Alice Esser

Alice Gardner Esser (1869-1962)

Owner of restaurant and boarding house

1834 Main Road, Westport Point

Israel and Alice Gardner Esser came to Westport in the 1920s. Other than Stevens family who lived next door to them, they were the only family of color that lived on the Point. Their property served as a boarding house and a small restaurant for several years, most likely serving seasonal visitors and those passing through. Alice was well known for her home cooked meals which she served at her home, then known as the “Gulls Nest.”

Israel, born in 1852 in Nova Scotia migrated to the US in 1869. He married Alice Gardner in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1893, the daughter of James Gardner and Charlotte Samples, both people of color from Virginia. Alice was one of 15 children. They had only one child Myra E. Esser who was born in 1894. Myra married twice and had 3 children in total. Myra’s son, George Strait, was known in Westport Point.

Alice and Israel bought 1834 Main Road from Michael McNally. It comprised of two lots for a total of 1 ¼ acre and remained with Alice until 1961 when she sold to Andrew and Eleanor Lees a year before she died.