Westbrook’s Unusual A giant snake and spinning ice disc

by Jeffrey Bradley

Picturesque Westbrook is known for its quaint and interesting history. There are those remnants of the old Oxford & Cumberland Canal, the aged SD Warren (“Sappi”) Paper Mill, and the outdoor drive-in movie theatre at Prides Corner that’s one of the last in the state. In more recent history, Westbrook has become famous for an elusive 10-foot snake — at least! — and the even bigger but perfectly round spinning circle of ice.

It’s got the folks from near and far asking, What’s going on with Westbrook?

Somehow the place seems bent on adding a bizarre chapter to the already long and storied lore of strange happen- ings and odd acts of nature that occur so frequently in Maine. Now add to those wandering ghosts, haunted forests, and whirling holes in the ocean some inexplicable incidents occurring near a bend in the Presumpscot River along Riverbank Park, mainly, “Wessie”, the oft seen but elusive python, and a gigantic navy blue and white perpetually spinning disk made of ice.

All of it amazing; but — how can such things be?

The snake, described as being the length of a truck, with a head the size of a football, was seen by many people, including two policemen who observed it in the river while devouring an unfortunate beaver. A shed snakeskin next found in the park sent the hype into overdrive, especially when it turned out to be a green anaconda’s, one of the world’s largest serpents. (Unless, of course, everything was just a hoax.) Yet, this creature lives only in the tropics and nowhere near Maine. So, with no more sightings forthcoming, experts claimed it had fallen a victim to the chill of autumn. Still, Wessiemania had already taken root; social media pages blossomed across the Internet, and even the nation’s media descended on Westbrook. Although Wessie was heard from no more, this deterred not at all diehard believers from searching for further clues, or the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland from mounting a giant snake exhibit, or Westbrook from cashing in on the hoopla.

A “Wessie Fest”, which included a marketing video starring the snake and special snake-related flyers announcing the shindig plastered all over town, which featured Wessie T-shirts, a “PieThon” baking contest, photo-ops with a mock-up of Wessie, and lots of cold Wessie beer was held and, according to all accounts, proved a smashing success.

Now, whether the snake was real or not doesn’t seem to matter; what does matter is that the town accepted what might be a giant exotic snake slithering around in their midst. Who knows? It’s never been found, but the legend lives on. More important is the fact that it never showed up for the party!

Giant roving snakes may or may not belong buried deep in the X-files. Enormous spinning ice disks, not so much.