Posted on August 13, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
LISTEN: Doris Carvalho Hi, my name is Doris Carvalho and it is July 25th, 2026 and I am interviewing Carol Petty. Hi, Carol. How are you? Carol Skarbo I’m fine, Doris. Doris Carvalho That’s good. Ready to start? Carol Skarbo I am. Okay. Doris Carvalho Your parents were living in Westport when you were born. […]
Continue ReadingPosted on August 7, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
August 3, 2026 Listen Transcribed using AI Summary created by AI This interview transcript features a conversation between Susan Montgomery (interviewer) and Russell Walters on August 3, 2026, in Westport, Massachusetts. Key Summary Points Early Memories & Hurricane Carol: Russell first came to Westport as a young child with his mother to visit family friends. […]
Continue ReadingPosted on June 23, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
Illustration by Ray Shaw Westport militiamen described a brief “skirmish” with British soldiers who were in search of livestock on Gooseberry. The difficulty of obtaining fresh meat for the British soldiers was an ongoing challenge, and an effort was made to guard the shoreline to prevent the enemy from “committing depredations.” Soldiers were quartered in […]
Continue ReadingPosted on April 29, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
The transcribed town records can be accessed at https://wpthistory.org/in-our-own-words-the-path-to-independence-1760-1790/ The late 1700s was an era of revolution for the American colonies. It was also a time of formation for Westport and other neighboring towns. In the decade following the Revolution, Westport separated from Dartmouth and, in 1787, was incorporated as a town, forging its own unique […]
Continue ReadingPosted on March 6, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
Image: Paul Cuffe Nearing Nantucket after a Night at Sea Resolving Some Lingering Questions David C. Cole Paul Cuffe was just sixteen years old in 1775 when the Battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill occurred, and he was reportedly at sea on a whaling voyage during those events. He set forth on another whaling […]
Continue ReadingPosted on March 2, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
1976 was a busy year for Westporters. Local headlines record youthful unrest at the Head of Westport, and worries about a night soil lagoon, the sand and gravel pit, and hog cholera. However, the Bicentennial celebrations proved to be a more positive outlet, inspiring many community projects such as an exhibition, tree planting at the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on March 2, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
Photo pre 1938 showing Westport Harbor, known during the Revolutionary War era as the Devil’s Pocket Hole Written by Robert Barboza Historical researcher Robert Barboza has written two books about local patriots in the American Revolution. His 2025 book, Patriots of the South Coast, and his 2014 history book, Patriots of Old Dartmouth, are available for purchase […]
Continue ReadingPosted on March 2, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
Image: Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911) painting of Baron Steuben drilling American troops at Valley Forge in 1778. Written by Robert Barboza Historical researcher Robert Barboza has written two books about local patriots in the American Revolution. His 2025 book, Patriots of the South Coast, and his 2014 history book, Patriots of Old Dartmouth, are available for […]
Continue ReadingPosted on March 2, 2026 by Jenny ONeill
By ROBERT BARBOZA Historical researcher Robert Barboza has written two books about local patriots in the American Revolution. His 2025 book, Patriots of the South Coast, and his 2014 history book, Patriots of Old Dartmouth, are available for purchase at the Westport Historical Society bookstore. Westport native Joseph Allen was one of the many men from […]
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