The Westbrook Historical Society

Front row (left to right): Charles W. Bailey, Eugene M. Walker, John Wesley Bacon, Charles W. Mace, Joseph P. Ricker, Oliver Berry, Frank L. Parker, Calvin S. Walker, William W. Hammond and Lorenzo Barbour.
Second row: George F. Hunt, Charles H. Hunt, Charles Hanscomb, Warren S. Flye, Howard Rice, Charles H. Leighton, George Dunnells, Bert Bailey, Neil Murray, Wendell Bailey and George (Grip) Hunt.
Third row: Leander Moody, Winfield Crowley, Walter Whitehouse, Fred Lord, Marsh Morris, Fred L. Leighton, Edward Rounds, Isaiah Staples, Charles M. Cobb and Henry Howe.
Back row: Samuel F. Wilkins, Edwin A. Barbour, Ernest F. Bragdon, Edgar A. Durrell, Ira T. Brackett, Louis Christian, Edward Fernald, Alphonzo E. Greenlaw, Frank W. Ricker, William E. Vanner, Frank J. Little and Almon N. Waterhouse.

This picture was taken way back in 1885— one hundred fifteen years ago. It shows the crew of the old cutter and finishing rooms of the local paper mill, S.D. Warren Company. At one time this company was the major employer in the area, employing close to 4000 men and women. The mill is still in existence, although much smaller, and is now known as SAPPI FINE PAPER.

Last year a relative of the Hunt men (seen in the 3rd row) requested a print of this photograph. She had a copy but it was old and faded. Her old copy had come from the Portland Sunday Telegram of March 26, 1922. The same photo again appeared in the Warren Standard, the Warren Co.’s monthly paper, in 1954, proving that you and your history do have immortality via the archiving of our local photos and information.

The captions included with each article give a wealth of information about these men.

***************
PORTLAND SUNDAY TELEGRAM MARCH 26, 1922:
11 STILL EMPLOYED, 15 DEAD (heading of photograph)
[The name’s of the men listed as still working at SD Warren are written in bold type under the photo]

At the time of this publication further information is given on the following men: Ernest F. Bragdon is living in Gorham, Edgar A. Durrell is still employed at SDW in another part of mill, Ira T. Brackett is living in Buxton, Alphonzo E. Greenlaw is a prosperous farmer living on Stroudwater St., Isaiah Staples is living on a farm in Windham, Charles M. Cobb is proprietor of the general store at Cliff Island, George F. Hunt is retired and living on Lamb St., Warren S. Flye lives in Gray, Eugene M. Walker lives on a farm in the eastern part of the state, Charles W. Mace was foreman of the department for many years and is now retired and living on Main St. Mr. Mace was a representative to the Legislature in 1920. Oliver Berry has a farm in Standish, Frank L. Parker is with Patrons co-operative association in Portland

The man fourth from the left is the late Charles W. Mace who was superintendent of the finishing department when the picture was taken and who was succeeded considerably later by the late A. N. Waterhouse. Mr. Waterhouse was superintendent for many years until he retired in 1931 after fifty years of service to the Warren Company. He was the uncle of Leon E. Waterhouse, who recently retired after forty-five years with the Company, all of it in the finishing department.

We don't believe that many of these men have survived until now—but we are sure of one. He is Fred Leighton, the good-looking man sixth from the left, in the next to the back row. At ninety-two, Fred lives alone and does all his own shopping, gets his own meals and he still looks hale and hearty.

	CUTTER & FINISHING CREW 1885

	Front row (left to right): Charles W. Bailey, Eugene M. Walker, John Wesley Bacon, Charles W. Mace, Joseph P. Ricker, Oliver Berry, Frank L. Parker, Calvin S. Walker, William W. Hammond and Lorenzo Barbour. Second row: George F. Hunt, Charles H. Hunt, Charles Hanscomb, Warren S. Flye, Howard Rice, Charles H. Leighton, George Dunnells, Bert Bailey, Neil Murray, Wendell Bailey and George (Grip) Hunt. Third row: Leander Moody, Winfield Crowley, Walter Whitehouse, Fred Lord, Marsh Morris, Fred L. Leighton, Edward Rounds, Isaiah Staples, Charles M. Cobb and Henry Howe. Back row: Samuel F. Wilkins, Edwin A. Barbour, Ernest F. Bragdon, Edgar A. Durrell, Ira T. Brackett, Louis Christian, Edward Fernald, Alphonzo E. Greenlaw, Frank W. Ricker, William E. Vanner, Frank J. Little and Almon N. Waterhouse. This picture was taken way back in 1885— one hundred fifteen years ago. It shows the crew of the old cutter and finishing rooms of the local paper mill, S.D. Warren Company. At one time this company was the major employer in the area, employing close to 4000 men and women. The mill is still in existence, although much smaller, and is now known as SAPPI FINE PAPER. Last year a relative of the Hunt men (seen in the 3rd row) requested a print of this photograph. She had a copy but it was old and faded. Her old copy had come from the Portland Sunday Telegram of March 26, 1922. The same photo again appeared in the Warren Standard, the Warren Co.’s monthly paper, in 1954, proving that you and your history do have immortality via the archiving of our local photos and information. The captions included with each article give a wealth of information about these men. ************* PORTLAND SUNDAY TELEGRAM MARCH 26, 1922: 11 STILL EMPLOYED, 15 DEAD (heading of photograph) [The name’s of the men listed as still working at SD Warren are written in bold type under the photo] At the time of this publication further information is given on the following men: Ernest F. Bragdon is living in Gorham, Edgar A. Durrell is still employed at SDW in another part of mill, Ira T. Brackett is living in Buxton, Alphonzo E. Greenlaw is a prosperous farmer living on Stroudwater St., Isaiah Staples is living on a farm in Windham, Charles M. Cobb is proprietor of the general store at Cliff Island, George F. Hunt is retired and living on Lamb St., Warren S. Flye lives in Gray, Eugene M. Walker lives on a farm in the eastern part of the state, Charles W. Mace was foreman of the department for many years and is now retired and living on Main St. Mr. Mace was a representative to the Legislature in 1920. Oliver Berry has a farm in Standish, Frank L. Parker is with Patrons co-operative association in Portland ********* WARREN STANDARD March 1954** The man fourth from the left is the late Charles W. Mace who was superintendent of the finishing department when the picture was taken and who was succeeded considerably later by the late A. N. Waterhouse. Mr. Waterhouse was superintendent for many years until he retired in 1931 after fifty years of service to the Warren Company. He was the uncle of Leon E. Waterhouse, who recently retired after forty-five years with the Company, all of it in the finishing department. We don't believe that many of these men have survived until now—but we are sure of one. He is Fred Leighton, the good-looking man sixth from the left, in the next to the back row. At ninety-two, Fred lives alone and does all his own shopping, gets his own meals and he still looks hale and hearty.

All photographs and information taken from Westbrook Historical Society archives, unless otherwise noted.
Comments welcomed at info@westbrookhistoricalsociety.org
To view Photo of the Month Archives, click here