Negotiations are under way with University of Southern Maine officials and two prominent Gorham residents, John B. Alden and Burleigh Loveitt, who seek to develop an 11-building townhouse project to supply accommodations for an additional 400 students at the school’s Gorham campus. The building, which would have six apartments each, would be located on an undetermined number of wooded acres of land owned by Alden behind his Route 25 home, known as Alden Woods, at the western edge of the Gorham campus. After gaining approval from the trustees, the university will file an application with the Gorham Planning Board and, if necessary, the state Board of Environmental Protection. The crunch for housing has forced school officials to write letters to 500 students denying them housing until at least January, said Joseph Austin, director of residence life.

Karen Lemke of Westbrook has written a book, “Down East Detective,” which chronicles the life of her late father, Eddie Marks, a Maine State Police patrolman who replaced his motorcycle on winter patrols with his horse Rajha. The book preserves her father’s legacy and captures the flavor of the “less formalized” times of the Maine State Police following the agency’s formation in 1925. The book, a collection of nine state police cases, is a best seller in Maine, according to its publisher, Lance Tapley. Lemke and her husband William are both professors at Saint Joseph’s College.

A fire at Central Maine Power Co.’s Forest Avenue substation burned wires serving the main post office in Portland and stopped mail sorting and distribution for 14 hours – delaying delivery of the American Journal outside Portland for a full day.

Gustav and Gitte Hebster, who hosted Kevin Kent in Weilam Rhein, West Germany, during his travels with the “Up with People” youth singing group, have been recent guests of Kevin and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Kent, Fort Hill Road, Gorham.

The Gorham Rescue Department put into service last week its new, $168,000 heavy rescue vehicle. It will respond to just about every rescue conceivable. The truck, built by Ford and Salisbury Fire Equipment, carries an air compressor, lighting system and extraction tools. It will also serve as a communications center as soon as fund for the necessary equipment are raised.

Classes begin Sept. 11 at B&B Dance Studios, formerly Billi Lynn’s Dance studio, K of C Hall, Westbrook. Billi Lynn has joined forces with her sister Belisa, a former professional dancer in New York City, to begin what will become a growing chain. Classes including re-dance for preschoolers, ballet, tap, jazz, baton and acrobatics are offered.

Aug. 27, 1997

Westbrook’s Democratic mayor, Kenneth Lefebvre, will decide this week whether to run for another term. Democrats and Republicans will both caucus Sept. 14 to nominate their candidates for the Nov. 4 election. To be elected are mayor, city clerk and all seven City Council members, and three of the seven School Committee members. All eyes are on the mayor and his decision. If he runs, he’s not likely to have any opposition among Democrats, but Alexander Juniewicz hasn’t ruled out seeking the Republican nomination for mayor. He’s the council’s only Republican member.

There’s sure to be a debate when the Gorham Town Council decides next week whether to call a town-wide vote on increased library space, and what the question should be – add to Baxter Memorial or build new? For either option, the council has set a ceiling of $1.5 million. Residents would vote to pay for $500,000 through bonds, and the rest would come from fundraising. The council hopes to put it to a vote in November.

Warren Cutter of Westbrook has taken over as officer in charge of the Westbrook Post Office while Bunny Nelson, postmaster, is detailed to a marketing assignment for the U.S. Postal Service. Cutter has extensive experience in the postal service, including 10 years as postmaster at East Sebago.

The Cornelia Warren Foundation has offered up $15,000 for a new warming hut at the Stroudwater Street ice skating rink across from the high school. The rink has been in a state of neglect recently, a subject of quiet criticism. City departments, including school, recreation, parks, engineering and public works, are coming together to accept the Warren challenge. Plans call for an 18-by-26-foot building to take the place of the shelter that is there. The building is being designed by Vocational Center students, who will build it with the help of outside contractors.

The Westbrook School Committee is looking for alternatives to a proposal that students would pay to take part in three clubs at Congin and Prides Corner schools. The clubs in computers, cooking and French were proposed last month. Committee members decided to ask the principals if they could find stipend money for teachers-advisers in their budgets. A fourth club, chess and checkers, is planned with volunteer coaching. Each club is projected to have 25 members. Proposed fees would be $10 for computer, $15 for cooking and $5 for French.

The first day of school is Aug. 27 in Westbrook. Kindergarten starts Sept. 2. Teachers started Aug. 24. Everyone will be off Friday and on Labor Day. Gorham students in grades 1-9 start school Sept. 2. Students in grades 10-12 start Sept. 3.

Taken around 1900, this photo shows John Clark standing in front of his store, which was located on Bridgton Road at Brook Street.  The store was originally built by Charles Gallison in the early 1870s. In 1876, Clark started working for Gallison, and purchased the store in 1890. Clark became the area postmaster and built an addition to his store in 1899 to serve as the post office. In 1905, John retired and the store was torn down. The house behind the store was occupied by Clark and his family, and later by the Eldridge Family. The building is presently an apartment house. 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.