posts to expand their scope to include many of the storylines that are inexorably intertwined with the Narcissus. These storylines include Theodore Roosevelt's connections in Maine, the Libbey family, and the communities served by the PLI. With the Narcissus being in the collection of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, the content of some posts would include topics about the Maine Collection of railway vehicles at the Museum. In addition, this year, being the 80th Anniversary year for the Museum, some posts have been a nostalgic look back at the history of the Museum over the years. Then, it seemed only natural that posts about other electric railway systems in Maine be included for readers to enjoy as Maine's Bicentennial approaches (2020). The expansion of the content of the posts has also broadened the base of readers drawn to the blog. This has broadened the base of support for the Narcissus :)

A "double" post on the right and a single post

on the left. The doubles each have a steel rod

that is threaded on each end and basically

helps secure the roof to the body of the coach.

     During this past year of the Narcissus Project Blog, many exciting things have transpired. The single most significant is the major gift pledged last spring to the Narcissus Project from the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation. This major gift to the Narcissus Project, when fully implemented, combined with previous funds raised, will be the financial catalyst that will propel the restoration of this National Register of Historic Places electric railway icon to completion. Arthur Jones and Joseph Brogan, the principals and founders of the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation, have truly honored the Narcissus with their Foundation's extraordinary gift.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed restoration of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 14, Narcissus, will be in the fall of 2021 at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down any post until you come to the donation section or contact Phil Morse at p.morse31@gmail.com (cell-207-985-9723). Please help by making a donation today:)

Let's update you on where we are with the major interpretation resources:

A photo showing a portion of the original hand-drawn map

of the elevation and grade of the Portland, Gray, and

Lewiston Railroad before being delivered to NEDCC for

conservation work. PWM photo

Through the generosity of many donors during the following months, we had the necessary funds to cover the costs to have all the work on the map completed. Currently (April 2019), work has begun in Andover to conserve, repair, and photograph the map. We are so very grateful to Mr. Paul Libbey and to all the donors.

Here is the background: On November 15, 2017, I had the honor and pleasure to meet with Mr. Paul Libbey. Mr. Libbey, a nonagenarian, is the grandson of W. S. Libbey, Sr., and nephew to Harold Libbey. Paul Libbey was very generous and made a donation to the Museum of the original map of the elevation and grade of the right-of-way of the Portland, Gray & Lewiston Railroad (which became Portland-Lewiston Interurban in 1914), his uncle Harold had helped create. The map is 28.5 feet long and is one continuous roll of paper. The map is extraordinary and was sorely in need of conservation. An appraisal of its condition and an estimate totaling $11,000 to professionally conserve, repair, and photograph the map was provided by the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) in Andover, MA, in May 2018.

We are still in need of the funds necessary to make perhaps the single largest resource of interpretation resources available to us for creating the necessary exhibits, displays, and educational offerings. It is essential, when creating these interpretation programs, that the conservation, repairs, and scanning of the files of the incredible contents of the PLI Employees Scrapbook be completed.

Cover page of the large scrapbook created by Charles D. Heseltine,

using photos, newspaper clippings, and original ephemera from the
Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI), including poetry, personal
cards, notes, and notations from employees and their families.
My understanding is that Heseltine passed the scrapbook on to

O. R. Cummings, who, in turn, passed it on to the New England
Electric Railway Historical Society's (NEERHS) Library.
The Seashore Trolley Museum is owned and operated

by the NEERHS in Kennebunkport, ME

The Employees of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Scrapbook. Starting in 1938, for four consecutive years before the U.S. entered WWII, former PLI employees and their families attended an annual reunion in Gray (ME). All were encouraged to submit PLI-related items to share with the gathered attendees. A scrapbook was made to hold these submitted items. This scrapbook is about 28 inches by 23 inches with 112 pages. More than 200 photographs, numerous newspaper clippings, hand-written notes, poems, PLI-related ephemera, etc., are attached to pages in the scrapbook. The contents are incredible. Flipping through the pages, looking at the photos, and reading the poems, news clippings, personal notes, and cards, one can’t help but become sentimental, nostalgic, and grateful. Grateful to Charles Heseltine and those PLI employees and their family members for providing these personal keepsakes for inclusion in this amazing scrapbook. Charles Heseltine then entrusted the scrapbook to O. R. Cummings, who in turn entrusted the scrapbook to the Library at Seashore Trolley Museum. All items in the scrapbook have condition issues and need conservation. An appraisal of its contents' condition and an estimate totaling $26,000 to professionally conserve, repair, and photograph the contents was provided by the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover (MA). Due to the extremely fragile condition of the P, G, & L RR elevation map, our fundraising efforts first focused on having the conservation work done on the map. With that goal reached and the map now being conserved, we have turned our fundraising focus to raise the money needed to repair, conserve, and photograph all the contents within this incredible scrapbook. Scroll down the page to find the options for contributing, and please consider making a donation to help have this important work done.

