Creating Community
As people slowly gave up full-time farming, they had leisure time to participate in other activities outside their home. Bands and baseball teams gave men a place to excel outside of their jobs and sewing circles helped women share their talents. Westbrook sports teams helped immigrants find a place to belong and minstrel shows welcomed almost anyone who would get on stage. Churches and fraternal organizations provided traditional community support and immigrant workers met to preserve their native customs.
New England town government and the volunteer fire department require citizen participation and volunteering remains a way of life for many people. Local town commissions and boards for the historical society, library, charitable foundation, scout troops, schools and the Westbrook Fife & Drum Corps help keep today’s Westbrook a vibrant community.