Narcissus Restoration Update - Part 4 - Exterior Poplar Frames 5-11-2016

Original Narcissus exterior poplar frames in the foreground. The mock-up is back.

     This is the fourth post in the series following Seashore Trolley Museum volunteer Lary Shaffer at his woodworking shop at Scarborough Marsh Fine Furniture, as he uses vintage poplar supplied by Rousseau Reclaimed in South Portland, ME, to repair original exterior frames and make replacement exterior frames that were missing on the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus. The historic Narcissus is currently in the Seashore Trolley Museum's Town House Restoration Shop, where its exterior is being fully restored.

     This post has Lary doing the various cuts needed on the repaired frames and the newly built replacement frames. These cuts are done in a specific order. There are several jigs that Lary built to hold the frames as they are shaped with various blades in various positions, to make the contours necessary to match the originals.

Each half of a poplar arch is secured to the body of the Narcissus

with a countersunk screw. Here you see where Lary has tuned a

vintage piece of poplar into a dowel that he then glues into

place to repair the hole made to remove the original slotted-head,

steel screw that had rusted into place. PWM

After the wooden dowel was sanded down

PWM

The new left and right exterior poplar frames. Frames are made 

from vintage poplar. Each of these will next be shaped, then put

through several steps to cut the contours to match the original

frames. PWM

Original exterior poplar frames that have each had their ends

repaired. Each new end will need to be shaped, then put

through several steps to cut the contours to match the original.

The Narcissus as it waits to be moved into the Town House

Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport, ME on May 20, 2015.

    The two exterior poplar arches together with their horizontal extensions (tails). The ends of each half-arch are clearly missing. Each of the 14 full arches has a left and right "half". Two complete arches (four halves) were missing. Lary Shaffer replicated them by using vintage reclaimed poplar, supplied by Rousseau Reclaimed in South Portland, ME. Only four original ends-of-the-arches survived, saved through restoration. Lary Shaffer made twenty-four new ends from vintage poplar and attached them to the repaired original arch-halves. PWM

     Each of the newly made exterior arch halves, as well as each newly attached repaired end to the original halves, will go through several steps to cut the contours into the vintage poplar to match the originals.

     The first step is to have each of the newly made full, half arches (blanks) and the new ends added to the original arches, take turns on the jig, and have their excess vintage poplar material removed by passing them through the shaper.

     The second step is rounding over the top arched edge by passing the section through a special router before the third step, which is to then place the arch on one of the specially made jigs for the shaper that will cut the channel that will hold several small vertical sheathing pieces on the exterior of the Narcissus.

Lary Shaffer guiding a new exterior half arch through the shaper

on a specially designed jig that will have the cutters remove excess

vintage poplar and shape the blank to the specs of the original half

arches from the Narcissus. PWM

New end on an original exterior half arch repair. PWM

Lary Shaffer, pointing to the channel cut into one of the new

exterior arch halves of the Narcissus. PWM

Freshly cut channel in the new end of a repaired original

exterior poplar arch half for the Narcissus. PWM

One of the new exterior poplar arch halves for the Narcissus for its

turn on the next jig to receive its next shaper cut. PWM

The channel cut on the inside of the new exterior poplar arch half.

This channel will hold the mahogany sash frame of the ornate

leaded stained glass window. PWM

The channel cut on the inside, the new end repair of the original

exterior poplar arch.  This channel will hold the mahogany

sash frame of the ornate leaded stained glass window. PWM

     This next step is the most challenging cut. Removing wood from the outside while rounding over the transition to the center cut of each arch.

The complicated cut on the right of this original exterior poplar

arch frame half is clearly visible.

    There are still a couple more steps for each arch to go through before all necessary cuts. The 90-degree cut seen here in the upper-left of the frame will need to be made on all the new frames and the repair ends. Also, barely visible at the bottom of the image is the lap-over extension. This is where the top of each half-arched frame is connected.

The unique cutter set up for the shaper to accommodate the

 specially-made jig to make the challenging cut on the

exterior poplar arch frames. PWM

Lary Shaffer guided the jig along the shaper while making the

challenging cut. PWM

The second time through to

make the final cut. PWM

The finished product :)

PWM

One of the original exterior poplar arch halves with its original

ends was repaired. PWM

To help the original end pieces hold together, a hole was drilled,

filled with a vintage poplar dowel at the center on the end.

Click Here - to see Part 1 in the series of 4 -  exterior poplar framework and to see Lary's bio.

Click Here: - to see Part 2 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here: - to see Part 3 of the exterior poplar framework

Click here to view the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click Here: to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here: - to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

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

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 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 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

Reclaimed Lumber Used in Narcissus Restoration

Stacked in the yard at Rousseau Reclaimed in South Portland, Maine.

