Colonel Thomas Westbrook, after whom the city of Westbrook is named, is credited with installing the first dam on the Presumpscot River in the early 1730s. While he’s gone down in the history books as a hero, a deeper look into the story casts him in a much different light. Construction of the dam was framed as a great accomplishment, but the impact it had on local indigenous tribes has been pushed to the side and largely ignored.

The dam was installed without regard or consideration for both the local ecosystem and the indigenous people who had depended on it for centuries. Westbrook made agreements with tribal leaders to modify the dam so that fish could pass through, but he simply ignored these agreements and left the dam unchanged. This obstructed a vital food source for the indigenous people, hurting their communities and forcing them to spend more time and effort just to have enough food for their families. In 1739, once it became apparent that Westbrook wasn’t abiding by their agreements, Chief Polin of the Abenaki made the extreme and desperate decision to walk all the way from what is now Windham to Boston, Massachusetts (then the seat of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which included what is now Maine) to consult with the colonial governor. He was given a guarantee by Governor Jonathan Belcher that a dam easement would be installed. This order was delivered to Westbrook, who refused to comply and continued to flout his obligations in favor of personal convenience and profit. The colonial parliament passed a law in 1741 that applied to the entire Massachusetts colony, specifically directed at and inspired by Westbrook individually, mandating that all dams must accommodate fish migration. In 1756, Chief Polin was tragically killed in a raid on the settlers, which tribes had begun after they decided that non-violent recourse with Westbrook and other colonial leaders was not feasible. 

Despite multiple legal orders from the sitting government and a consensually entered agreement with the tribe, Westbrook chose his own self interest over the well-being of the environment and of the people who he had displaced. He was able to enjoy a large home and property in what is now the Stroudwater neighborhood of Portland thanks to his dishonesty and exploitation of the land. When the city (then town) of Westbrook was incorporated (after Westbrook’s death), it was initially named Stroudwater. However, Westbrook’s family petitioned the city to change its name to Westbrook, as he was the most successful resident of the area. Because of his illegal and immoral actions, Westbrook benefited financially and is now memorialized on countless pieces of city property, which is much more than he deserves from our community.