Westbrook History



Things to Know about Westbrook
and It's History


Early History

Originally the area we now call Westbrook was made up of two villages Saccarabigg, or Saccarappa, and Ammoncongin, or Congin. These two village names lent their names to two of the elementary schools in the city.

Westbrook became a town named for Colonel Thomas Westbrook in 1814.

Samuel Dennis Warren bought what was Cumberland Mills in 1854 and started S.D. Warren Mill
The Dana Warp Mill was created in 1866.

In 1873 the Westbrook School System started in earnest.

Electricity was first used in Westbrook during the 1880’s.

The first telephone in all of Westbrook was installed in 1890 at Dana Warp Mill.

Westbrook officially became a city in 1891, and Mr. Leander Valentine was elected the first mayor.

Things to Know

The name Presumpscot River means, “many rough places river” which historians believe references the multiple waterfalls along the river.

There are three bridges that cross the Presumpscot River: one is at Saccarappa Falls, another is the Cumberland Street Brides and the third is the Riverton, or Pride’s Bridge, on 302.

The City Seal of Westbrook has the date 1814, for the year Westbrook became a town, and the date 1891, for the year Westbrook became a city.

The ship is said to be a rough sketch of the boat Colonel Westbrook used to travel to Maine. The armored boot on the top is copied from the Westbrook family crest of England.

There are four elementary schools (Saccarappa, Prides Corner, Congin and Canal) one middle school and one high school in Westbrook.

Want to learn more? Check out the Westbrook Historical Society’s website!



References
Rowe, Ernest R. Highlights of Westbrook History. Ed. Marian B. Rowe. Portland, ME: Bowker Printing
Company, 1952.

Prides Corner News: Westbrook is compliments of:
Helen La Count
Your Prides Corner Res Realtor

Keller Williams Realty
50 Sewall Street - 2nd Floor
Portland, ME 04102

Send an Email
View Website
Phone:
207-553-1328
Cell:
207-329-5526
Fax:
207-553-1329

Westbrooks Neighborhood Realtor