A few of these beams are poplar wood "sleeper" logs from a "bank" barn in

Akron, Pennsylvania. This "reclaimed" poplar will be milled to make

13.5" wide by 10 feet long boards for the exterior of the Narcissus. Then, the

painted poplar vertical, tongue, and groove sheathing will be

attached to these boards as the exterior finish. Some of this poplar above

will also be milled for the tongue-and-groove roof strips on the vestibules

of the Narcissus. PWM

The Narcissus on May 20, 2015, the first day it entered the Seashore

Trolley Museum's Town House Restoration Shop. This image is

looking (from right to left) at the number two end. You can clearly

see where vintage poplar wood will be used to repair/replace the

delicate tongue-and-groove vestibule roof boards that will be steamed

and bent to a steep curve. You can also see where the

13.5" wide by 10-foot-long poplar boards are on the side.

You can see the arched exterior poplar frames at the tops of

the openings for the ornate leaded stained glass arched windows

above the passenger window openings. PWM

How steep is the curve? This is an image of the exposed roof ribs

of the number two end vestibule of the 1912 Narcissus.

Each of the original tongue-and-groove poplar roof strips was

numbered individually, photographed as a whole, painstakingly

removed, and then assessed individually for consideration for repairs

and possible reuse. The vintage poplar being supplied by

Rousseau Reclaimed will be milled with tongue and groove, and to

the proper thickness and length. PWM

     The Narcissus is one breathtakingly beautiful railway vehicle. As we work on this phase of the Narcissus project to fully restore the exterior, we pay special attention to the original wood materials that are the Narcissus. They have survived 114 years. We find it rewarding to use vintage wood as material when replacing wood that is no longer present. And when replacing wood that is deemed unusable or unsafe. We are very fortunate to have a local supplier of reclaimed vintage wood, which has successfully supplied us in the past with wood for use in restoring historic railway vehicles. John Rousseau, the owner of Rousseau Reclaimed, has had great luck in finding and supplying us with the vintage poplar we are using on the Narcissus. This post interviews John and is the first of two posts that give some depth to the story behind supplying vintage wood for the Narcissus restoration. As a bonus, at the end of the 2nd clip, he talks about where the vintage red oak and southern yellow pine came from for the restoration of the 1906 wooden electric locomotive, Atlantic Shore Line No. 100 (ASL-100) :)

Click Here: to view the first post in the arched poplar frames work series and to see Lary Shaffer's bio.

Click here to view the second post in the arched poplar framework series.

Click here to view the third post in the arched poplar framework series.

Click Here: to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click Here: to view the post on leaded stained glass work

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

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 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 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

Narcissus Restoration Update - Mahogany Sash Passenger Windows - 4-29-2016

One of the two, first, completely restored original mahogany sash passenger

windows from the 1912 Narcissus. The original brass components were

placed in position for this photo and are not yet secured. This beautiful

work on the mahogany sash windows by Seashore Trolley Museum

member/volunteer, Jim MacKell

Click Here to see more on the Beautiful Brass of the Narcissus

     The historic 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, entered the Town House Restoration Shop of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, on May 20, 1015. 

Upon entering the shop, the materials contained within the Narcissus were identified, assessed, inventoried, and in some cases, removed and stored for later work. The Narcissus resides on tracks in the unheated portion of the shop. So, during the coldest months of winter, smaller items that need restoration may receive the necessary attention either in the heated portion of the shop or, in some cases, at a volunteer's home or at a contractor's place of business.

     This Narcissus Project Blog post pertains to the mahogany sash and glass of the twenty-six passenger windows. Eighteen originals have survived in various conditions of disrepair. Restoration/repair/rebuilding began during the winter months (2015-16) at the woodworking shop at the home of Museum volunteer Jim MacKell.

Jim MacKell holding an original Narcissus passenger window

sash. The Narcissus window opening number 25 is embedded. PWM

One can determine which window opening by standing inside the Narcissus, and while looking forward, towards the No. one end, start with the first window opening on the front, on the right-hand side, and count the window openings. Numbers #1 through # 13 are on the right from the No. 1 end to the No. 2 end. Opening #14 is the first window opening on the left side at the No. 2 end.  So, with that system in mind, the above sash and mahogany window #25 next to # 26. They are the pair of windows at the smoking compartment on the left side of the Narcissus, as you look towards the No. 1 end.

See the image below

Here is an image of Narcissus taken from an advertisement. The

first pair of passenger windows seen on the left are #26 and #25.