The scrapbook has several pages dedicated to reunions of 

former PLI employees and their families. There are four

reunions specifically cataloged, on June 29, 1938, June 29, 1939,
June 30, 1940, and June 28, 1941. All four of the reunions
were held in Gray, ME. 1938 and 1941 reunions were held
at the Newbegin Hall (seen above). The 1939 and 1940 reunions

were held at the Pennell Institute Gymnasium.
It is noted in newspaper articles of the times that combined,
the total of former PLI employees and their family members
that attended each of the reunions in 1939 and 1940, well
exceeded 100 in attendance. The image above is from the
final annual reunion in 1941. Image from the Portland-Lewiston

Interurban Employees Scrapbook is among the

collection of the NEERHS Library.

      The Narcissus "Project" from inception has always included an interpretation portion of the project, which will include education programs, exhibits, and displays. During these years of my personal research of the PLI, Laconia Car Company, and Theodore Roosevelt's connections in Maine, it is quite clear that to create truly engaging exhibits, displays, and programs that provide educational content to a variety of age groups with various interests within the context that the Narcissus and its connections provide, the Scrapbook of the PLI Employees must have the above-mentioned work that it desperately needs to be done, completed. 

One of the 37-foot-long belt rails is set up for repairs. Repairs

were made to the right side back in the late 40s-early-50s, as

noted when first removed, and the "Friend or Foe" trading cards were found to be used as shims. PWM

To hold the belt rail in place during restoration

work, special jigs were made to keep the

rail secure and straight. PWM

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

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

the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

Forty-Eight years Ago Today - Halloween, 1969 - The Narcissus Arrived at Seashore Trolley Museum

The Narcissus as she looked when secured to the "Highway

Monster," upon arrival at the Seashore Trolley Museum on

Halloween, 1969. Image by Norman Down

     Forty-eight years ago today, the Narcissus arrived at its new home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The sole surviving high-speed wooden interurban from the legendary Portland-Lewiston Interurban system that operated between two major population centers in Maine, the Narcissus, is currently under restoration in Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration shop. The Narcissus had the honor of having Theodore Roosevelt as a passenger on August 18, 1914. The Narcissus Project blog is dedicated to disseminating information to the public through social media sources to raise awareness about the Narcissus restoration, its life story, and connections to the communities it served from 1914 to 1933.

Below is the write-up from the 1969 Annual Report on how the Narcissus was able to be acquired.

1969 Annual Report (page 6) New England Electric Railway Historical Society/Seashore Trolley Museum

     Interest in this car body, which has finally arrived at Seashore, is as old as the Society itself. Starting in 1937, there were annual trips run on the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway system operating out of Lewiston on the 19th of April. One of the highlights of the Sabattus line was the once-a-year inspection of the beautifully preserved body of Laconia number 14, which has been better known by its name, the Narcissus. It was during such a trip on May 30, 1939, that three of Seashore's founding members were making the first plans to acquire a Biddeford and Saco open car in June, when the buses would arrive to take over New England's last regular open trolley operation.

     Later on, when two of these Founders were getting initiated into the Street Railway business the hard way, in the backyard of the Saco car barn, getting the first car of the first Trolley Museum rigged to make it over the road journey to a small piece of land in Kennebunkport; there was little need to recall the Narcissus slumbering away in Sabattus because only 8 miles away at Bay View, reposed the sister car, No. 10, the Arbutus. Far more famous for running the first and last trip over the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and appropriately preserved in fully operating condition on a section of real rails and ties from the line, on the property of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of the famed interurban builder, W. Scott Libby, there was every reason to hope that if the fledgling Society became successful, this handsome and complete Interurban might be donated to this new Seashore Electric Railway. But, this was not to be the case, as the car was broken up during World War II at a time when many of our members were overseas.

A more famous sister of Narcissus, the Arbutus is seen here

on display at Gertrude Libbey Anthony's home in Bay View, Saco,

Maine. Image from O. R. Cummings' 1967 book,

"Maine's Fast Electric Railroad."

