KENNEBUNKPORT – Selectmen and Seashore Trolley Museum have worked out a trade to benefit both entities.
The trolley museum is embarking on a couple of building projects: A structure that will house a large model railroad headed to the museum from Jonesport and a weather-tight structure to house nine or 10 trolleys.
The town of Kennebunkport and Seashore Trolley Museum recently worked out a trade agreement. Courtesy photo
Building permits costs are close to $40,000, Seashore Trolley Museum Director Katie Orlando told selectmen.
She asked for a discount, or a total waiver of the fees.
She pointed out there has not been a building project on the Kennebunkport side of the trolley museum campus for the past four decades.
“We have so much going on this year, and two more buildings planned for next year,” she said.
Selectman Mike Weston said he understood that town buses use the museum parking lot, and, in the past, the town has paid for resurfacing the lot.
“I wonder if there is a tradeoff. Maybe we could trade the permit fee for the trolley museum resurfacing the lot,” he said.
“I think that is a good idea and a fair arrangement,” said selectman Allen Daggett. “They’ve also said they’d be interested in doing school programs (without a fee). That would be a nice gesture.”
“To me it’s a win-win,” said chair Sheila Matthews-Bull.
Selectman Patrick Briggs said he thought there would be some good opportunities for the Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation Department at the museum – and he pointed out the arrangement would not be an annual request.
Selectmen unanimously agreed to the arrangement pending a binding legal agreement.
“I can’t wait to see your model train,” said selectman Ed Hutchins.
The Maine Central Model Railroad will relocate to a new home at Seashore Trolley Museum, thanks to a donation from the Wyss Medical Foundation.
The model railroad layout was built by Helen and Harold “Buz” Beal in Jonesport, and for decades, the couple opened their home to guests from all over the world to view one of Maine’s largest layouts in HO-scale, according to a trolley museum news release. “From Quoddy Lighthouse to the mountains of Maine, to the paper mills and Dragon Cement, street blocks representing the communities the Maine Central Model Railroad operated through and several roundhouses, tunnels, rivers and the ocean, the layout has it all.”
Hansjoerg Wyss, a friend of the Beals and a rail enthusiast and philanthropist, approached Seashore Trolley Museum in 2020 to ask if they might consider providing a home for the layout.
A plan was crafted for a new building and a 10- year operating budget. Costs, including construction, relocation of the model railroad, and 10-year operation totaled $2.6 million, which, said Orlando, will be covered by the Wyss foundation.
The new model building design, custom-building design created by museum friend and architect Herb Fremin calls for a large, open space for the layout, office space for volunteers and staff, a combined workshop/conference room; a retail location so the museum can bring in additional revenue through model sales; and a mezzanine viewing gallery with elevator access that has potential for community programming and other activities, according to the museum.
The model railroad will be moved to Kennebunkport from its home 200 miles away. Museum officials hope to have it open to the public in the spring of 2023.
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