The ad is for promoting the new patented trolley "shoe." 

It will replace the trolley wheel that conducts the electricity from 

overhead wire to power the various electric vehicles.

STM image.

One of the eighteen original mahogany sash windows from

the Narcissus, while being assessed. Each of the surviving windows

and sashes was in various stages of disrepair. Some of the lower

horizontal "rails" will not be salvageable. Some of the rails

and stiles will have new mahogany

repairs spliced and blended with the original. PWM 

Narcissus mahogany passenger window stile

in need of repair. 4-25-2016 PWM

     The video below is the first in this post with Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer Jim MacKell explaining the steps he has taken as he restores/repairs/rebuilds the mahogany sash and windows for the Narcissus.

     The video below is the second in this post with Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer Jim MacKell explaining the steps he has taken as he restores/repairs/rebuilds the mahogany sash and windows for the Narcissus.

Phil Morse holding a new mahogany window stile for Narcissus

with the radius curve cut clearly visible. 4-25-2016 PWM

Jim MacKell holding a restored Narcissus passenger

sash showing the radius curve and the two routers in the

background to cut the male-female curves. 4-25-2016 PWM

New mahogany rails and stiles will become one of the handful of

passenger windows that will replace missing windows in the

Narcissus. 4-25-2016 PWM

     The video below is the third in this post with Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer Jim MacKell explaining the steps he has taken as he restores/repairs/rebuilds the mahogany sash and windows for the Narcissus.

Jim MacKell inserts a brass screw to secure the newly restored

Narcissus passenger, sash window. 4-25-2016 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

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 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

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Ceremony - Maine Woods Forever 4-15-2016

Breaux Higgins (R) accepts the Theodore Roosevelt Maine

Conservation Award from John Rust (L) of Maine Woods Forever.
Image courtesy of MWF

Maine Woods Forever announces winners of the 2016

"Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award"

For more information

John Rust, chairman of the Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Committee

207-337-5858

Unity, Maine - Maine Woods Forever is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 "Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award" - a youth-oriented award created to recognize young people and youth groups whose efforts embody Roosevelt's conservation ethic and achievements. The award recognizes what Maine's youth are doing to appreciate and conserve our forest heritage. It also encourages them to become future conservation leaders.

The 2016 awards were announced on April 15, 2016, at Maine Woods Forever's 33rd Roundtable event, held at Unity College's Center for the Performing Arts.

"The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award honors today's young people and the legacy of America's most celebrated conservationist, President Theodore Roosevelt," notes John Rust, chairman of the award committee. "Many credit his rugged sojourns in Maine during the late 1800s with shaping his determination to conserve our natural world.

This year's awardees have clearly lived up to this ethic."

Awards were presented to:

1) Breaux Higgins, an Eagle Scout from Bar Harbor, was presented with an award for an individual youth who has shown outstanding dedication, leadership, and strong and steady growth in exhibiting Maine's conservation ethic. One notable project was to restore the Bates Cairns at Acadia National Park and increase public awareness of their use and significance.

Bates Cairns are stone trail markers. They suffer from significant chronic vandalism because hikers may not fully understand their meaning. Park visitors (2.5 million in 2015 - PWM) add or remove rocks from the cairns, build new ones pointing in different directions, or even destroy them completely. This behavior is a safety issue. It leads hikers astray. A natural resource issue. Rocks are taken from the already thin mountain soil, which is an aesthetic issue. These man-made objects clutter the beautiful natural landscape.

Breaux partnered with the US National Park Service staff at Acadia for his Eagle Scout Service Project to offer a multidimensional service project to optimize the promotion of preservation and safety. Breaux developed a program to educate the public by raising awareness of the meaning of the Bates Cairns in Acadia and combined the simple message of the cairns with principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. His message reached a substantial number of visitors and, more importantly, created a program that can be sustained by Parks and volunteer staff.

Massabesic Middle School's 7th Grade Aroostook Team

accepts the Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award (front:

7th Team members, Andrew Lawpaugh, Brenna Ramsdell,

Back: John Rust of Maine Woods Forever. 7th-grade science

teacher, Patrick Parent).

Image courtesy of MWF

2) The Massabesic Middle School's 7th grade Aroostook Team was presented with an award for outstanding achievement by a youth organization to recognize their many collaborations as citizen scientists to study and then educate the public about many environmental conditions concerning Maine's forests. These have included:

* The 2nd Annual Invasive Species Forum, which reached over 100 community members and hundreds more of their peers;

* Collaborating with the Vital Signs Program as well as state entomologists and Forest Service employees to present their work;

* Contributing to Maine Project Learning Tree's biannual newsletter, which reached over 1,200 educators and natural resource professionals throughout the State;

* Participating in Invasive Plant Patrol training and certification, Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program;

* Assisting the York County Soil and Water Conservation District with a survey of the state-endangered New England Cottontail;

* Surveying their hometowns for forest pests such as red pine scale (Matsucoccus Matsumura), hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges Tsugae), and winter moth (Operophtera spp).

