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06/17/2024 12:53 PMDowntown Westbrook will soon be getting a little makeover. A new mural celebrating the town’s maritime history will adorn the side of the Turtle Café later this summer.
Last year, in an effort to draw attention to Westbrook’s downtown and commemorate its history, the Economic Development Commission (EDC) began soliciting donations to fund the painting of a mural on the side of The Turtle Café facing Route 1.
The artist has been commissioned to design a mural depicting three arches that showcase three vessels that have historical significance to Westbrook: The Turtle, the David Crockett, and a sloop.
At a Board of Selectmen meeting on May 14, the board unanimously voted to authorize First Selectman John Hall to sign a contract with the artist Tony Falcone for $27,467 and mason Peter Joseph Brick, Block & Stone, LLC for $7,800,00.
No town funds were used for the project; instead, donations were raised over the course of the year and administered by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.
“It really is great that this worked out. I’m really pleased to start to see this become a reality,” EDC Chairman Jim Crawford said.
Crawford said that until the end of June, people would be working at the building, getting the site prepared for the mural, and finalizing some paperwork. The artist will work on the mural during the summer according to his schedule.
“There will be some ongoing maintenance that needs to be done, so we will still be collecting donations. Anyone who wishes to donate can contact Town Planner Peter Gillespie at town hall,” Crawford said.
Maritime History in Westbrook
Westbrook’s relationship with the sea is something that’s obvious to see. Today, the beaches and marinas are often named the town’s biggest attractions, but history buffs will tell you that Westbrook has historically played a significant role in American naval history as well.
One of the vessels depicted in the mural is the Turtle — America’s first submarine and the first submarine ever to be used in war. The vessel was created by David Bushnell, a Westbrook resident who grew up on a farm near the intersection of Essex and McVeagh roads during the Revolutionary War. The British eventually captured and sank the real Turtle, but a replica now sits in Westbrook’s Town Hall.
The other vessels that will be depicted in the mural are a clipper ship and a sloop.
“The large one is a clipper ship used in the trade with the Far East. It’s the David Crockett captained by Joseph Spencer of Westbrook. These ships set many travel and cargo records during the mid-19th century,” Crawford explained last year.
“The smaller boat is a sloop used in the coastal trade in New England. Many of these boats were built and sailed out of Westbrook. The island shown behind the boat is Salt Island off Westbrook shore where a vigorous trade in salt was in full swing, and the sloop’s the main transport,” Crawford said.
Crawford said the idea for the mural was first developed about six years ago, but progress stagnated as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and priorities shifted to helping businesses and the town navigate the pandemic. When Town Planner Peter Gillespie was hired by the town, the idea again gained steam.
“We really needed that professional guidance, so once we got Peter, we really were able to get this going again,” Crawford said.