The photo on the left shows the south side of Main Street near Brackett Street, in the 1970s. The building partially seen on the left was the Westbrook Congregational Church, built in 1834 on Main Street at Brackett Street. The brick building was the old Brackett Block, built in 1850 by Sewell Brackett. It adjoined a brick house at 15 Brackett St., built by his father, Zachariah Brackett, in 1820. Sewell Brackett, John Brown (railway station agent), Capt. Isaac Quimby and Universalist minister the Rev. H. J. Bradbury used the upper story of this building during the Civil War to hide slaves fleeing into Canada on the Underground Railroad. The next building, at 858-860 Main St., housed Cidre’s Shop Repair (Luis Cidre) and Phil’s Pizza (Phil Audet). The next building partially seen housed Day’s Jewelry Store appliance section, the second floor was vacant and the top floor was an apartment. These buildings were all taken and demolished by Urban Renewal. A mini mall now occupies this site.

Photos courtesy of Mike Sanphy