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William Clarke Drive (Wayside Drive) was built on the bed of the Boston & Maine railroad tracks that once went through Westbrook. The photo on the left shows the tracks in the early 1900s, looking east from Mechanic Street. The building on the left was the old Boston & Maine train station that was located on Fitch Street. A sharp decline in passenger and freight revenue, due to the widespread use of automobiles and heavy-duty trucks, made operation of the rail line beyond Westbrook unprofitable and service was discontinued. The station was closed in 1916. The rail line was used for local service into the 1960s. The rail spur going off to the left was once used to bring freight cars to the Dana Warp Mill and the Westbrook Manufacturing Co. on Bridge Street. Access was via wooden bridge over the river to Dana Court. The bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1896 and never rebuilt. The building on the right of the tracks was a railroad freight shed that later became the Agway Store. It is the present site of the Anderson-Watkins Insurance Co. building.

Research and photos courtesy of Mike Sanphy Collection