If you are familiar with Portland, Maine, you recognize the historic
Portland Observatory was built on Munjoy Hill in 1807. Portland Railroad
(PRR) trolleys, starting with the horse-drawn cars in 1864, were traveling
up Congress Street, past the Observatory to Atlantic Street. In 1890,
tracks were extended from Atlantic Street through Wilson and Beckett
Streets to Fort Allen Park along the Eastern Promenade. At the same time,
a large brick carhouse was built at the corners of Beckett and Wilson
Streets. Electrification of all lines serviced by the PRR was completed by
1895. The focus of this photograph is actually the black metal pole in the
foreground. This pole is one of fifty PRR trolley line poles that are still in
place along Congress Street to Munjoy Hill from Franklin Street to
Vesper Street. These poles would each have a long metal arm extending
out over the street that would hold the wire that powered the electric
trolley cars and other railway equipment. September 3, 2018 - PWM
Photo and research resources used in this blog post are courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library; specifically from the O. R. Cummings Collection and Phil Morse (PWM), and O. R. Cummings books, "Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957, and Part 2, 1959.
Monument Square in Portland, Maine, was the hub for all the early horse-drawn and electric railway systems running into and out of Portland. This blog features the high-speed, luxury interurban No. 14, Narcissus, of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI), which is now being restored at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Narcissus and nine other Maine vehicles used on electric railways have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Though we are deep into the research of information and materials related to the PLI and the Narcissus for use in creating the interpretation portion of the Narcissus project, it's too hard to resist posting other interesting electric railway tidbits from Maine's transportation history. With that in mind, from 1914 until 1933, the Narcissus, as a PLI interurban, operated into and out of Monument Square to pick up and discharge passengers. As we approach Maine's Bicentennial year (2020), this blog will release posts that relate to many electric railway operations throughout the State of Maine. One of the first in the series will be a more comprehensive look at the Portland Railroad. The 470 Railroad Club in Portland will host a public presentation on the history of the Portland Railroad beginning at 7pm on October 17, 2018, at 75 State Street, Portland, Maine; the entrance to the meeting hall is on Gray Street between Gray & Park Street.
This blog post will be a bit of a teaser for that presentation at the 470 Railroad Club next month and will show a few images of the Portland Railroad system in the Munjoy Hill/Eastern Promenade area.
Click Here to go to the post: Maine Bicentennial - Portland Railroad - A History of Public Transportation 1860-1941
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Westbrook, Gorham & So. Windham Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Forest Avenue to Riverton Park Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Congress Street Revisited: Monument Sq.-Union
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - South Portland & Cape Elizabeth Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad: Trolleys Through Scarborough, Maine
The original ornate cap is still on the top of the
former PRR trolley line pole on Congress
Street near the Portland Observatory.
September 3, 2018 - PWM
Of the fifty former PRR trolley line poles
along Congress Street to Munjoy Hill
from Franklin Street to Vesper Street, about
thirty-two have had their tops
repurposed for use as a streetlight or are
missing their ornate cap.
September 3, 2018 - PWM
A tribute/memorial to the Portland Railroad is in
Congress Street at the top of Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine.
September 3, 2018 -PWM
The big brick PRR Beckett Street Carhouse was built in 1890.
Horses and trolley cars were originally housed here.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_30_002
The PRR Beckett Street carhouse has an electric trolley peeking out from one of the doorways.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_30_003
The 1916 Schematic of the PRR Beckett Street Carhouse
shows where the footprint took most of the block
enclosed by Beckett, Wilson, Vesper, and Moody Streets.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_30_001
Today, the footprint of the PRR Beckett
Street carhouse is nonexistent. The line
in the image above, named Adams School Path
is where Beckett Street used to pass
through the property.
Screenshot from Google Maps.
Beckett Street (sign on left) used to continue across Moody
Street and then through what is now residential housing.
August 31, 2018 - PWM
The corner of Moody and Vesper Streets is seen here as new
residential housing on the right. August 31, 2018 - PWM
Where Vesper Street connects with the Eastern Promenade.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_35_026
Today, where Vesper Street connects with the Eastern
Promenade. Screenshot of Google Maps.
No. 104 was purchased in 1895 from the J. G. Brill Co.,
Philadelphia, PA, for use on the St. John Street Division
of the Portland Railroad. The photo was taken from about 62
Eastern Promenade looking towards Morning Street.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_35_024
This photo was taken from about 62 Eastern Promenade.
September 1, 2018 - PWM
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_35_021
Munjoy Hill to the Eastern Promenade and Fort Allen.
At about where 62 Eastern Promenade is today.
At about where 62 Eastern Promenade is today.
Postcard postmarked June 29, 1905 - From PWM Collection.
This photo was taken from about where 62 Eastern Promenade
is today. September 1, 2018 - 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
