WESTBROOK – Ellie Saunders, 91, one of the founders and oldest members of the Westbrook Historical Society, did the honors at the ribbon-cutting ceremony March 7 marking the grand opening of the museum’s new home at the Fred C. Wescott Building.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Saunders said. “I’m awfully pleased. We all are.”

Dozens of the historical society’s supporters and members came to the open house, an official re-opening after its move from the second floor of the American Legion Hall on the edge of Riverbank Park.

The society, founded in 1976, put its treasure trove of artifacts from the city’s history on display, including clothing, dishes, old equipment, photographs, maps, scrapbooks, photos, volumes of old records, and hundreds of other items.

Many local officials came to offer the society support and view the collection, including City Council President Brendan Rielly, Mayor Colleen Hilton and City Clerk Lynda Adams.

“You really can see the pride of the long-term residents,” Hilton said, noting that much of the society’s collection came through donations from local residents.

City Councilor John O’Hara, speaking at the ceremony, offered a gift of his own: Two iron nails, each several inches long, taken from the DeWolfe family home, which the city razed to make way for the new Westbrook Middle School. O’Hara said he pulled the nails from the historic home’s roof timbers himself, as a reminder of the city’s roots.

“I didn’t want to lose those,” he said.

As to the society’s new location, O’Hara said he was pleased to see it on the ground floor in a prominent, busy building.

“Before, it was kind of hidden away,” he said.

Peter Siladi, who moved to Westbrook two years ago, said he had never visited the museum before.

“I’m impressed,” he said, staring in awe at the collection.

Art Quint, whose full- and part-time career with the Westbrook Fire Department lasted from 1965-1980, said he particularly appreciated the horse-drawn hand tub and ladder trucks, which used to be part of the city’s firefighting fleet. Quint said they were in active use long before his time, but he still recalled many public appearances featuring the vehicles.

“I’ve worked both of those at a good many parades,” he said.

The society will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon. Society President Mike Sanphy said he hopes to expand those hours once the museum can arrange for more volunteers on hand while the public visits.

The Westbrook Historical Society collection is all arranged at the society’s new home in the Fred C. Wescott Building. (Staff photo by Sean Murphy)