John W. Deering, Portland, ca. 1896
Item 12798 info
Maine Historical Society
John Deering built The Westfield Hotel, originally called the Victoria, in 1896. It was located at 939 Congress Street, nearby what was then Union Station.
With just 35 rooms and 10 private bathrooms, the Westfield was dwarfed by its neighbor and competitor in the Union Station market, the West End Hotel. However, with the increase of railroad travel, the Westfield was successful in managing overflow from the West End Hotel.
In the 1940s the Westfield’s rates were $1 per night with breakfast not included. The Deerings sold the Hotel in 1920 to the Lessard family, at which point Harry Lessard, a Portland policeman, began managing the hotel.
In 1969 the Westfield was sold to Lekousis bakery interests.
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