KENNEBUNKPORT — The Board of Trustees of New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Seashore Trolley Museum) has voted unanimously to rename the “Town House Restoration Shop” to “The Donald G. Curry Town House Shop.”

Board President and CEO James Schantz said “This is a change we don’t make lightly, but we feel it is a small token of our appreciation for Donald’s unparalleled devotion and effort to develop the shop over the past seven decades.”

The building rededication and unveiling of a new sign will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 9.

Prior to that ceremony, Curry will present highlights of Seashore Trolley that occurred during his years of service. 

The museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Curry was the museum’s first paid summer employee while he attended Boston University from which he graduated with a degree in music education.  While he taught for 29 years and played bassoon for the Portland Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, he remained involved with the museum during his vacations. 

Always interested in working with his hands, fixing things, history and writing, Curry developed the museum’s restoration program, did research, wrote manuals, and shared his knowledge with others.

When he retired from teaching in 1989, he became the museum’s director for nine years, then returned to his “roots” as a restoration shop employee.

Now officially retired as a museum employee, Curry continues to volunteer at Seashore Trolley Museum, and is currently engaged in a project to expand the documentation of his considerable knowledge of the restoration of electric railway vehicles.

Seashore Trolley Museum is the world’s oldest and largest electric railway museum, and is located at 195 Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport.

For additional details, call 967-2800, ext 101, or email director@neerhs.org.