Photo by: Peggy Aulisio, Westport Shorelines

THE HARBINGER

Newsletter of the Westport Historical Society, Inc. Box 3031 Westport, MA 02790-0700 www.westporthistory.com westhist@gis.net ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ VOLUME 27 WINTER 2005 NUMBER 1 What’s Inside This Issue 1 Letter from the President 2 Membership/Donations Update 3 General Tom Thumb 3 Upcoming Events 4 Whalers into and out of Westport 4 Fate of the brig Kate Cory 5 Collections Corner 6 History Notes – Westport in the Arctic 6 Barns of Westport 7 WHS Items for Sale 7 Stolen Antiques Sale Foiled OFFICERS PRESIDENT: William F. Wyatt VICE-PRESIDENT: (Vacant) SECRETARY: Jon Alden TREASURER: Roger Griswold ACTING HISTORIAN: Sharon Wypych MEMBERS AT LARGE Bette DeVeuve Thomas R. Flynn Elliott LaMontagne Barbara Moss (Past President) COMMITTEE CHAIRS FINANCE: Burney Gifford BUILDING: C. Edward Jackson MEMBERSHIP: Fran LaMontagne COLLECTIONS: Carolyn Cody ORAL HISTORY: Anne Burkholder PROGRAMS: Anne Burkholder HARBINGER: Jon Alden ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Sharon L. Wypych The Harbinger is published by the Westport Historical Society, a non-profit organization working to protect and preserve Westport’s history and heritage.

Letter from the President –

Westport is under the gun, or rather several guns. You will have read about the numerous or many developments that have been proposed for the town, but these are at least under the control of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Not so protected are historical structures and cemeteries. The recent destruction of a cemetery on Charlotte White Road is a case in point. Had it not been for the chance intervention of David Anctil, the cemetery might have been totally obliterated. The matter is still under adjudication, but it is at least clear that unauthorized destruction of an historical cemetery almost succeeded. One hears

horror stories of earlier destructions of cemeteries around town, and the simple loss of others. We implore all our members and residents of Westport generally to be on the lookout for potential destruction of our historical heritage. Recently as well, and in spite of the recently enacted Demolition Delay By-Law, an old house on Mouse Mill Road was demolished. In losing this structure we have lost still another of the older houses in town. One might with dismay envision the day when there are no older houses outside of the protected Historical District at Westport Point. Townspeople are not as aware as they should be of the By-Law – the Historical Commission will circularize the town on the issue. All is not doom and gloom. An old house on Cornell Road was rescued from destruction through the efforts of Pete Baker, and is now being restored. When it is complete, we will have a very fine structure - or rather structures – of Georgian and Greek revival style architecture. This house serves as proof that older buildings, even if seemingly hopeless, can be successfully rescued and restored. We have been given the opportunity of acquiring the originals of the paintings Betsy MacDonald did for the Harvest Festival posters; 12 excellent and whimsical pictures. We need $15,000 in order to purchase these paintings and, with this in mind, we made an (irregular) annual appeal. The money is still coming in, but as of this writing we have approximately $12,000 towards that goal, and we can be reasonably certain that we will reach it. We are, needless to say, very grateful to those who have contributed to our cause, and hope that we can prove ourselves worthy of their confidence. The paintings will be displayed through the kindness of Al Lees at Lees Supermarket for some time. William Wyatt

We are grateful to the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Foundation for a grant that makes it possible for us to publish The Harbinger.

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Thanks to our Contributing and Sustaining Members – Summer 2004! Contributing: Barbara Hanley & Leo Brooks Nancy Burkholder Sharon Nolan & James Weiss Margaret Huie Tom Flynn Maynard and Andrea Powning James and Joan Tewksbury Terrence and Charlene Connolly Carl Tripp Elizabeth Coxe, Anthony and Sharon Connors Paul and Tina Schmid Gregory and Brenda Stone John and Ruth Mackowski Selena Howard Tom and Kate Schmitt Charlotte Metcalf Potter’s Funeral Home Ward and Lydia Chamberlin Benjamin Gifford Michael and Carol Corbett James and Rosalind Weir Russell and Patricia Beede Charles and Elsie Buess Bruce and Elizabeth Derbyshire Joseph and Sara Keith Hugh and Diana Morton Norman and Irene Buck Charles Costa Peter MacDougall Sylvia Tompkins David Cole and Betty Slade Edward and Louise Devlin Steven and Dawn Tripp Joseph Walsh Maurice May and Lisa Arnold Sustaining: C. W. and Helga Nichols William and Sally Wyatt

