Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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'6 'I The Blue Ev- White +,,Ssg,-N-Q. , X fe 729. 'FW- TEAC-HERS 'l'eachers flidn't always know Wihat they do today, Teachers didn't always act In the same calm, quiet way. I'll het they used to giggle And stir up quite a row, I'll lzet they used to write notes. Did they? I'll s1.y, and how! Teachers aren't so dumb As they to us do look, 'lihey haven't spent all their lile Studying a hook. llut if we acted half as good As those nice teachers do. l think the Iolks would all drop dead I wouldn't hlame them much, would yon? I. L., '3rZ. 'THE HISTORY OF WESTBROOK I was glad that I had selected a comfortable chair. for l knew that ,Ioe would prohalmly talk for many hours. I settled hack. preparing myself for an evening of intense interest. The history ol XVesthrook. mused Old loc. the famous old guide, well, mayhe I can tell you a story. a true tale of early days, a story. the scenes of which took place directly on and around the place where XVesthrook now stands. 1- .,Y-1 That will he fine. I answered. I know that I shall enjoy this story more than any that you have previously told me. Ioe sank hack in his chair, a look ol ahsolute peace on his lace. I was anxious lor him to he- gin, hut, from previous experience, I knew that Ioe will not he hurried. :Nt last he hegan : Much pondering has heen done hy several local philologists respecting the meaning and de- rivation ot the Indian names in and ahout this region. 'lihe name of Saccarappa, which still con- tinues to afford so much amusement to those people who persist in dropping the linal syllahle, has undergone very important changes since it was hrst written in the deed from the Indian sagamores to George Klunjoy, who, hy the way. purchased XVestl1rook. NVesthrook then consisted of Deering. Falmouth, XVoodfords, and Port-U Ilut, -Ioe. you agreed to tell me a story, and. although all these facts are most interesting, I think I'd enjoy a story more. I said. interrupting his recital. All right, said -Ioe. I'll tell the story. though you would he henetited more hy the exact history. In the spring of the year 143510, the Indians were planning an attack on our settlement. This was suspected on account of the nocturnal fires that occurred over in their camp. This camp was over on the site of I'Iaskell's Silk Mill on llridge Street.

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Westbrook High School C. W. KELSON GROCERIES MEATS PROVISIONS 106 Brown Street Telephone 294 DR. HILLS Ofhce Hours: 1 to 3.30, 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, 1 to 2 p. m. l lfponible, leave calls before 9 a. m. Compliments of FOSTER - AVERY'S TI-IE SYSTEM CO. FASHIONABLE CLOTHES FOR YOUNG MEN PORTLAND, MAINE WESTBROOK HOSPITAL 537 Main Street :Z Community gfospital Open to the Qbysicianx and Qublic of Cllllestlvrook ana' CUicinity LAWRENCE B. SEAVEY Auto Equipment RADIOS AND WILLARD STORAGE SUPPLIES BATTERIES Willys-Knight and Whippet FOURS AND SIXES 908 Main Street Westbrook, Maine Telephone 469 Compliments of SOLOMON A.. HERMANN M. C. MOOERS Warren Block Cumberland Mills FANCY GOODS and MILLINERY Specializing in GIFTS and GREETING CARDS for all occasions CRESSEY 86 GRAFFAM, 4oo Main Street Groceries, Meats and Provisions Fresh Fish LOWE BROTHERS PAINTS AND VARNISHES

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Westbrook High School I 'A Y fs '7 One night, several 1nen crept up on one of these councils, and overheard the plans of the wily 'Injunsf They were planning to attack our homes in broad daylight when we would be least expecting them. The white men came back to the settlement and called a meeting of all the men. These men decided to take their possessions and families and go to Fort Loyal, which was situated near the coast on what is now the Western Promenade. The next day there were queer sights in Sacca- rappa. Little groups, here and there, hurried along the rough road to Fort Loyal. These little family groups had with them their dearest posses- sions. In one case it might be a cow, in another case a horse, even pigs and other animals. Ur a woman may have been carrying the picture of her dead husband, praying that although he had been taken by the 'red devils,' that she might save the picture. They traveled to Fort Loyal over the road which is now Stroudwater Street. The road was muddy, and almost three days before everyone had left Saccarappa and reached the Fort. At the Fort they found provisions, ammunition, and guns. The older men knew, however, that if the 'Injuns' intended to massacre them that there would not be enough ammunition. Hoping that the Indians wouldn't keep up a long siege, the people of Saccarappa, our ancestors, shut them- selves in the old block-house, and awaited the dreaded attack of the red men. At last they came. Shouting, shrieking, and raging over their disappointment at the settlement, the Indians approached to the trees that surround the Fort, about a hundred feet from it. The cunning, treacherous red men fought from behind trees, shooting arrows into the sides of the block-house. The men inside the Fort had decided to save their annnunition until they had to use it. The Indians, meeting no response to their continuous Fighting, crept nearer. When they were within fifty feet of the house our men opened fire. This volley of shots drove them back a short distance, but they soon advanced again. The older settlers began to fear treachery, be- cause all the Indians were attacking only the front of the Fort, and the red man always surrounds his victim. They watched closely on all sides, and at last saw the reason for the queer attack. The treach- erous Indians had filled an old wagon with brush and had set fire to it. Twenty or more men were wheeling it towards the Fort, hiding behind it as they approached. There was nothing to be done. The wagon of death was slowly approaching the white people. They stood, grouped together, awe-stricken at the sight, when suddenly, they saw the figure of a man emerge from the block-house, and stand directly in the path of the oncoming wagon. The horror- stricken people saw him raise his arms, heard him utter strange words in the gutteral language of the Indians. and saw the savages stop, listening to him. The man was old Thomas Johnson, whose de- scendants lived on Saco Street up to a short time ago. He was one of the few early settlers who knew the Indian language, and he used his knowl- edge to save our ancestors, the first settlers of Saccarappa. T he Indians, influenced by Thomas Johnson's speech about a Divine Power, crept swiftly away. The red race was very superstitious, and the bravery and courage of this white man frightened them into believing that he was possessed by a Divine Power. So, Saccarappa was saved: and. under the name of Westlnrook, is now successful and pros- perous. Although the land on which our city is built cost only a few beads, a coat, and two mirrors, by the audacity, perseverance, courage, and hardiness of our early ancestors, Westlmrook has grown to be one of the largest paper-manufac- turing cities of the world. Thus ended Ioe's story, and thus ends mine. I doubt if joe's story is absolutely true, but we do know that Indians once lived and trod on the ground and lands which we call home. ARLENE SKILLINS, '30.