Posted on March 13, 2017 by Jenny ONeill
Listen to a recording of this presentation: Westport native Edward Davoll learned whaling at 18, made captain by 25, and appeared to be on his way to a successful career. But some bad luck and a downturn in the whaling industry in the 1850s, coupled with his disillusionment with life at sea, led him to […]
Continue ReadingPosted on February 22, 2017 by Jenny ONeill
Recent intensive research on many matters relating to Paul Cuffe and his family has produced some interesting new insights into his life as well as that of other family members. Some of the highlights of this research are the following: Greater certainty as to the timing and people involved in freeing Cuff Slocum, Paul Cuffe’s […]
Continue ReadingPosted on February 8, 2017 by Jenny ONeill
How did Westport weather the Blizzard of February 1978?
Continue ReadingPosted on January 13, 2017 by Jenny ONeill
This collection of photo albums contains images of Horseneck Beach, East Beach, Main Road, and other areas of Westport MA, 1900 – 1940s. Surfside on East Beach Saw mill on Sanford Road, Westport MA An old uncovered shipwreck on Baker’s Beach, 1931. John W. Duffy Jr, left, Paul Duffy, right. Unidentified […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 12, 2017 by Jenny ONeill
A remarkably short-lived newspaper, March 1947 to August 1947, also remarkably costly at 25 cents per issue! Articles focus on concerns about traffic jams on Main Road, the dump at Horseneck Beach, and development of “Horseneck Village” by the Horseneck Beach Development Co. Plans for Horseneck included “leveling the dunes to make cottage sites and […]
Continue ReadingPosted on December 5, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Posted on November 29, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Whaling was a dangerous business. On long voyages so many things could go wrong. Men got sick far from land. They fell overboard. Boats were stove by whales. Ships were wrecked, or simply never heard from again. And sometimes, men went to great extremes to survive. The following stories are all true, and all happened […]
Continue ReadingPosted on October 27, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Join us as we explore the heritage of water in Westport, and the influence that it has on our lives today and in the future. We will use the Handy House as a central venue for interpretation and as a gateway to a community-wide exploration from Headwaters to Harbor and beyond…We plan an exhibition, walks, […]
Continue ReadingPosted on August 8, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Westport Harbor Waltzes Sheet music photocopy, new & revised edition to the Westport Harbor Dramatic Club: Westport Harbor Waltzes for Piano, by Frank C. Rodman. Copyright 1903. Pr. 60¢. Boston, C. W. Thompson & Co. 13 West Street. Includes “Hooligan Barn Dance” on back, by W. S. Harvey. Frank Rodman was very close with Lucy […]
Continue ReadingPosted on August 5, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
We are very fortunate to have in our collection the daybooks of Ely Handy (1763-1812) and his son James Handy (1792-1868), both of whom practiced medicine in Westport MA. The books which date from 1790 – 1830, record the names of those who were treated and provide a fascinating glimpse into 19th century medicine. […]
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