Nov. 27, 1991

A first-of-its-kind pilot program of care for elderly mental health patients at Gorham House in Gorham could be the model for other such programs if deemed a success by state mental health officials. Gorham House, a private nursing home, has since April been home for 13 women and four men, all age 60 or older and all former patients of the Augusta Mental Health Institute. Some had been in AMHI for two years, other for as long a 40 years. The transfer of patients from Augusta and into a community is a major part of Gov. McKernan’s plan to privatize care for residents of AMHI and a similar facility in Bangor.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Christiansen Jr., Longley Road in Westbrook, will open their home for a Thanksgiving Day dinner for their son, Kurt Christiansen, Casco; daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Brant (Pamela) and Nancy, Marilyn Avenue; grandson Eric Christiansen, Colorado Springs, a senior at UMO; and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Rhoda Barker, Fales Road.

Regional Waste Systems plans to review whether its proposed landfill and recycling center in Gorham is needed in light of the current economic downturn, nearly five years and $6 million after the facility was first proposed. By mid-December, at the direction of a committee overseeing development of the project, the quasi-municipal waste handler will decide whether to “abandon, downsize or delay” the facility.

Around 160 parents and boosters of the Westbrook Marching Band rolled up their sleeves Monday night to look for ways to raise $200,000 within a year to finance their weeklong tip to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day 1993. The next morning, the first donation came: $1,000 from Frank Gaziano, president of National Distributors of South Portland. Westbrook is one of 22 bands in the county invited to take part in the parade.

Allied Architects-Engineers has moved from Main Street, Gorham, to the former Men’s Shop building in the middle of downtown Westbrook. The company brings a payroll of 24 people and the staff and equipment that has turned out designs for $25 million in building construction work over the past couple of years.

Advertisement: Due to new state laws RSVP Westbrook in now able to sell liquor noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (as well as during regular store hours on other days).

Nov. 28, 2001

The Rev. Dr. Bruce Dyer, minister of Westbrook’s First Baptist Church since 1992, preached his last sermon there Nov. 4 and started the next day in a new job as the substance abuse counselor at Westbrook High School. He helped found the Mission Possible Teen Center in Westbrook, and mentioned in his application for the high school job that through his work there he discovered he had a great desire to work with teenagers, school Superintendent Stan Sawyer said. Colleen Kelly, substance abuse counselor for the past two years, resigned in August to return to school to study medicine, Sawyer said.

Westbrook’s City Council will be asked to give first reading approval Monday to commence building a parking garage off Bridge Street, and also to start widening Bridge Street and run it through to William Clarke Drive, plus a redesign of William Clarke Drive with more stop lights and crosswalks. The council also will be asked to vote on a 75-year lease of the old high school property to the Westbrook Housing Authority, which plans to convert it into apartments.

From the Westbrook Police Notes: Police responded to a call about a group of juveniles smoking marijuana at Brackett and Seavey streets, but they were gone when officers arrived. Two male teens received summonses for smoking and having cigarettes in Saccarappa Park. A group of juveniles was disturbing residents at the Hamlet by throwing rocks and swearing loudly. Officers broke up a bonfire party at the end of Halidon Road after receiving complaints about a gathering of teenagers.

Renee Lewis, whose plan to buy the old Warren School at 596 Main St. was accepted by Westbrook’s City Council over a year ago, told City Planner Mat Eddy that she has a potential tenant for the building and will have a contract to purchase it to Eddy in the next few weeks.

The Gorham Christmas tree lighting will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Municipal Center, 270 Main St. Santa Claus will arrive at 4:15.

The Dorcas Society of Buxton and Hollis will present its annual performance of Kate Douglas Wiggins’ play, “The Old Peabody Pew,” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Tory Hill Meeting House, routes 112 and 202.

One of the oldest houses in Westbrook was the old Trickey House at 649 Saco Street. In 1757, Eleanor Trickey, widow of Zebulon Trickey, deeded the 83-acre farm and buildings to her sons, David and Zebulon Trickey. The old house had murals on some of the walls that were believed to have been painted by Early American painter Rufus Porter. The property remained in the Trickey family until 1906, Since then it has passed through several families, including the Chick family. The last occupant of the building was Alphonse Boivin who passed away in 1999. The property was sold and the murals were purchased and removed by a Massachusetts collector. The house was resold, dismantled and moved to Falmouth to be reassembled. For some reason the house was never rebuilt and is  in storage and for sale. Victoria Drive presently occupies the site of the old house, The Hamlet and Spiller Drive occupy land that was once part of the Trickey Farm. To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. It is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, and the first Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m., September-June. Inquiries can be emailed to [email protected]. The website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org.

Photo and research courtesy of Mike Sanphy