The award was accepted by 7th-grade Aroostook Team students, Brenna Ramsdell and Andrew Lawpaugh, both of Limerick, and their 7th-grade science teacher, Patrick Parent.

"Each year, this group of about eighty 7th graders impacts and influences others because they experience their natural world, its complexities, and its importance," said Pat Maloney, Coordinator of Maine Project Learning Tree. "They communicate their passions, their knowledge, and their appreciation of the Maine woods as a natural system in need of human understanding."

"The Aroostook Team's work will have lasting impacts beyond their graduation. The influence these students have had on the Vital Signs community of scientists, managers, educators, and fellow students is a testament to their dedication to Maine's forests." - Team Vital Signs (Christine Voyer, Molly Auclair, and Caroline Casals), Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, Maine.

John Rust (L) of Maine Woods Forever, presenting the Theodore Roosevelt

Maine Conservation Award to the Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's

Association represented by Sam Spaulding (R). Image courtesy of MWF

3) The Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Association was presented with an award for outstanding achievement by a youth organization to recognize their Junior Guides Program, which offers children ages 9 through 12, as well as graduate Junior Counselors (ages 13-18), an exceptional outdoor skills education and experience. Sam Spaulding accepted the award on behalf of the Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Association.

"This program has done an excellent job of educating, preserving, and protecting the future of our natural resources while sharing the rich outdoor traditions and history of the region," said Bill Pierce, Executive Director of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Rangeley. "The program has had alumni return every year as Junior Counselors who volunteer and help indoctrinate new Jr. Guides. In a word....it has created LEADERS."

Pierce adds. "The children of the Rangeley community, often from single-parent or overly-busy families that may not have otherwise had these experiences, benefit greatly. Parents have witnessed its lasting rewards highlighted in the sun-kissed faces and rousing stories of their now empowered and confident children."

Congratulations to all.

Maine Woods Forever

Maine Woods Forever is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and protecting the legacy of Maine's forests and woodlands. Maine Woods Forever was founded in 2004 to foster collaboration between the many people and organizations devoted to conserving our forests and woodlands for today and future generations.

Additional Background About the "Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award"

Award Criteria

The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award is given to youths or youth organizations who demonstrate a commitment to Maine's forests and woodlands, and those accomplishments may include:

* Effectively working alone or with others in educating others on the importance of conserving Maine's forests and woodlands, large and small

* Outstanding contributions toward conserving Maine's forests and woodlands

* Leadership in local, regional, or statewide projects increases awareness by the public at large of a significant issue relating to Maine's forests and woodlands

* Educating and increasing public awareness of the heritage of the Maine Woods.

* Improving the quality of life in the Maine woods-dependent communities

* Fostering an increased appreciation of Maine woods resources

* Fostering stewardship of private forestland

* Fostering or supporting a conservation organization or foundation seeking to conserve large tracts of land and wildlife

* Forming or fostering alliances between conservation organizations

* Making improvements in the quality of conservation and/or conservation education

Special attention is paid to unsung nominees who have achieved success not otherwise recognized. Weight is given to leadership qualities demonstrated by inspiring others to participate in or influence conservation and education practices.

Qualifications for the Award:

* Must involve activities within Maine

* Must be age 10 through High School (applicants older than 18 are acceptable if still attending High School) or youth organizations whose conservation projects primarily involve youths of these ages.

###

From the Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project Blogger - Phil Morse

I have attended each of the past two Maine Woods Forever Roundtable gatherings at Unity College in Unity, Maine. I have thoroughly enjoyed the meetings. The guest speakers, the opportunity to meet representatives of the various organizations in attendance, and the opportunity to make new friends. As a member of two nonprofit organizations that have direct connections to Theodore Roosevelt; the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine with its historic 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, the luxurious high-speed interurban in which, Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger between Lewiston, ME, and Portland, ME on August 18, 1914,  and also the New England Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (Oyster Bay, NY), I'm delighted with the Maine Woods Forever's annual presentation of their Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award.

The Narcissus 1912 Renovation Blog was started a year ago with the intent to share information related to Theodore Roosevelt and his connections in Maine, his connection to the Narcissus, the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places, Narcissus, and its relationship to Maine's railway history.

