Norma Judson

WOMEN OF WESTPORT POINT

Norma K. Judson (1932-2015)

Business owner, historian

1809 Main and 1853 Main Road, Westport Point

Norma Judson, (second from left)

Norma, born in New Bedford, was the daughter of Sheldon and Evelyn Corey Judson.  They moved to Westport in 1950 and lived at 1809 Main Road. She attended New Bedford High School (class of 1949),  Endicott Junior College and Bates College.  She had two daughters:  Julie Brown and Sarah Judson Moran.  In 1953, she set up a seasonal women’s clothing and fine gifts shop known as The Moby Dick Dress Shop. It was located in the parking lot of her parent’s restaurant, the Moby Dick Restaurant. The restaurant was located on the beach side of the old Westport Point Bridge and was a summer go-to for fresh lobster. Norma’s dad Sheldon kept his lobster boat “Norma J” at the dock off the restaurant. In 1954 Hurricane Carol carried the building ¼ mile away, but by next year they had it set up again.

In 1969 Norma moved the buildings to Central Village where she expanded her business to year-round and renamed her specialty shop Silas Brown after her father-in-law at the time. She explained that move as follows: ‘In 1968, I bought land from Al Lees, cut up my three buildings, and brought them over the bridge, and set up Silas Brown.” Silas Brown’s became a well-known store that included departments for men and women, fine gifts, and a decorating department and as she explained: “where we wired lamps, sold paint and wallpaper.” She closed the business in 1997 to the sorrow of many.

She was a well-known business woman for 44 years. She often directed fashion shows to raise funds for the Point Methodist Church and other charities.   She served on the Senior Center and Bicentennial Committees. She was active in Westport in history and historic restoration, receiving several awards for her work on New Bedford houses and the Bell School, the Wolf Pit School and the Earle School.  She designed numerous homes and restored such historic buildings as the Wing Carriage House and the Feio house. The Wing Carriage House was moved from New Bedford in 1975 and attached to the infamous Feio’s Garage where Norma established an artists guild that included the Paul Cuffee Bookstore that was located on the lower level. She also was on the committee to restore the Bell Schoolhouse.  She served on several town committees:  Community Preservation Committee, Historical Commission and eight terms on the Landing Commission.  She was active in the Westport Historical Society, being involved with the Bell School Fair.  In 2003 she formed the Westport History Study Group. Norma said in an interview: “I call this a work group, it’s certainly more than a social group. The old timers really shine here… age is an asset. If they’ve had roots here all their lives and a good memory, they know more than they think they know.”

She conceived of and worked for many years in the History Room of the Town Library which is now named for her. “Too much is being thrown out, people don’t realize how valuable their old letters, photos, and documents are,” she used to say. How she had time one cannot know but she was an original member of the Westport Bridge Club, an avid reader and part of the Osprey Book Club.  She authored “Best Memories” cookbook and was quite the cook. She was a dedicated advocate for protection of the Westport River.  She was known for her advocacy for the equality of women and spoke up for that cause through much of her life, encouraging women to run for public office.  In 2011 she was the Standard Times’ “Westport Woman of the Year.”