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".
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