Welcome our new Members! The following new members have joined the Society since the last Harbinger issue was published: Timothy and Mary Ann Bryant Edie Glascock Richard Kugler Donald McGovern Elisabeth Mundel Elliott and Barbara Schildkrout

Thanks to our Contributing and Sustaining Members – Fall 2004! Contributing: Timothy and Mary Ann Bryant Richard Kugler Robert and Carol Russell Margaret Huie Peter and Catherine Katzenbach Stewart and Francis Kirkaldy Peter and Joan Thompson Robert and Louise Coughlin James Pano Benjamin White Margaret McCarter Roger and Ann Griswold Samuel Niles Davison Paull Thomas and Barbara Slaight Franklin Pond

Sustaining: Thomas and Suzanne Kendig John and Celeste Penney John and Janet Segal Kenneth Simon Neil and Sylvia Van Sloun

Donations for Harvest Festival Paintings – Thank You! Harriet Barker Neil & Sylvia Van Sloun, Robert & Patricia Lawrence John & Janet Segal Jeremy & Hanne Grantham Marie Langlois Alain & Phoebe Chardon Douglas Vrona Ann Wheeler Norman & Irene Buck Ann Hogg Gregg & Brenda Stone Timothy & Maryann Byrant Nancy Crosby Benjamin Gifford Charlotte Babbitt Anthony & Sharon Connors Henry & Janet Vaillant Sumner James Waring Jr, Johnn & Corbin Harwood James Panos William & Shirley Ledbetter Dora & Trip Millikin Dr. Robert & Mrs. Sears John & Carolyn Kaiser Nancy Thompson Richard Anderson Stewart & Francis Kirkaldy John & Ruth Mackowski Peter & Joan Thompson Paul Tamburello Gerald & Vivian Coutinho Thomas & Catharine Schmitt Guild Family Foundation Joseph & Sarah Keith Barbara Koenitzer Owen & Ruth Dexter Carlton & Alice Macomber Ovadia & Evelyn Simha John & Gertraude Bergland Paige Gibbs Two Black Dogs Studio Grimshaw-Gudewitz Alan & Ruth Manchester Maurice May Andy & Laurette Shabshelowitz C. Metcalf Telaka Foundation Barbara Hanley & Leo Brooks

General and Mrs. Tom Thumb

Dorothy Thayer, Director of the Middleborough Historical Museum, presented a spirited slide presentation about the life of the world famous “little people” Charles Sherwood Stratton and Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump on November 18th at the Bell School. What a marvelous time it was learning about these performers for P.T. Barnum (pictured on the left), the greatest showman on earth during the mid to late 1800s. Lavinia was born and raised in Middleborough. After their marriage, she and Tom built a mansion in that town. After Tom’s death in 1883, Lavinia was married a second time and became

known as Countess Magri. Lavinia Warren Stratton is pictured on the back page of the Harbinger standing to the left of her sister, Minnie Warren, and to the right of her husband Charles (Tom). Dorothy Thayer is a past president of the Middleborough Historical Association, and was formerly a social studies teacher at Middleborough High School.

Ms. Thayer was treated to a surprise as Barbara Moss, Collections Chairperson and Bill Wyatt, President presented a pair of Lavinia’s shoes, that were donated to the Westport Historical Society, to the Middleborough Historical Museum. The presentation was in keeping with the WHS policy of redirecting items not associated with Westport to their proper homes. Our thanks to Sue Smith of Noquochoke Orchards for providing refreshments.

For reservations to future WHS programs, please call the Society at (508) 636-6011. Page 3

Upcoming Events Fate of our Cemeteries, presented by special guests to be announced. Location: Council on Aging February 2 7:30 pm

-TENTATIVE- Meeting of the Local History Research Guild, presided over by Mike Dyer. Open to the public. Location: Bell School February 28 7:00pm The Life of Paul Cuffe, presented by: Carl Cruz, Director of the New Bedford Historical Society. Location: Bell School March 17 7:30 pm “An Armchair Discussion of the Macomber Farm, the Macomber Turnip, and the Ice House”, presented by: Howard Gifford. Location: Bell School April 21 7:30 pm “Flowers in Westport – Then and Now”, presented by: Lorraine Kohorn. Location: Bell School May 19 7:30 pm If there are any subjects or current events that you may wish to see presented in a WHS Program, contact: Anne Burkholder at the WHS, or Email her at: nannyaesop@charter.net

Charles Stratton (General Tom Thumb) was 25” tall in his teens and weighed just 25 pounds. He later grew to 40” and 70 pounds. He died July 15, 1883 in Middleborough at the age of 45.

