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The project involves the restoration of historic ASL-100, an electric locomotive from the Atlantic Shore Line Railway, a transportation system that helped create and form southern Maine communities in the early 1900s.
The locomotive is the only remaining vehicle from the original Atlantic Shore Line, and is listed on the National Historic Register. It has national as well as local historical importance, points out Seashore's Phil Morse, who is spearheading the fundraising effort. "To date, our research identifies ASL-100 as one of only two surviving, wooden electric locomotives of the double-truck, cab-on-raft/steeple cab style, still in its original configuration," he says.
In addition to restoration of ASL-100, a curriculum will be developed for use in schools, revolving around local history with ASL-100 and the Atlantic Shore Line Railway as a focus point. Planned as a hands-on, active learning program for children, the curriculum has tremendous potential for involving students in social and technological history. Special exhibits will also be developed for display at Seashore Trolley Museum and other locations.
The ASL-100 project was recently approved for a Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA) reimbursement, under the historic preservation category. Kennebunk Savings Bank's grant, and the matching funds to be raised in connection with it, will help Seashore meet its community matching requirement of about $25,000, which will enable the museum to receive federal and state reimbursement funds of $132,464 for the project.
"We're very pleased with the Kennebunk Savings Bank matching grant," says Morse, "partly because it helps demonstrate the importance of this restoration and education endeavor."
Upon announcement of the grant, Joel Stevens, Kennebunk Savings Bank president and CEO commented, “Seashore Trolley Museum is a vital part of our area's heritage. Not only does it showcase our transportation history, the Museum offers programs for children, it serves as a destination for visitors, and it is also just a great place to have fun.”
The grant is just one example of the bank's generosity and community involvement. Kennebunk Savings Bank considers itself a "true community bank," and distributes 10% of its earnings each year (over $4 million since 1995) to non-profit and charitable organizations in York County, through the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation. The bank was a 2001 winner of the Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility Eagle Feather Award, has earned the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) Bank of the Year Award three times, and is a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender .
Seashore Trolley Museum is a non-profit organization, founded in 1939 by a small group of railway enthusiasts, who felt that the history of street railways should be preserved for future generations. Over its 66 years, Seashore has developed and strengthened its commitment to community education, through a variety of programs that reach thousands of local residents and tourists each year.
For the Kennebunk Savings Bank grant to be awarded, Seashore must raise $5,000 in donations. Because the locomotive will be 100 years old in 2006, Morse suggests, "imagine donations of $100 for ASL-100 on its 100 th birthday."
In addition to donations, Seashore is actively seeking community involvement in the fundraising for ASL-100. "We're very interested in hearing creative ideas from classrooms, businesses and community members for this fundraising effort," says Morse.
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