Posted on December 5, 2019 by Jenny ONeill
Pond Meadow, the Gatsby-esque mansion in Acoaxet next to the Nubble, is truly one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture Westport has to offer. Surviving hurricanes for the past 101 years, the estate has become a town landmark due to not only its extravagance but the incredible view of the Atlantic from its grounds. […]
Continue ReadingPosted on November 22, 2013 by Greg Stone
Not much is known about how the holidays were celebrated at the Handy House, however we’ve uncovered that Thanksgiving 1927 was a real hair-raising time! Abbott Smith, who purchased the Hix Bridge Road home in 1911, hosted 48 of his nearest and dearest at one large table out on the front porch, according to […]
Continue ReadingPosted on October 24, 2013 by Jenny ONeill
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” Born in 1914 and still going strong, Elvira Smith reflects on her childhood and what it was like growing up on a Westport Farm located on Horseneck Road, down a long lane. Growing up on a farm was a lot of hard work […]
Continue ReadingPosted on October 22, 2013 by Greg Stone
Continue Reading
Posted on April 2, 2012 by Jenny ONeill
Marjorie Robb (1889-1992) was a survivor of the Titanic disaster. She lived at Westport Point. In 1986 she spoke about her experience. This recording can be heard here. The quality of the original recording is poor and is best heard with the volume on a high setting. http://chirb.it/BegEh7 Poor sound quality:
Continue ReadingPosted on November 1, 2010 by Jenny ONeill
William Almy, Jr. Interviewed by Mary Giles October 25, 1975 William Almy – “According to the early records of the Almy family here in Westport, William Almy, the sone of Captain Christopher Almy and Elizabeth Cornell, was born October 27, 1665 and died on July 6, 1747. Job, the son of William Almy and Ezra […]
Continue ReadingPosted on June 16, 2010 by Jenny ONeill
Temperance – the campaign to curtail the consumption of alcohol – was an important reform movement in the 19th century. Westport had a number of active temperance groups, and one of the most effective and controversial was the Washingtonians, who shot to prominence in 1840, only to be crowded out by competing abstinence groups by […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 23, 2009 by Jenny ONeill
My family had a summer home at the very end of Brayton Point. 329 Brayton Point Road. We call it the last house in Massachusetts because there is nothing but ocean in front of us and Rhode Island line is to the left of the house. The house had no heat, no TV, and no […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 20, 2009 by Jenny ONeill
In 1938 all but the western most part of Horseneck was lined with houses, mostly small cottages but including some substantial mansions. West Beach, facing the Atlantic, was backed by sand dunes and woodland where persons fleeing the beachfront could try to find refuge. East Beach, facing the Bay, was a narrow strip of sand […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 20, 2009 by Jenny ONeill
Many eye witness accounts describe the 1938 storm tide as if it were a tidal wave. The deadly effects of storm surge and storm tide are key to understanding why 1938 hurricane wreaked so much damage. Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around […]
Continue Reading