We are grateful to Dorothy Thayer, Director of the Middleborough Historical Museum, for so generously sharing her time and energy with us.

Whalers into and out of Westport By Bill Wyatt There are references to sailing into and out of Westport in several whaling logs. We print here – with a few comments – selections from some of them. We are grateful to Michael Dyer, Librarian of the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library to print these extracts. The first is an entry in the log of the bark Solon’s 1854 voyage, and contains very early sailing directions to the wharves at the Point: Directions for sailing in & up West Port river bound up from wharf steer to hide a peeked rock just in from the hous of Grinell on the east side then keep that course untill the crack rock comes in range with Leander Brightman hous & that will carry you over the shoal then steer to go round the turn of chanell & up to the wharf at W. Pt. These are the earliest known sailing directions to the Point, and are interesting as well in that they indicate that whaling ships did stop at Westport (as well as at other places) upon completion of a voyage. Interesting, too, is the fact that only a local person would be able to understand the directions. The channel cannot have been marked in those days, though there were buoys shown on a map of 1860. Getting out of the river was also hazardous, as we learn from an entry in the log of the Westport whaler Greyhound for June 21st, 1862: At three P. M. the tug took us in tow and after ounding a few times on the bar took us out to Hen & Chickens there made all sail and beat out the bay with a fresh breeze at sunset Nomans Land bore east three miles distant had a fine breeze thru the night heading S.S.E. Latter part more moderate and baffling saw blackfish. Returning to Westport was not always easy either. The following comes from the log of the Solon from another voyage, this one ending in March, 1860. The handwriting of the captain, Joseph Smith, is almost illegible, so we cannot guarantee all the readings in what follows: 3/24 “At 11 PM saw a light apparently a revolving light & supposed it Gay Head & worked accordingly & soon saw ?? bearing NW supposed it Cuttyhunk I worked ship accordingly to get into Westport at 12 midnight [set no?] a thick snow storm lost site of all the lights & at 7 AM cleared off some land all along to North supposed it mainland & I stood for it but soon found a mistake & found the ship down off the west end of Nantucket” The captain made his way to Martha’s Vineyard, where a pilot came out and took him to Edgartown. On the 26th he worked out of the harbor; on the 27th he anchored at “Tarpauling Cove, a good harbor.” The final entry is for the 28th: 3/28 “At sunrise in the morning was off Quixos hole started to go through wind came out north but ship through & then started for New Bedford beat all the way & came to anchor at Clarkes Pt at 11 1/4 AM furled all sails crew started for shore in sharkes (?) boats I payed off the Pilot his charge was 15 dollars from Edgartown to Clarkes Pt. so I had 30 dollars pilotage but go along very well I left the ship at 1 1/2 PM being the last to leave when the ship keeper took charge” I add from the Atlantic Coast Pilot Atlantic Coast (Department of Commerce and Labor, 3rd. Ed., 1912): (Continued on Page 5) Page 4

Fate of the Kate Cory The whaler Kate Cory, the last to be built in Westport (1856), was named after the six year old daughter of Alexander Cory. The schooner turned brig was no stranger to the waters of the Westport River; she sailed out of The Point. Reproduced from Recollections of a Naval Life: Including the Cruises of the Confederate States Steamers (raiders), "Sumter" and "Alabama", by John McIntosh Kell, Executive Officer. “It took us some time to coal, and while we were lying in port with the Louisa Hatch beside us, two ships (evidently whalers) came in, hove to, and lowered boats. Their object was to barter sperm oil for supplies. As we had no flag in sight they could not know our nationality. They innocently inquired, and our prize master told them "we were a Brazilian steamer bringing convicts." They seemed suspicious of us. We quietly got up steam and moved outside and reconnoitered. They were outside the marine league. We fired as we drew near, and they made no resistance. One was the Bark Lafayette, of New Bedford; we made short work of her. The other was the Kate Cory, of Westport. We were going to make use of the latter to convey our prisoners (now quite numerous) to be landed, but a Brazilian schooner that had come to anchor offered to take the prisoners to Pernambuco if we would reward them for their trouble by giving them a few barrels of flour and pork. This we consented to do, and so we burned the Cory. We remained some days after coaling, hoping the Agrippina would come, but finally giving her up, we went to sea.” The Kate Cory was immortalized in September, 1998 as a weathervane that now perches atop Westport's Town Hall.