     Over the years, rumors continued that the Narcissus was still remarkably well-preserved, and the Society, by now, was sufficiently well-equipped with transportation equipment and willing to gamble on acquiring a car body of merit that might be re-equipped at a later date. Accordingly, contact was made with the owner, Mr. J. Henri Vallee of Lewiston.  By then, the general manager of the Museum, Dwight B. Minnick, and a verbal agreement had been made that the car could be acquired by the Society in exchange for equivalent housing if so done before Mr. Vallee's retirement.

J. Henri Vallee in Sabattus, Maine. The  Narcissus in the

background. The roof frames for the new "replacement" house

can be seen in the background to the right. Image courtesy of

Daniel A. Vallee.

     Mr. Vallee, it appeared, had been a passenger on the Interurban on the first and last days of operation and had a sentimental attachment to it. The excellent state of preservation of the car bore testimony to this.

     Various portable houses were looked into, but fell short of expectations. It was concluded that a simply framed house would have to be built. On at least three separate occasions in the intervening years, Museum personnel attempted valiantly to enlist the local interest and get some sort of a project going so that a title could be obtained for the Narcissus. For many reasons, these endeavors failed. One ray of hope came, however, in 1965 when, through the intercession of Governor Reed of the State of Maine, a pair of suitable Baldwin motor trucks was made available by the Canadian National from their Oshawa Railway subdivision.

     More enthusiasm for the project began to be generated by our growing Portland group, many of whom had worked their way up in our summer shop force and could visualize the results that could be obtained with the Narcissus, if once gotten, to the Museum's own shop. In 1967, Museum member William Dox, of Portland, was asked by the Trustees of the Seashore Trolley Museum to contact Mr. Vallee and see if the offer was still open. Once confirmed, Society historian and trustee O. R. Cummings, in the process of rewriting his history of the PLI, decided to turn over the funds from a project to the Narcissus fund and to make available all the 

over-cost proceeds from the publication and sale of "Maine's Fast Electric Railway". This generous offer of O. R. Cummings gave the project the impetus it needed, for not only was time running out on the offer, but the deterioration was setting in on the car. The trustees appointed a committee composed of Cummings, Donald Curry, John Coughlin, William Dox, Jr.,  and John H. Fancy until he became too occupied in other areas.

O. R. Cummings' book. He signed

over the royalties to the 

Narcissus fund. PWM

      Work accomplished by the committee was the building up of a fund to pay for the labor involved and locating a builder who would undertake to complete the exterior of the building within these limits. And then, through interest generated in the project, securing donations of the actual building materials needed. A necessary adjunct was, of course, the selection of basic house design, and a bill of materials could be drawn up. A USDA extension service dwelling was selected as a prototype. Also, a legal agreement had to be drawn up for signature by both parties, which enabled the Museum to erect a dwelling on Mr. Vallee's premises, ensure that the donation of the car body to the Museum would take place when the new structure had been closed in and become weather-tight.

     As soon as the PLI history was published, every effort was made to concentrate promotion and distribution for sales in the areas formerly served by the Interurban. Newspapers in the Portland and Lewiston areas were cooperative in relating all newsworthy developments in the campaign. By the fall of 1968, sufficient funds were on hand to get the project underway. As soon as commitments of donations for 80% of the materials required for the building had been received. As a result of some 40 solicitations, a search was instituted for a builder willing to undertake the erection of a building satisfactory to Mr. Vallee's needs and within the means of the special fund.

     Due to extremely bad weather setting in by late October (1968), the first builder bowed out because of other commitments, but recommended Mr. Joseph R. Blais of the Lewiston area, as one of the few other builders able to construct such a dwelling within the limitations set forth. Museum forces then came up and, working in two of the nastiest weekends on record, in alternating pouring rain and heavy snow, moved the body of the "Narcissus" off of its footings onto temporary blocking and separated and removed other appendages as necessary. But, despite their valiant efforts to get the operation back on schedule,  even worse weather followed. The project had to be called off until late May of 1969. From this point on, all progressed smoothly, the builder following the letter of authorization to within a margin of some $24.

Seashore Trolley Museum volunteers arrange to move the

Narcissus onto the "Highway Monster." Image courtesy of

Daniel A. Vallee.

     On July 30th, 1969, Mr. Vallee signed and delivered the transfer of title to the Narcissus to the committee members, closing what was probably the longest, most arduous, and expensive acquisition project ever undertaken by the Society.

