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The old house in the left photo was built by Zachariah Brackett around 1810 with bricks burned in his brickyard at Prides Corner. A large brick addition, facing Main Street, was built around 1850 by Brackett for his son, Sewell Brackett. This large addition was for the family’s stove and tinware business. During the Civil War, an upper portion of this building was supposedly used as part of the Underground Railroad, helping slaves to flee into Canada. In later years the property was owned by the LaFond family and the first and second floors of the Main Street side housed the LaFond Department Store. The LaFond store closed and, in later years, Hub Furniture occupied the store portion of the building, with the rest divided into rental apartments. Urban renewal took this property and the building was demolished. A small plaza is now on the site, which has a plaque in recognition of Westbrook’s contribution to the Underground Railroad.

Research and photos courtesy of Mike Sanphy