April 29, 1987

Westbrook High School turned to some psyching-up in an effort to improve scores when this year’s 11th-graders took the Maine Educational Assessment tests this spring. “We were not pleased with last year’s results,” David Wallace, principal reported to the School Committee. “It was important for the students to understand what the tests were and why they had to take them. In the week prior to the tests, we went to every junior English class and explained what the results would be used for. All we asked was that they take the tests seriously and do the best they could. It was not a test that could be prepared for. There were four days of testing. We asked every monitor to send to the office anyone who wasn’t taking it seriously. They sent just two kids. There were no bells and no movements in the corridor during the tests. We made every effort to provide a positive, serious testing atmosphere. We attempted to instill in our students the feeling that this was important, that they should do the best job they could in the exam.” Results won’t be made public until fall,

Gorham Police Patrolman David Gray resigned Wednesday, and local and state police announced the same day that they had dropped a search of an unknown assailant for shooting Gray in the hand April 14. Very little more was said, and for the past week, curious citizens have been searching for an explanation of what happened. Gorham Police Chief David Kurz issued this brief statement: “Officer David Gray, a probationary officer, resigned effective April 22. The investigation by Gorham and State Police into the alleged shooting of Patrolman Gray has been discontinued.” Kurz declined further comment, citing advice of town attorney Kenneth Cole. Cole could not be reached all week, despite several attempts.

Senior citizens of Gorham and neighboring communities enjoyed a bus trip to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts on April 21. It was a pretty ride – on the turnpike divider, large stands of forsythia were in full bloom. Old Sturbridge Village depicts life as it was lived in New England 150 years ago. The group stopped at the tavern for luncheon, then walked the paths visiting the Friends Meeting House and the old village church, the district school, pottery, shoemaker’s shop, printing office, other exhibits, and old homes and a covered bridge across the Quinnebaug River. At one of the farms, a man was plowing with a very old plow drawn by a pair of oxen. At other farms there were sheep and chickens. Rides were offered on a horse-drawn wagon, with a low flat base, about as wide as a modern bus, with long seats across.

Cheryl Frechette, Westbrook, is the new director of financial aid at the 105-year old Portland School of Art, 97 Spring St. She previously served in a similar capacity at the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute and as director of financial aid at the New England School of Law, Boston, and a financial aid officer at Burdett College, Boston. A native of Indiana, she is married to Donald Frechette, a Portland lawyer.

April 30, 1997

The death of Jeffrey Young after a beating at Brown and North streets, Westbrook, April 18-19, has brought to light a series of letters from residents of that neighborhood complaining about drunkenness, vulgarity, and other bad behavior. The letters were sent to Westbrook’s mayor, police chief and Ward 4 alderman before the Young beating and death. They are dated April 8, April 12 and April 15. Several of the letters pinpoint Andy’s Tavern, at Brown and North streets, as a trouble spot. Young and the man accused of being the attacker, Albert Rogers Jr., had been in Andy’s Tavern and Young had been drinking beer there for five hours. Rogers and the tavern claim that Rogers drank only ice water there, but he had been there 45 minutes and, when tested later, still had a blood alcohol content of 0.29, police said.

A 13-old-girl was arrested Monday for starting the fire that destroyed a vacant house at 223 Burnham Road, Gorham, Thursday. Two other juveniles, one a girl, the other a boy, of about or the same age, may be arrested in connection with the fire, Police Chief Ronald Shepard said yesterday. When confronted, the girl confessed to being the one who started the fire, Shepard said. The fire was fully under way before it was reported by a neighbor at 5:10 p.m. according to Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre. “There was nothing to save” when firefighters arrived on the scene, he said. Lefebvre said he couldn’t say whether any witness saw the girl start the fire. Shepard said Police Officer Michael Nault, who is also a Gorham fireman, got “second- and third-hand information which he started following back. Then he found someone who implicated the girl.” Neighbors had seen juveniles going in and out of the house. Damage to the 28-by-38-foot house was estimated at $50,000; there was no furniture inside. Firefighters were able to save a two-car garage.

At 7 a.m. April 22, Shawn Moody was talking to his insurance representative, who suggested he increase the insurance coverage on his business, Gorham Auto Parts, 176 Narragansett St., Moody told his agent, “Let’s wait.” His reason: He is planning, and has approval, to build a new building on the back of his lot. Hardly more than 24 hours later, fire struck. Moody in the days following has demonstrated that he’s a man of action who appreciates his community’s help and isn’t going to let the fire get him down. The Gorham Fire Department had the fire out in about 45 minutes, so quickly that it was able to save Moody’s computer software and the front of the building.

This photo, taken in the 1930s, looks west on Main Street from Fitch Street. The building on the right is the old Grist Mill as it was being demolished. The next building is Oakland Pontiac, owned and operated by Lawrence B. Seavey. The next building is McLaughlin’s Texaco station, set back and out of view. The large building isCragie’s Garage owned, and operated by William Cragie.  The old Raymond Foundry building is next, and then the old Universalist Church building. Cragie’s Garage is now the Armory Apartments at 901 Main St. The old foundry building at 907 Main St.  is an office building, and the old Universalist Church building was demolished and a new commercial building occupies the site. To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. Inquiries can be emailed to westhistorical@myfairpoint.net.  The Westbrook American reported on April 25, 1962, that Dr. Clifford Gates, Gorham’s public health officer, was to conduct an immunization clinic in the Odd Fellows Hall.Mrs. Cecil Waterman was in charge of the program and conducted a Dutch auction when the Pleasant River Chapter, O.E.S., of West Buxton met in the Masonic Hall.50 years ago