The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-19
DIyistOn of WestbrOOk

Mr.. EDITOR did not expect to take up
my pen for the purpose of reviewing the West
brook question, nor should have done SO in
all probability had not my attention been ar
rested by the article in the Press of the 18th
inst, signed ST. M. R."
But that article is so candid and dispassion-
asein its tone that 1 feel it to be worth con-
sideration at the hands of an old citizen like
myself, who have been an interested observer
of and participation in the affairs of Westbrook
for manysyears.
Although the difference OF opinion which
now agitates the town Of Westbrook has COM
paratively recent origin, it does not come to the
old-tlme citizen as thing entirely new.
The writer looks back forty years to feud
in Westbrook which bade fair never to be ex-
tinguished, and which was the fruitful source
of heart-burnings which died only with the
individual possessors themselves. About forty
years ago question arose as to the location Of
Town House for Westbrook, and some twen-
ty town meetings were held before the proceed
ings took anything like tangible form. Even
then, the feeling was so intense and each side
was so unwilling to yield to the wishes of the
other that it was voted to select a committee
from out of town to fix upon the location
Accordingly James G. Churchill of Portland,
Mr.. Cummings of Cape Elizabeth, and one
other whose name escapes me now, were chos-
en- such committee, and a Town House was
built upon the location recommended by them.
At that time the upper portion of Westbrook
was all known as SaccaraDpa, and the eastern
part came under the general name of The
Plains. These were the two sections which
could not then agree; and it may be well to
notice that the geographical line now proposed
in the division of the town is the precise line
which then separated these warning sections.
In the Town house which was finally estab-
lished through the arbitration of other towns
meetings were held for several years, but the
house was rudely built and almost wholly un-
finished; and as soon as efforts were made to
have the house put in respectable condition
Saccarappa objected, and caused town meet
ings to be called with view to another change
of location. Outvoted at several meetings,
they persisted and at last got catch vote to
remove the Town house to the centre OF the
territory, whereupon, before another meeting
could be legally held they sawed the old house
in two and moved il to the site which they had
selected. There it remained until some three
years since, when, by general desire and con-
sent it was sold as barn, and the location Sc
lected by the out-of-t town committee, or one
almost identical with it, was returned to.
The quarrels and chickering's of former years
exercised the most lamentable influence upon
the social and municipal relations of the town.
Families which had been each others frequent
and welcome guests, ceased to interchange
even the common wayside geeting. Even near
relations were eStranged from ore another, and
for at least ten years, or until generation had
passed away and another grown into its place,
no harmony, but on the contrary the most un.
relenting enmity and bitter warfare prevailed
between these sections of the town of West
brook.
Now, while fully appreciate and honor the
Christian sentiment with which IF. M. r.
closes his article, exhorting us to restore the
cordial relations which have heretofore exist
ed between all sections of our good old town, -
can /, looking back Tor forty years upon scene
of intestine strife of so violent a character,
upon the comparatively unimportant question
of the location of Town house, Unto which,
even, we were obliged to call the aid OF other
towns can l, / say, see any hope that we shall
not have repetition-ten-fold increased-of
a feud which for so many years made US worse
than strangers 10 each other?
The people of the town are evidently diyid-
ed already, and more widely separated than
ever before. There seems no possibility, II we
may Judge from past experience, OF bridging
the gulf In view OF these circumstances, will
the Legislature insist upon a union OF form,
where there exists no unanimity OF sentiment,
upon binding together by law, tive sections
which have apparently determined upon bitter
and open hostility TO each other; upon forcing
TO live in the same house, as IL we're, two fami-
lies which can Fever live peaceably together
The division proposed would make two oil
the largest towns in the State, aud two of the
most prosperous ones; whilst, under the pres
ent situation, the whole il prevented from a
| full development of its resources by the con-
slant jealousies which arise, and the never
ceasing watchfulness upon the part of each
that the other may not obtain an advantage.
The late town meeting was fair sample o.
the harmony which may be expected IN the fu
ture, and here ought to say that IF. NJ. r.
goes rather far in putting blame upon the pc
uuoners, who seem to have acted with great
moderation and dignity, while the remon
strants yielded their sense of fairness to thei
strong desire to gain control of the pursestring
views. W NAY
me eastern portion desire an equitable, no
forced division. They wish to divide tb'
town properly and the town debt Upon bridge
anu o'ner Questions which may arise, the.
ed to sickle for any advantage. Finally, the
I want such legislation as shall enable them 4
live in peace and harmony among themselves
| A CITIZEN OF WEsTBRooK,