Posted on January 26, 2015 by Jenny ONeill
An item recently found in the collection is a Civil War register of sick and wounded from Ward No. 4 of the U. S. General Hospital in Portsmouth Grove, RI. Included in the list of “Citizen Nurses” is Cornelius T. Allen, as Chief Nurse and Pardon S. Allen, both of Westport. Both started nursing for […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 21, 2015 by Jenny ONeill
We welcome our new intern, Westport High school senior Elizabeth Broadbent, as she embarks on a project to photograph many of our three dimensional artifacts. Elizabeth is donating not only her skills as a photographer, but also use of her equipment and Photoshop know how. We look forward to sharing some of her photographs in […]
Continue ReadingPosted on January 20, 2015 by Jenny ONeill
This collection includes many documents relating to the family of William Gifford (1722-1793). As was typical of many families in the Dartmouth/Westport region during the late 18th century, some members left this area and moved to New York State, specifically to an area close to Albany. The NY state towns of Easton, Troy, and Cambridge […]
Continue ReadingPosted on December 15, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Enjoy these humorous newspaper reports about Westport from the 1860s. Westport Point reporter Thomas W. Mayhew laced his stories with a particularly dry sense of humor: “Any person passing by would think the advent day was high at hand.” May 14, 1860 A worthy member of the Society of Friends at Westport thinks that the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on November 20, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Take a closer look at this historic photograph of the Westport Point Bridge. Click on the image to see the details: Can you see the tips of the windmill? What kind of vessel is anchored at the wharf? Can you find the building that is now the Paquachuck Inn? When do you think this photograph was […]
Continue ReadingPosted on November 18, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
What is the connection between cursive writing and history? As schools begin to move away from teaching cursive writing skills, will students also lose the ability to read cursive handwriting? And if so, how will they access the handwritten documents of history? One of the great pleasures and challenges of working with primary source documents […]
Continue ReadingPosted on November 13, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Victory Mail, or “V-Mail” was used during World War II to expedite correspondence for armed services overseas. It used microfilm processing to produce lighter, smaller mail cargo to limit the amount of space used for mail (http://postalmuseum.si.edu/victorymail/). The writer used a form that was then processed for shipment overseas. These are examples of two V-Mail […]
Continue ReadingPosted on November 13, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Union School at Westport Factory. The building is no longer there, but the building is similar in style to the Bell School.
Continue ReadingPosted on November 13, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Does anyone remember this event? The Fourth of July parade: Dartmouth Riding Club made this float representing a large horse. The telephone lines became snagged on the ear of the horse. Herbert Hadfield is in front watching the wires to avoid further trouble, circa 1961.
Continue ReadingPosted on November 13, 2014 by Jenny ONeill
Envelope advertising the Southern New England County Fair, held September 15-18, 1914 at Lincoln Park (“halfway between New Bedford and Fall River, MA”). Map of fair grounds on back.
Continue Reading