Posted on December 5, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Posted on November 29, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Stove Boats, Shipwrecks, and Cannibalism: The Perils of Westport Whaling Voyages
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
Headwaters to Harbor: The Heritage of Water
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
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
The daybooks of Doctor Ely and Doctor James Handy
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. […]
Continue ReadingPosted on July 28, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
FUN SUMMER LEARNING AT FREE HANDY HOUSE FAMILY PROGRAM
When families step through the 18th-century door of Westport’s historic Handy House, they often don’t know what to expect. The extraordinary architectural features that make the house interesting to adults do not always engage their children. But an innovative family program offered this summer takes a different approach. The Handy House Family Reunion, a free […]
Continue ReadingPosted on July 23, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Treasures from Elvira’s Attic
Guest curator Blair Walker provides a tour of the exhibition of clothing from the Elvira Smith collection.This exhibition can be viewed at the Handy House, 202 Hix Bridge Road, Westport June – October 2016
Continue ReadingPosted on July 14, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
The Curious Case of the Concealed Shoes
Have you ever found old shoes hidden in odd locations in your house? If so, your discovery may be evidence of a mysterious worldwide superstitious practice. A recent donation of a collection of ancient shoes focused our attention on this strange practice of concealing shoes in buildings. This collection of shoes was discovered in a […]
Continue ReadingPosted on July 13, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Photo album of cyanotypes
A wonderful recent donation of a photo album with cyanotypes, mostly of Horseneck and other Westport areas. This album belonged to Ella Hargraves Lawton, maternal grandmother of Janet Rodgers. Brother: Robert Elkanah Lawton. They were brought up on a farm in Westport.
Continue ReadingPosted on July 7, 2016 by Jenny ONeill
Westport’s Shipbuilding Challenges
Westport’s Unique Shipbuilding Challenges In the early years, launching boats and conducting business on the Noquochoke (East Branch of the Westport River) was relatively straightforward. Boats were generally of the smaller variety, and the unique locations of launching points and river crossings did little to impact the boatbuilding business. With the advent of the whaling […]
Continue Reading