Posted on May 30, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
Elvira Smith grew up on a Westport farm in the 1930s. “We were very frugal. For example we would use the cotton from the flour sacks to make our aprons. I remember that instead of throwing our old sweaters away, we would unravel the yarn, then wash and clean it to take out the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on May 30, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
The role of women in the 20th century on the farm varied. On some farms, tasks were clearly delineated — men worked outside and the women cared for the household: Charlie Costa on his grandmother “When my grandfather was working on the farm, she would be washing clothes, hauling water, heating the irons on the […]
Continue ReadingPosted on May 29, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
Bronze potato award In 1940, the Smith family of Long Acres farm was awarded this bronze potato in recognition of a record-breaking production of 613 bushels of potatoes on a single acre. John Smith, who arrived in Westport from Scotland, purchased this property of 110 acres located near Cadmans Neck in 1882. For the next […]
Continue ReadingPosted on May 29, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
The First Tractor In 1921 Julius T. Smith (Turtle Rock Farm) bought one of the first tractors to be used on a Westport farm. The Fordson tractor was invented for a man “with a strong back and a weak head. We always took a monkey grip on the handle when we cranked the tractor, otherwise […]
Continue ReadingPosted on May 29, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
This commemorative handkerchief from the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition depicts the source of seeds that created Westport’s Macomber turnip. Westport can lay claim to its very own vegetable, the Macomber turnip. In 1876 Adin (1845-1915) and Elihu Macomber (1846-1933) ventured to the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition where they procured some seeds. The brothers planted the seed on […]
Continue ReadingPosted on May 28, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
Macomber fowls / “Tripps Yaller Hens” / Rhode Island Red Have you ever heard of the Macomber fowl? By Richard Gifford Westport farmer John Macomber played an important role in the breeding of the Rhode Island Red, “an egg laying machine.” He swapped hens with Little Compton farmer William Tripp, and successfully bred “an […]
Continue ReadingPosted on December 6, 2024 by Jenny ONeill
Two Rivers of Resistance By David C. Cole[1] During the Revolutionary War the South Coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were largely controlled by the British Navy which had local headquarters in Newport and patrolled the length of Buzzards Bay. The British assault on Dartmouth in September 1778, that included raids on settlements and […]
Continue ReadingPosted on December 6, 2024 by Jenny ONeill
Next time you drive along John Reed Road to the beach, listen for the rumbling echoes of the agitated voices of Westporters from the 1890s who felt “swindled” by the man after whom the road is named, John M. Reed. The layout of John Reed Road (originally known as Horse Neck or […]
Continue ReadingPosted on August 2, 2024 by Jenny ONeill
A collection of photographs of Westport Point, Horseneck Beach, Remington’s Clambake donated by Edith Camara.
Continue ReadingPosted on July 2, 2024 by Jenny ONeill
Volunteer opportunity Are you looking for a challenging and educational volunteer opportunity? The Westport Historical Society seeks a team of volunteers to transcribe the contents of the Henry Smith journal. Volunteers will transcribe the handwritten pages of this journal and will explore the themes of local history that will be illuminated during this project. Much […]
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