“Westport River has a narrow and crooked channel, with a depth of 7 feet on the outer bar and 5 feet on the inner bar below the village of Westport Point, which is about 1 1/2 miles above its mouth, on the point of land between the two branches. The channel is well marked by buoys, but is too narrow and crooked to be followed, except with local knowledge; 9 feet is the deepest draft that can be taken to the village at high water. There is a depth of 10 feet alongside some of the wharves. In southerly gales a heavy sea breaks on the bar at the entrance, making it unsafe to enter the harbor. About 1 mile above its mouth the Westport River divides into two branches, East Branch and West Branch, which have narrow and shallow channels and are only navigated by small craft. Vessels should not attempt to enter at night. On the western side of the entrance is a peculiar, rounded nubble, about 30 feet high, on which a flagstaff is erected, which serves as a guide to the entrance. Tides. – The mean rise and fall of tides is 3.1 feet. The tidal currents set in and out of the entrance with considerable velocity, and should be allowed for.” William Wyatt

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(At Left) "WESTPORT POINT - The Whaling Brig "Kate Cory" at Her Home Port in 1862" by John Stobart. Courtesty of Maritime Heritage Prints, Beverly MA. (800) 989-3513.

Tidbits from the Collections Corner Over the past few months we have received a number of materials of historic note, and I list them here: 1. From Lee Tripp a tool chest of considerable size and significance; a chest that once was used at the Head of Westport, possibly by a shipwright. The chest is distinguished by decorative paneling that adds a good deal of interest to what is basically a utilitarian object. 2. From the estate of Jean Kennison a number of issues of Poor Bill’s Almanac, a paper printed in Westport in the 1970’s. These numbers will help us fill out our collection of that and other local papers. Ms. Kennison’s estate also gave us some materials on the history of churches in our town. 3. From the estate of Eleanor Tripp and through the agency of her niece, Cathy Swanteson, more materials connected with the Drs. Handy. You will recall that we earlier were given four volumes of Handy medical records. These are currently being conserved by Robert Hauser of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and will be returned to us by the end of June. We are grateful to the Town and its Community Preservation Committee for providing us with the funds to conserve these valuable documents. We shall report further on progress with these materials. Please note that we are in a position to accept documents and records - and even copies of documents – at this time, and we are eager to have them.

History Notes - Westport in the Arctic Someone left a clipping from the Personals section of a paper, no doubt a New Bedford one, on the table in the Bell School. When it was left, and why it had remained on that table, is just another of the mysteries that one encounters in a society like our own. The paper dates from September, 1916 but we do not know the day: “Mrs. A. C. Sherman has announced the engagement of her daughter Helen Herschel to Russell John Paul of Newport, N.H. It will be remembered that Miss Sherman, the daughter of the late Captain Albert C. Sherman, was born on the steam whaler Beluga at Herschel Island, and was the first white child born north of the Arctic Circle.” It should be remembered as well that Captain Sherman, a whaling captain who visited the Arctic frequently, sailing out of San Francisco, was born in Westport June 23, 1849, son of Peleg and Hannah Allen Sherman; he died in New Bedford in 1912. He was married (to his first wife) in Westport August 5, 1880; she was Mollie Allen, and she died May 17, 1881. Helen was the product of his second wife, Carolyn L. Nye Kirschbaum (1858-1896), who died in the Arctic. The Mrs. Sherman of the notice was his third wife. Helen Herschel did indeed marry Mr. Paul, and lived in various locations, particularly in Hartford CT. Helen Herschel Sherman was thus a daughter of Westport, and Herschel Island (in the Arctic north of Alaska) is just another of the many spots Westporters, or their descendants, have reached! William Wyatt Barns of Westport

The Americanization of the barn is never more apparent than on the Christmas tree-dappled property now owned by C. Donald and Ruth A. Edwards on Pine Hill Road. The barn and accompanying house were built by Richard Lawton in 1818 on 80 acres. Trees from the property were cut and dried, floated down the river to a sawmill in the area of Hix’s Bridge, and were hand-hewn and cut into planks, boards and beams. The lumber was transported back to the farm by horse and wagon. Construction was on a stone foundation with wooden-pegged beams and hand-forged nails. The farm remained in the Lawton family until 1936 when the property was sold to

