Sarah Palmer Hammond, Lulu Earle Hammond, Amber Columbia, Carolyn Columbia Hammond Cody

WOMEN OF WESTPORT POINT

Sarah Palmer Hammond, Lulu Earle Hammond, Amber Columbia, Carolyn Columbia Hammond Cody

Four generations at the post office

1977 Main Road, Westport Point

Sarah Palmer Hammond built her house that also served as store and post office.  Her daughter-in-law, Lulu Earle Hammond took over running the store and post office as well as renting rooms to boarders.  Her daughter, Amber and husband Frank Columbia purchased the house next door and took over running the post office out of their home.  They also added gas pumps and sold sundries for the heavy beach traffic.  Their daughter Carolyn was left her parent’s house and owned it till she passed. She dedicated a lot of her time in researching post offices of Westport, as there were many throughout the town.  The Westport Historical Society was very important to Carolyn in documenting the history of a village she and her ancestors called home.  Not having any children of her own, she left her house to a distant family member, with a request that it not be sold, to always remain in the family. I (Kristin Wilkinson) am honored to be that person

Carolyn lost most of hearing from complications of scarlet fever when she was six.  Due to that loss she was unable to become a nurse and she went to school to become a physical therapist.  She ended up starting the PT program at Union Hospital (Charlton) and ran it till she retired.  She set up a scholarship fund for Westport residents pursuing a career in health of some kind.  She left the bulk of her estate to four Westport charities.

Submitted by Kristin Wilkinson