The Narcissus, loaded on the "Highway Monster," connected to the

Seashore Trolley Museum's "Mack", with J. Henri Vallee's new

home in the background. Image courtesy of Daniel A. Vallee

     The story doesn't end here, however, as the course of the acquisition of the building materials, commitments were made to try to give the donors a certain amount of advertising publicity in return for their donations, some of which ran to well over $300 in value. This was done by fixing a side banner on each side of the car, under the windows, indicating the names of donors of materials. For this and other reasons, a small deficit was incurred. The project received donations from members of the committee and the Libbey family. Both groups had shown a great deal of interest in the project.

     Preparations for the trip were being made. However, due to activities during summer at the Museum and unavailable transport equipment, the Narcissus sat at its prior location, waiting for the next step. Finally, in early October, a large crew of 12 members of the Society, in a solid weekend's work, moved the body aboard the "Highway Monster", which had been skillfully maneuvered into position alongside the body a month earlier. Meanwhile, Mrs. Eleanor Libbey Awalt of Auburn, who had consented to and started work with the acquisition committee a year before in the raising of funds, provision of publicity in the Lewiston, Auburn, and New Gloucester areas, acted as a clearinghouse for that purpose, alerted news media and historical groups along the route on the impending move.

     A certain amount of showmanship and Ingenuity came into play to make the "Narcissus" look the part a little more. The weather letter boards were covered over with masonite strips painted in Pullman Green, and authentically lettered Portland-Lewiston Interurban,  and corrugated aluminum was fitted on; lower sections missing matchboard, and also hastily painted Pullman Green. The illusion was quite good, and the conditions of the stained glass windows did much to help this.

The Portland-Lewiston Interurban, masonite strips from 1969,

are still in place on the Narcissus on October 23, 2017, as

restoration work continues on the exterior. PWM

     The long-awaited move took place on Halloween of 1969. Despite delays with last-minute requirements for a house moving permit, excellent planning and skillful maneuvering of the Mack and Highway Monster, aided by an alert escort made it possible not only to retrace as closely as possible the interurbans old route through Lewiston-Auburn, New Gloucester, Gray, and West Cumberland, but, even to its street run in Portland via Forest Avenue, Congress Street, and Monument Square. Finally, after its 35-year lonely vigil at Sabattus, "Narcissus" joined its new family at the Trolley Museum. A costly acquisition indeed, but the car is basically sound, most of the needed equipment is now on hand, and its restoration is scheduled to get underway this summer with an enthusiastic crew.

Banner remnants from the 1969 road trip of the Narcissus.

It traveled from Sabattus Pond to the Seashore Trolley Museum.

The sign was found while cleaning up and sorting materials from

the Narcissus shortly after it entered the Donald G. Curry

Town House Restoration Shop. PWM

     The Narcissus was at the Museum for forty-eight years, and it now has its turn to be restored to full operating status. It is currently in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Work is underway on phase one to restore the exterior of the Narcissus. Adequate funds have been raised to finish the exterior. The fundraising for the Narcissus now focuses on the work and materials necessary to complete the restoration of the ornate interior. Please continue reading below for some next steps, and follow the Narcissus project blog to keep up to date with the progress and ways you can help. Thank You

     Thank you to everyone who helped the Narcissus to this point. We still need to continue to spread the word about the project. I encourage you to invite others to join in bringing this beauty to be the majestic, elegant, operating representative of Maine's premier electric interurban railway.

     One way to explain what the Narcissus project is about is by sharing the posts from the Narcissus project blog: www.narcissus1912.blogspot.com

Lots of folks find the posts very interesting.

In April 2019, the blog surpassed 212,000 total page views! 

The blog is a great way to spread the news of Narcissus.

Let's keep it going :)

Planning for gifts?

A box of greeting cards with envelopes is now available to purchase. 100% of the proceeds from these sales will benefit the Narcissus Project.

Greeting Cards of Narcissus in "Fast Friends" by

Maine artist, Wade Zahares.

Wording on the back of "Fast Friends"

Greeting Cards of Morrison Hill Station -

"Waiting for the Narcissus" by

Maine artist, Wade Zahares.

Greeting Cards:

Box of Ten (10) with envelopes - 4"x 6" - blank inside - $20

(Free shipping via USPS)

Free Shipping on all orders placed with me before November 30, 2017

To order Greeting Cards - email p.morse31@gmail.com

All proceeds from the sale of these items will be added to the PLI Education Fund No. 917.

Free Shipping on all orders placed with p.morse31@gmail.com

What's next for Narcissus? 2017/2018

Restoration work will continue on the exterior of the Narcissus. 

All roof ribs were removed, repaired, primed, and replaced.