Percy A. and Ruth V. Woodland (see the letter W on the barn door). Ruth A., the current owner, is a Woodland. Of historical significance is that the property was the homestead of the Lawton family for nearly 150 years. The barn supported a diversified farm during that period. Because subsistence farming in the area was on the wane due to the productive enterprise that slowly turned the Head into a respectable, wealthy community, the barn was probably used in the earlier days to support farm animals, orchards, some food production, and other income-producing enterprises. (Continued next page) Page 6

The steam bark Beluga, formerly prominent in the Arctic whaling fleet of the Pacific Coast was burned by the raider Wolf on July 9 while on a voyage from San Francisco for Sydney, Australia. Gordon Newell, Maritime events of 1917, H.W.McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: Superior, 1966., p. 293. Citation: Tacoma Public Library

In recent memory it has supported horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and a small dairy herd that produced four 20-quart jugs of milk every two days; Donald personally hand-milked those cows! From 1954 to 1972, the farmstead supported a mink farm. Today, three generations of Edwards run a Christmas tree farm; it’s a safe bet that many Westport families have proudly displayed Edwards’ trees in their homes. It has been said that the barn is a “symbol for the agrarian way of life”, but in truth, they have proved as adaptable and versatile as Americans themselves in sustaining the activities of the time. For more information and pictures on Westport’s barns, visit: http://aldenhill.com/essay/barns.htm Jon Alden

Books, Photographs, Maps, Videos, and Gift Items for Sale The Westport Historical Society has many publications and items of historic impact and interest for sale. Use the order form on our website - www.westporthistory.com - , or call Sharon at the Society – (508) 636-6011, or just stop by during the week either on Monday or Wednesday. We appreciate and need your support!

A Look at Westport Through Four Centuries...............................................$19.95 Bell School Notecards with Envelopes.......................$3 for set of 6, or 50 Bell School Postcards…....................25 cents Bicentennial Medals - Bronze…............$5.00 Bicentennial Medals - Pewter................$2.00 Bicentennial Medals - Silver................$30.00 Caps - red, blue, green, gray................$15.00 Hawes Video - "Westport Harbor before the Hurricane of 1938" - VHS....................$25.00 DVD....................30.00 Head Scale Maps of 1871 and 1895.......$3.00 Life and Adventures of Paul Cuffe..........$2.00 Lincoln Park Remembered........ ...........$25.00 Man Born on Purpose (Paul Cuffe).........$5.00 Old Home Week.................................... $5.00 Pa and I................................................ $10.00 Painting Historic Exteriors.................. $10.00 Quaker Meetings in Southeastern MA.. $ .20 St. George Church 75th Anniversary... $1.00 The Black Yankee (Paul Cuffe)............. $5.00

Traveler...Hurricane of 1938.......... $5.00 Westport Map of 1871 (plain or in tube)... $15.00 Westport Point Bridge.......................... $5.95 Westporters and the Civil War..... $10.00 Westport Enters its Fifth Century.............. $14.95 Westport Point Guidelines..................... $1.25 1831 Map of Westport…………. $50.00 1895 Map of Westport…………………… $75.00 Page 7

Stolen Antiques Sale Foiled – Courtesy of The Herald News Thursday, January 13, 2005 Hundreds of items on the auction block in upstate New York were in reality the paintings, silver, china, crystal, Oriental rugs and furniture stolen from eight or more homes in Little Compton and Westport. The majority were summer homes that were vacant and housed valuable antiques. A Little Compton man was arrested just prior to the New York auction. Fortunately he is cooperating with police. Other items were auctioned off previously in Sandwich and Connecticut, leaving owners uncertain if they will ever see their valuables again. Affected residents are attempting to identify their antiques from hundreds now in the possession of local police. Vigilant authorities averted a disaster of major proportions. Again, we implore all residents of Westport to be on the lookout for the potential theft of our irreplaceable heritage.

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Westport Harbor – 1895. Was it difficult to

navigate? See Page 4! The Society has two wonderful maps of early Westport now for sale: 1831 and 1895. They are high quality photographic copies, excellent for framing and displaying in your home or office (see sample of 1895 map above). Call, or drop in at the Bell School either Monday of Wednesday for the map of your choice. Thanks for your support!

Westport Historical Society 25 Drift Road (Bell Schoolhouse) P.O. Box 3031 Westport, MA 02790-6011

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Westport, MA Permit No. 23

For more on the handsome couples in

this picture, turn to Page 3.