Here are links you may find of interest:

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a Young Teenager

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt International Highway - Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt's Bible Point in Island Falls, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Narcissus

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts in Maine - at Trolley Museum 8-5 through 8-7, 2016

Click Here - Great, great, great-granddaughter of Narcissus owner visits Trolley Museum

Click Here - Troy R. Bennett's Musical adaptation, ode to The Grand Old Interurban

Click Here - Oral History - Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr reminisces about days during the trolleys of Maine

Click Here - Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service - 57 Million Riders 1915

If you have any questions concerning the Narcissus Project and the Theodore Roosevelt connections in Maine, please contact me, Phil Morse, at p.morse31@gmail.com

Click Here - for the Narcissus Project Blog

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

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 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 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

Narcissus Restoration Update - Part 3 - Exterior Poplar Frames 4-22-2016

A complete "half" of one newly built exterior poplar arched frame

for the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban, Narcissus sits on top of a

few frame segments. The segments will be assembled following the addition of

"fingers," gluing, and planing. Each complete "half" arched frame will then have

turns on three specially made shapers before several passes along special router

blades that will then shape the arched frame with contours and grooves to

match the graceful lines of the original poplar arched frames of the Narcissus.

PWM

This Narcissus Blog post is the third in a series on the exemplary woodwork being done with the exterior poplar arched frames by Seashore Trolley Museum member/volunteer, Lary Shaffer. The exterior poplar arched frames hold the mahogany sash/frames that contain the ornate leaded stained glass windows that are above each pair of passenger windows, except on the No. 2 end, where there is a single sash window (The No. 2 end of the Narcissus is affectionately referred to as the "Teddy End". For it is from the open train door on the No. 2 end, from whence Theodore Roosevelt waved to the assembled crowd of residents 

    There are thirteen passenger windows along each side of the Narcissus. Twelve "double-sash" or pairs of windows and one single-sash window. There is an arched wooden frame on the exterior of the Narcissus over each single or each pair of windows. Each of the poplar arched frames is made up of a combination of left and right, "half", and a "tail that extends from the top of the frame and runs parallel with the body of the car. These are extremely complicated designs. In addition, the original design had each half of the arches made from one solid piece of poplar board. This use of a single board would prove to be a design flaw. Within the tips at the ends of each arched half, failing.

The flaw in the design relates to the grain of the poplar wood in a single board. The direction of the grain of the poplar in the final two or three inches at the tips of each arched frame is structurally the "weak link", and virtually every end had broken away from every single poplar arched frame section. Good fortune had two broken end pieces nailed into place. Having these allowed Lary to have one complete set of the two halves intact. Although in pieces. With these intact arches, he could then create a wooden pattern to use as he developed the plan to repair the ends of fifty "halves" of arched frames and to rebuild four halves completely.

An original arched frame half will need repair. PWM

Lary Shaffer used the shaper table to cut "fingers" into the end. The

new vintage poplar arched frame segments will be used to replace

missing frames of the Narcissus. PWM

Lary Shaffer holding the jig he made to hold an arched frame

half-segment to have its "fingers" cut by the knives on the shaper

table. Lary had to make several different jigs to be used on

the shaper table for the various segments made to

repair and/or build the complicated design of the exterior

arched frame of the Narcissus. PWM

Three of the fifty arched frames with the vintage poplar wood in

place. Each of these arches will have turns on three specially-made

shapers before several passes along special router blades that will

then shape the new arched frame ends with contours and grooves

to match the graceful lines of the original poplar arched frames

of the Narcissus. PWM

An original poplar arched frame from Narcissus resting in a vise.

Waiting for the glued "fingers" that now

connect the original poplar to the new vintage poplar end.

PWM

The first video (below) has Lary explaining, creating, and using a couple of the shapers. And the use of the router table with different blades.

The second video (below) has Lary assessing the block of vintage poplar for where to make the cut for the new section of the frame, then squaring it up.

The third video (below) has Lary explaining the assembly of the segments.

The fourth video (below) has Lary gluing the fingered segments together, then, plane, a completed "new" half-arch frame.

Part four of this series will be released after Lary has completed repairs to all original arched frame ends (50) and finished building three complete sets of arches. When all the above is done, we will video Lary attaching and "running" left, then right, then complete a half with the various router knives, on the various jigs, made for the shaper.

Click here to see Part 1 in the series of 4 -  exterior poplar framework and to see Lary's bio.

Click Here to see Part 2 of the exterior poplar framework

Click Here to see Part 4 of the exterior poplar framework

Click here to view the post on the leaded stained glass windows

Click here to view the first post on the mahogany sash and passenger windows work

Click here to see the story of finding the reclaimed lumber for use in Narcissus restoration

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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 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 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