Sept. 2, 1987

Developers may be anxiously awaiting the creation of an ordinance intended to create “floating zones” in Gorham, but the town is not about to rush into anything, according to Town Planner Keith Moe. “There is a lot of technical, complicated work required,” he said, referring to a code that will regulate the growth of planned unit developments, or PUDs. PUD is a general name for several different kinds of large development. “They could either mean cluster residential development or they could talk about a mix of uses, from commercial to industrial, as well as residential,” Moe said.

Assured by both city lawyers that Stroudwater Locks clustering was grandfathered anyway, Westbrook’s Planning Board voted 7-0 last week to forget that the plans for the housing development were eight months overdue and then voted 7-0 to approve them. Theirs was the final approval needed for 68 condominium apartments in 27 buildings on 20 acres of R-4 land between Westbrook High School and Stroudwater Place. The overdue filing had been seen as a possible roadblock for the project. If the developer had been required to start fresh, it could not have used clustering, which the City Council banned there after plans were filed.

The Walker Memorial Library bookmobile schedule for September includes stops Mondays at Smith House, Riverside Estates, Riverview Terrace and Larrabee Woods. Tuesday stops include Longfellow Place, Pine Knoll Terrace and Birdland. Thursday stops are Westbrook Gardens and the Hamlet.

“A beautiful building in a great location.” That’s how Greg Palmer, former director of the Gorham Chamber of Commerce, described the Sampson House at 77 South St. in Gorham, named after the family that donated it to the town in 1938. Gorham officials are soliciting proposals for leasing or purchase of the two-story frame building constructed in 1806. Stipulations are that if it were sold, the buyer would be required to move it off the present site and be responsible for restoring the lawn. If it weres leased, the town would seek a long-term agreement of about five years and would require that its use be compatible with adjoining public uses – a library and junior high school are nearby – and must adhere to local zoning requirements.

The Gorham Lions Club first meeting of the season is Sept. 8 at the Lions Den on Route 114. Officers will be installed and special awards will be presented to recognize those who have contributed to the club during the past year. Officers are Norman Wedge, president; Larry Salomone, Matt Welch and Sam Hoffses, first, second and third vice presidents; Gary Olsen, secretary; Ed Johnson, treasurer; and Calvin Hamblen, assistant secretary-treasurer.

An open house is scheduled for today by the Westbrook Historical Society in the society’s room at the old high school, 765 Main St. Special invited guests will be Westbrook Mayor Philip Spiller, Administrative Assistant Martha Blair and City Council members.

Sept. 3, 1997

Westbrook Mayor Kenneth Lefebvre said he would support Donald Esty for mayor in the Sept. 14 Democratic city caucus and the Nov. 4 city elections. Lefebvre said business growth at CellularOne caused him to decide not to seek another term. He is vice president and general manager of the company for Maine, New Hampshire and part of New York State. Esty is a former City Council president. He has been out of Westbrook politics about 10 years, serving in the Maine state Senate four terms until he was term-limited out in 1996.

Westbrook School Superintendent Robert Hall, commenting on a letter in the American Journal from “Anguished Parents” about drug abuse in the schools, issued an invitation to parents to take a school parenting course and to join the school-community Drug Free Committee. Hall said a number of steps have been taken to help solve the problem, including DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) in grades 1,3 and 5 to build skills to allow children to say no to drugs. The program will be expanded to the junior high school. Red Ribbon Day activities created by staff in October “remind our students of drug abuse dangers,” he said.

Gorham Youth Soccer Association dedicated a soccer field complex to James L. Moody, former Hannaford Bros. executive and a 1949 graduate of Gorham High School. The complex, on which two of four planned fields were developed this summer by some 30 volunteers, is on the eight acres within the former racetrack off Narragansett Street now owned by Hannaford. The company tried to build a supermarket there in the 1980s, but the town did not approve it. Hannaford agreed this year to let the soccer association use the fields on a yearly renewal basis. Moody said the dedication was a surprise. “It’s a great treat. It’s an unexpected thing and really neat.”

Holy Name Society Bingo for Scholarships, Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., St. Hyacinth’s Hall, Westbrook. Door open at 3 p.m. There’s a $1,400 payout plus winner take all.

The American Journal has openings for boys or girls to serve as carriers in neighborhoods in Windham, including Eric Road, Misty Drive and Maplewood and Birchwood areas; and Westbrook, including Bridge, Brown, Myrtle, Walker and Chestnut streets. Papers will come to carriers in the mail Wednesdays.

Highland Lake School was built on Duck Pond Road in 1874 at cost of $2,700. The first floor was used for classes and the second floor was an open space used for community events and meetings. It served as a school until the new Prides Corner School opened in 1951. The Highland Lake School building was then sold. It was being used as a warehouse for the Robert G. Fortin Furniture Co. when it was struck by lightning and severely damaged by fire in 1969. It was later demolished. The old school was located behind the present Highland Variety Store on Bridgton Road at Duck Pond Road. A private residence occupies the site of the old school. 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 website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org. Photo and research courtesy of Mike Sanphy