West End (Portland, Maine)
Encyclopedia
The West End is a downtown neighborhood in Portland, Maine
. It is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula primarily on Bramhall Hill
and is noted for its architecture and history. The neighborhood is home to a large number of historic homes and parks and, in 2010, it was called "one of the best preserved Victorian neighborhoods in the country". The Western Promenade
, a park laid out in 1836, overlooks the Libbytown and Stroudwater neighborhoods of Portland and beyond. Other historic structures include 68 High Street
, The Gothic House
, Brown House
, Butler House
, Ingraham House
, Morrill Mansion and the Minott House
.
The West End is known for ethnic and socioeconomic diversity; in 1994, it was called one of Portland's 'gay-friendly' neighborhoods.
, a private school located on Spring Street, is also located in the neighborhood. Learning Works, formally known as Portland West, is located on Brackett Street in the West End. Founded as a community group fighting the gentrification
of the West End in 1967, Learning Works is now a social services agency which provides educational opportunities to at-risk teenagers, immigrants, refugees and low income families.
was established in 1918 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
and the Sisters of Mercy
. Maine Medical Center
, Maine's largest hospital and Portland's largest employer, is located on the Western Promenade. It was founded in 1874.
, Portland's primary cemetery from 1829–1852, is located in the neighborhood.
McIntyre Park on Taylor Street was redeveloped beginning in October 2011. Funded by a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development
at a cost of $83,000, the park upgraded its basketball court, seating area, swings and other playground equipment.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. It is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula primarily on Bramhall Hill
Bramhall Hill
Bramhall Hill is a hill in the west and southwest of the downtown peninsula of Portland, Maine. At its height, the hill stands feet above sea level, with a sharp drop below...
and is noted for its architecture and history. The neighborhood is home to a large number of historic homes and parks and, in 2010, it was called "one of the best preserved Victorian neighborhoods in the country". The Western Promenade
Western Promenade
The Western Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine's West End neighborhood. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a number of historic properties, including the Adam P. Leighton House. Maine Medical Center is also...
, a park laid out in 1836, overlooks the Libbytown and Stroudwater neighborhoods of Portland and beyond. Other historic structures include 68 High Street
68 High Street
68 High Street is an historic colonial revival building in Portland, Maine. Located on the eastern edge of Portland West End, the building was built in 1909 and was designed by architect Frederick A. Tompson. From completion until 1942, the building was used as a children's hospital and was an...
, The Gothic House
The Gothic House
The Gothic House also known as the John J. Brown House is an historic house in Portland, Maine. Located in the West End, it was built in 1845 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
, Brown House
Harrison B. Brown House
Harrison Bird Brown House is an historic house in Portland, Maine. Located in the West End, it was built in 1861 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
, Butler House
A.B. Butler House
A.B. Butler House is an historic house in Portland, Maine. Located in the West End, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
, Ingraham House
Joseph Holt Ingraham House
Joseph Holt Ingraham House or Churchill House is an historic house in Portland, Maine. Located in the Portland's West End, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973....
, Morrill Mansion and the Minott House
William Minott House
William Minott House is an historic house in Portland, Maine. Located in the Portland's West End, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.-References:...
.
The West End is known for ethnic and socioeconomic diversity; in 1994, it was called one of Portland's 'gay-friendly' neighborhoods.
Education
Reiche Community School, a public school located on Brackett Street, serves the West End's K-5 school-age students. It also houses a branch library, swimming pool, and community center. Waynflete SchoolWaynflete School
Waynflete School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school for early childhood education to twelfth grade, in Portland, Maine. Established in 1898, it is one of three independent private schools in the greater Portland area....
, a private school located on Spring Street, is also located in the neighborhood. Learning Works, formally known as Portland West, is located on Brackett Street in the West End. Founded as a community group fighting the gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
of the West End in 1967, Learning Works is now a social services agency which provides educational opportunities to at-risk teenagers, immigrants, refugees and low income families.
Former schools
- Butler Grammar School (West and Pine Street)
- Rosa True SchoolRosa True SchoolThe Rosa E. True School is an historic property on Park Street in Portland, Maine's West End. It opened as a public school in 1844 and closed in 1972; upon the closing of the school, it had been in continuous use longer than any other school in the country....
140 Park Street: Opened in 1844, closed in 1972 - Vaughn Street School (233 Vaughn Street)
Healthcare
Mercy HospitalMercy Hospital (Portland, Maine)
Mercy Hospital is a Roman Catholic not-for-profit community hospital in Portland, Maine. It was founded in 1918 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Sisters of Mercy to provide excellent healthcare, especially to the poor and disadvantaged...
was established in 1918 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the entire state of Maine...
and the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
. Maine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center is a 637 licensed-bed teaching hospital located in Portland, Maine, United States with a staff of over 6,000 people. Founded in 1874, it is the largest hospital in northern New England with 27,000 inpatients, more than 500,000 outpatient visits and over 16,000 surgeries...
, Maine's largest hospital and Portland's largest employer, is located on the Western Promenade. It was founded in 1874.
Media
The West End News is a local weekly newspaper which includes news and information pertaining to the neighborhood and the city at-large.Parks and cemeteries
Four city parks are located in the neighborhood, including Clark Street Park, Harbor View Park, Tate-Tyng Playground and McIntyre Park. The Western CemeteryWestern Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
The Western Cemetery is an urban cemetery in Portland, Maine. At one time Portland's home for the "poor and indigent", the cemetery is named after for its location in Portland's West End neighborhood and proximity to the Western Promenade. Founded in the 18th century, the land was acquired by the...
, Portland's primary cemetery from 1829–1852, is located in the neighborhood.
McIntyre Park on Taylor Street was redeveloped beginning in October 2011. Funded by a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
at a cost of $83,000, the park upgraded its basketball court, seating area, swings and other playground equipment.
Notable residents
- John EderJohn EderJohn Eder is an American activist and politician from the state of Maine. Eder lives in Portland and is a member of the Maine Green Independent Party, the Maine affiliate of the national Green Party. He served in the Maine House of Representatives as the legislature's first member of the Green...
, state representative - Francis H. Fassett, architect
- Jon HinckJon HinckJon Hinck is an American environmentalist, lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing House District 118, part of Portland, Maine. The non-partisan research group Maine Conservation Voters gives Hinck a score of "100%" on their...
, state representative - Dr. William MacVaneWilliam MacVaneWilliam Leslie MacVane, Jr., M.D. was an American surgeon and politician. MacVane assisted in the first open heart surgery performed in Maine in 1959 and served as the mayor of Portland, Maine, for one term in 1971....
- David Marshall, city councilor and artist
- Michael V. SaxlMichael V. SaxlMichael V. Saxl is a former Maine politician and lawyer. Saxl, who lives in Portland's West End, was a member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 116th-120th legislatures. He was Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives from 2001-2002. He is a Democrat.-References:...
, state representative - John Calvin StevensJohn Calvin StevensJohn Calvin Stevens was an American architect who worked in two related styles — the Shingle Style, in which he was a major innovator, and the Colonial Revival style, which dominated national domestic architecture for the first half of the 20th century...
, architect - Ethan StrimlingEthan StrimlingEthan King Strimling is a former Democratic State Senator from Maine's 8th District. He served in the Maine State Senate from 2002 to 2009. He was replaced by Justin Alfond. In July 2011, Strimling announced his candidacy for Mayor of Portland, Maine...
, state senator