Ten needed to be replaced. The left side has had its end boards

secured to the roof rib tenons. The right-side end boards are

nearly all in place.  Image 10-23-17 PWM

Donald Curry works on securing the right

side end boards to the roof rib tenons.

10-23-17 PWM

Major side sill and bolster work is in the early stages.

The bolster will be removed, assessed, repaired, pieces

replaced as necessary, primed, painted, and then reinstalled.

Side sills and the attached steel channel will be removed,

assessed, repaired, and replaced as necessary. 10-23-17 PWM

Morrison Hill Station

In recent weeks, the petite 1915 Portland-Lewiston Interurban waiting station, originally located in West Cumberland (ME), has had window and door sills replaced and painted. Window trim boards replaced and painted, metal roof edges repaired and painted, the west-facing roof panels sanded and painted, exterior walls (yellow) north, south, and west repainted, the tiny wooden electrical box that feeds the 600 volts (DC) lights of the building fully rebuilt, primed, and painted, and many interior upgrades. All these improvements (and a few more to follow) are in preparation for the building to be an exhibit next season about the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.

This picture was taken on October 23, 2017. 1915

Morrison Hill Station is looking great with fresh upgrades and

paint. PWM

Inside Morrison Hill Station. New floating oak flooring,

newly painted kickboards, trim, and awaiting installation.

10-20-17 PWM

Interior of Narcissus

Patented interlocking rubber floor tiles in the smoking

compartment and down the center aisle of the passenger

compartment floor of the Narcissus. We will be seeking

contractors and prices on making new tiles, as well as

seeking solutions to properly repair the tiles, if possible,

for reuse. 10-23-2017 PWM

Seats for the Narcissus. We will make all 20  mohair plush
upholstered seats from scratch. We have prices from two foundries
to cast all the various metal components. Funding the cost to
cast original patterns and then the various components is the
highest priority for fundraising now. Image of the Interior of 1912,
Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 16, Clematis. This
image has the viewer peering down the aisle towards the number
two end of the Clematis. Image from Seashore Trolley Museum 

One of the original passenger windows in its
mahogany sash has been restored along with seventeen
others. Six will have to be made from scratch.
We have many of the original brass components.
PWM

One of the newly restored mahogany sash windows

that are contained in the two bulkheads. Additional

interior work will include rewiring the Narcissus.

When the body - Vallee's summer home, 120-volt

household wiring was added, and much of the original

wire was removed. October 2017 image PWM

The center ceiling panels have ornate
gold leaf fleur-de-lis. The interior walls are
all mahogany with an inlay of Ebony-Holly-
Ebony. The forty leaded-stained glass
windows above the passenger windows
are breathtaking. PWM

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

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 captivate, fascinate, and 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

Two Milestones for the Narcissus Project are Fast Approaching

"Fast Friends" by Maine Artist, Wade Zahares. The caption for this

original work of art reads, Winfield Scott Libbey, the enterprising

builder of the  Portland-Lewiston Interurban, is portrayed with his

wife Annie and two of his most beloved possessions, his beautifully

appointed, high-speed interurban coach, No. 14, Narcissus, alongside

Libbey, driving his very rare, 1908 Stanley Motor Coach Co.,

K 30-hp Semi-Racer. PWM

Similar to the two "Fast Friends" in Wade's wonderful artwork, the Narcissus project itself is fast approaching two milestones to become the completely restored, fully operating, majestic, sole-surviving elegant ride from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban in existence.

First Milestone:

At this writing (9-20-2017), we are within $3,000 of reaching our goal of raising the initial $40,000 in a most generous matching grant challenge through the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation. Please consider a donation to the Narcissus project fund #816-A today. Options for you to donate are here.

Click Here: Donation Options

Once the next $3,000 in contributions is received, we will submit the required paperwork to receive the additional $40,000 grant funds from the 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation. With those funds combined with the existing monies in the Narcissus fund 816-A, we will then have the required resources to complete the restoration of the exterior of the Narcissus. The restoration of the exterior of the Narcissus is considered phase one of the three-phase project. 

Second Milestone:

The Narcissus Project Blog is closing in on 100,000 Total Page Views!

The Narcissus Project Blog released its first blog post on April 22, 2015. The post you are reading now is the 122nd released over the past 29 months. The posts are on Narcissus1912.blogspot.com

History of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban & Narcissus

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail

Maine Electric Railways

Please Share Links - Help spread the word on the project. It's important to the future success of the project :) Thank You

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

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

the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive