THE HARBINGER

Newsletter of the Westport Historical Society, Inc. P. O. Box N 188 Westport, MA 02790-1203 www.westporthistory.com westhist@gis.net ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ VOLUME 34 Winter 2006/2007 NUMBER 4 What’s Inside This Issue

Jon AldenWHS Director Jenny O’Neill (right) congratulating Joan Fradley, first place winner in the adult division. Center is Bob Barboza, editor of the Dartmouth Chronicle, and one of the two judges. The other judge, not shown here, was David Dionne, Westport town selectman.

1 Letter from the Director 2 Membership/Donations Update 2 WHS Mission Statement 3 Volunteer Opportunities 3 Volunteer Spotlight 3 Note from the President 3 Upcoming Events 4 Collections Corner

New Acquisitions Seven Treasures in Westport

6 Special Report - Photo Contest 7 WHS Events - Fall/Winter

Caroling with Jim Panos Pirates and Privateers An Afternoon with Dick Hawes

8 John McNiff - Pirate of Westport!

BOARD MEMBERS

PRESIDENT: Dr. William F. Wyatt 1st VICE-PRESIDENT: Anthony Connors 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT: Jon W. Alden SECRETARY: Sharon L. Wypych TREASURER: Roger P. Griswold

HISTORIAN: Carolyn C. Cody

DIRECTOR: Jenny O’Neill MEMBERS AT LARGE

Carol Coutinho Sally Sapienza COMMITTEE CHAIRS

BUILDING: Timothy H. Gillespie MEMBERSHIP: Helga Nichols COLLECTIONS: Barbara Moss ORAL HISTORY: Anne Burkholder PROGRAMS: James S. Panos HARBINGER: Jon W. Alden The Harbinger is published by the Westport Historical Society, a non-profit organization working to protect and preserve Westport’s history and heritage. Email us at: westhist@gis.net

Letter from the Director –

Our last major event of 2006, “Community on Camera,” was indeed a memorable one. I offer a sincere “Thank You!” to all who submitted photos for our contest and exhibit. Congratulations to the winning photographers! It was a stunning display of Westport’s special characteristics and we are grateful to the Westport Arts Council for funding this project and to Lees Market for providing the exhibit space. The photographs will be stored as part of the Historical Society’s collection, and, as I write this, we are working to record all images in our local history database. The coming year promises to be equally exciting. We hope to repeat our popular bus tours of Westport and, as always, we will offer an array of evening programs

beginning January 18th which will include presentations on Native Americans, Scottish immigrants, and Westport’s notorious rum running activities. We are excited to announce that our upcoming summer exhibit will be a little bigger and will last a little longer than previous Bell School exhibits. “Treasures and Traditions: A Portrait of Westport’s Past” will

tell the story of everyday life in Westport through the centuries and will include many highlights from our collection. We are also

interested to hear from any of you willing to loan historical objects, photos or documents relating to everyday life such as farming, fishing or community events. The stories that accompany many objects provide invaluable examples of lost and irretrievable daily life of “bygone days”, as well as reflecting greater shifts in everyday life in America. We hope that such an exhibition will attract both locals and visitors to the Bell School and will help to strengthen our community by increasing an awareness of local identity, past and present. In addition to participation in “Treasures and Traditions” there are many other opportunities to become involved in our dynamic organization. We need your help to fulfill our mission! Please take a look at some of the specific volunteer opportunities described in this issue. Jenny O’Neill

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

Westport Historical Society at the Bell School 25 Drift Road

“I could see the object of my desire hanging cheerfully but a glance downward at the ladder I had just climbed made my head spin.”

Barbara Moss, on the Seven Treasures in Westport Page 4

P. O. Box N 188 Hours: Monday 9-3 Wednesday 9-3 (508) 636 - 6011

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Thanks to our Contributing Members – Winter 2006/2007!

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ashworth Mr. and Mrs. Robert Behrman Mr. F. Steele Blackall Dr. and Mrs. John Bergland Mr. and Mrs. Leo Brooks Ms. Gioia T. Browne Mr. and Mrs. Norman Buck Mrs. Elsie Buess Ms. Brenda J. Burke Mrs. Edwin Burkholder Dr. and Mrs. Robert Clifton Terrance and Charlene Connolly Dr. and Mrs. Michael Corbett Ms. Elizabeth D. Coxe Mr. and Mrs. Robert Coughlin Ms. Margot desJardins Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Dyer Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Faulkner Mr. T. Lux Feininger Mr. Benjamin C. Gifford Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin W. Guy Mr. and Mrs. Richard K. Hawes Jr. Mrs. Margaret F. Huie Dr. and Mrs. C. Edward Jackson Ms. Norma Judson Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Katzenbach Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kendig Ms. Mary Ellen Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Kugler Mr. and Mrs. James D. Laird Mr. Albert E. Lees, III Mr. Peter MacDougall Mr. Maurice May and Ms. Lisa Arnold Mr. and Mrs. Hugh M. Morton Mr. James Panos Mr. Davison C. Paull Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Pond Mr. and Mrs. William C.H. Prentice Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Rodgers III Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Russell Mrs. Sally Sapienza Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schmid Mr. and Mrs. Gregory O. Stone Dr. Barbara Streeten Mr. Paul A. Tamburello Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James P. Tewksbury Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Carlton W. Thompson Mrs. Sylvia B. Tompkins Mr. and Mrs. Steven H. Tripp Mr. Russell Tripp Dr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Walsh Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin V. White Mrs. James Weir

Welcome to our New Members!

The following new members have joined the Society since the last Harbinger issue was published:

Valerie Gordon Sally Ledbetter Albert E. Lees III Barbara Smith David and Doris Sprogis David Sunderland Jonathan Goodman and Elizabeth Silverman

Thanks to our Sustaining Members – Winter 2006/2007!

Mr. and Mrs. Jon Alden Mr. and Mrs. Russell S. Beede Mr. David C. Cole and Mrs. Betty Slade

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Connors Mrs. Virginia H. Deknatel Mr. Jonathan J. Goodman Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Keith III Mrs. Barbara Koenitzer Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mullaney Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Nichols Mr. Samuel V. Niles Mr. and Mrs. John S. Penney Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Schmitt Mr. Kenneth Simon Barbara and Tom Slaight Mr. and Mrs. Neil Van Sloun Mr. Ralph Voorhees Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Vrona Mr. and Mrs. William F. Wyatt

Westport Historical Society Mission Statement

"To collect, preserve and document the material culture of Westport; and to educate and connect the residents of the area to their heritage through public programs, exhibits, publications and research."

Sanford’s Market - Adamsville

Volunteer Spotlight

Eileen Flaherty Although a relative newcomer to the area, Eileen has fallen completely under the spell of Westport’s charm and its rich history. Hailing from Franklin MA, she now feels very much at home in Westport, living closer to family and to the ocean. Her curiosity, desire to learn and nimble fingers have found the perfect outlet at the Historical Society where she has organized postcards and worked extensively with our local history database, entering data and scanning images. Eileen has always loved all kinds of history and admits with a smile to being “nosy” by nature. On a more serious note, she enjoys her work here as part of a learning process that keeps her mind refreshed and alert. It has also given her the opportunity to learn about many aspects of Westport history. Among her favorite projects over the past year have been scanning and cataloging photographs of people, many of them 19th century Westport residents. She is currently working on our newest collection of photos donated as part of our contest and exhibit “Community on Camera,” recording information about the photo, photographer and subject in our database. The Historical Society owes much of its progress during the past year to the energy of such dedicated volunteers and welcomes anyone who can offer a few hours of their time.

Volunteer opportunities for 2007 Are you a natural transcribing-organizing-list making-alphabetizer? Would you enjoy sharing your knowledge of Westport with visitors at the Bell School? Do you seek the satisfaction of challenging projects? We offer short and long-term projects and we can provide as much training and guidance as you need! Some, but not all, projects require computing skills. Please call/email or visit the Bell School on Mondays/Wednesdays for more details on the following: v Weekend docents needed at the Bell School for July and August. Please

let us know if you are interested. v Current collections projects:

o Inventory book collection o Catalog postcard/photo collection (computer skills required) o Delve into our collection of photo albums and help identify

photos of people and places o Sort and organize newspaper clippings and ephemera

v Exhibits/special events/programs

o Help needed with both small and large scale exhibits: Research, creative display ideas, fabrication, and planning special fund-raising events.

As always we need help with administrative tasks such as mailings, management of memberships and general office duties.

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2007 marks the 220th anniversary of Westport as a town - not much of an anniversary, but an anniversary none the less. The Westport Historical Society intends to mark the date annually with a "Westport Town Birthday Celebration" so that residents may be reminded of the long history of their town. Many residents believe that we have a charter; we do not, for Westport was created out of Dartmouth (Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven) by an act of the Massachusetts legislature signed by Governor John Hancock. Unfortunately the original of the document creating the town was stolen from Town Hall some years back, and its whereabouts are unknown. This theft - and the desecration of the cemetery on Charlotte White Rd. - should remind us that our heritage is both precious and always threatened by accident, neglect or active human agency. We must be careful of what remains, and we urge all residents to be vigilant in preserving our past; and to preserve and pass on to the Historical Society any documents they have that relate to Westport's history. We will scan and digitally archive them, and return the originals to their owners. William F. Wyatt

Note from the President

Through the courtesy of Alden Hill Real Estate, we now have three new virtual tours on-line at: www.westporthistory.com

v Community on Camera Exhibition

v Westport Whaling in the 19th Century

v Photo Essays of Westport From the home page, just scroll down under the Announcements heading.

Got an idea for a new program? Share it with us! Contact our Program Committee Chair, James Panos. Email him at: westhist@gis.net

Photo Contest Entry

Rachelle Leary

New Acquisitions

We have received many new and interesting donations to the collections in recent months. We thank you all very much. Without your help our collection would not be the valuable resource to understanding our history that it now is. And we wish also to thank the people who have allowed us to scan their photographs and documents. Our apologies to anyone we may have inadvertently left out. We will be happy to mention them in the next edition of the Harbinger. Contributing materials to the society were:

v George Dean - photograph of school on Gifford Road v Anne Baker – a collection of photographs including one of Sanford’s Market. v Barbara Marcotte – a trophy and photographs of Westport’s float in Dartmouth’s tercentenary parade. v Kenneth Simon – a collection of school-related materials, photographs and schoolwork produced by George Robert Howland, Ruth Howland and their father, George H. Howland. v Jonathan Potter - photographs of cannon at the head of Westport and of old family cars. v William and Sally Wyatt - photographs of the Lark Quartet. v Harriet Barker – scrapbook of Westport Harbor and Acoaxet, 1900-1930, loaned and scanned. v Rev. Richard T. Loring – collection of letters, documents and photographs of the Dexter and Loring families. v Westport River Watershed Alliance – mailbox from the old Central Village Post Office. v Anna Duphiney - early commencement announcement.

Seven Treasures in Westport

Some hang high and others are firmly planted on the ground but wherever they are, they are Westport treasures. Big, bronzed and beautiful, virtually indestructible and irreplaceable they have a historical and social richness we treasure. They are the bells of Westport. In 1998 I undertook at some research on them. What follows is a condensed account of the paper I placed in the archives of the Westport Historical Society: One day when doing some volunteer work for Lincoln Tripp, I asked him how the bell in the schoolhouse was rung. He pulled down a fat rope from the shelf just above my head and let me ding-dong to my heart’s content. I was intrigued. I wanted to see that bell. We clambered up a shaky ladder, through a trapdoor and into the attic of the Bell Schoolhouse. From there I looked up into the little belfry. Continued on next page

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Tidbits from the Collections Corner

From left to right: A group picture at the Factory School - 1938, and a page from the Westport High School yearbook - 1954. Donated by Elsie Buess.

I could see the object of my desire hanging cheerfully but a glance downward at the ladder I had just climbed made my head spin. I let Lincoln climb into the belfry to collect data. The bell measures roughly 2 and ½ feet across and is slightly wider than high as most bells are. “Henry N. Hooper and Co. 1847, Boston” is embossed on the bell. Mr. Tripp believed Hooper was connected in some way to Paul Revere. We called the Paul Revere house to confirm this. They sent us a packet of information. Paul, it seems, was a likeable and ingenious businessman who never considered that he’d be remembered as a patriot and did not bother to record all his doings for posterity. We do know that a hurricane destroyed Revere’s foundry in 1804. He moved his operation to Canton, MA where he cast bells, canon and manufactured the United States’ first rolled-copper sheathing. Hooper is thought to have taken over the Boston property. Mr. Revere stopped working in his company in 1811 at age 76 but his sons and grandsons continued making bells probably until 1828. We will hear about Hooper and Revere again in our story about Westport’s bells. Close by, in the Head of Westport, is the Pacific Union Congregational Church with its classic proportions and tall steeple. On August 30, 1988 my husband, Sanford Moss, and Lawrence Palmer, a member of that congregation, climbed into the steeple to attempt to photograph the bell. My job was to brace the wobbly ladder and drive off young boys who

wanted to follow them up. So I did not actually see this bell. Pacific Union’s bell is 25 inches high and 32 inches across the lip. Westport’s largest bell, it can be rung by a rope attached to a wheel, in the original manner of Paul Revere’s bells, but can also be tolled by a hammer attached to a lever (seen in the photo’s lower right corner) that is operated by a second rope ending with a wooden pull. Such a method of tolling a bell could be used at funerals to count off the number of years the deceased had lived. Around the top of the bell are the words: “Cast by C. H. Holbrook of East Medway, Mass.” In a ring around its middle is inscribed “Obtained by the efforts of the Ladies Union Sewing Circle, 1859.” The Holbrook Company surely made no other bell with that inscription in 1859 or in any other year. There can be none other like it. Estimating from other data that I have, I would guess the bell in the Pacific Union Church weighs a healthy 650 pounds. Unfortunately the

photographs of this fine bell did not come out. No one has been up to see this bell in the 8 years since Mr. Palmer and my husband made their historic climb. (Editor’s Note: Jon Alden made the trek January 28, 2007 to capture a picture of the reclusive bell!) My appetite for bells now thoroughly whetted, we drove around town locating bells and making inquiries. Our Lady of Grace Church, St. George’s Catholic Church and the Friends’ Meetinghouse do not have bells. At the Westport United Congregational Church on route 177 we found one of the town’s three “grounded” bells. Mr. Tripp advised us the bell had once belonged to the First Christian Church of North Westport. In 1998, Mrs. Viola Webb of the United Congregational Church told me that it had been thirty years since the North Westport Congregational Church building on Old Bedford Road was sold and made into a private home and the bell brought to its present location. This bell is about 21’’ high and 27’’ across the lip. It has no clapper (or tongue) and is mounted in such a manner as to be stationary. The bell is embossed around the upper part: Blake Bell Co. Boston, Mass. 1893. A medallion or “logo” appears on the side inscribed: Hooper & Co. Boston Mass. Trademark. Above this in small letters is: Blake Bell Co. Another “grounded” bell in Westport is at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Main Road in Central Village. This bell also is well traveled. It was said to have been originally at the church at Horseneck Beach – a mission church from a Portuguese parish in Fall River. It is an iron bell, rusted but painted silver. It can still ring. It seems to date from 1928 but the name of its maker is no longer legible. When St. John the Baptist Church was erected at the present site in 1932 the bell was moved to it. It was shifted to its present location when the church was rebuilt in 1979. It is the youngest bell I have found in Westport. Three more fine bells grace our churches and their stories will appear in the next edition of the Harbinger. For now, let our bells ding-dong merrily on high, wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Barbara E. Moss Bell Photos by Jon Alden

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Pacific Union Congregational Church bell

The Bell School’s namesake!

The Photo Contest and Exhibition was supported in part by a grant to the Westport Historic Society from the Westport Arts Council. The Helen Ellis Exhibit Space at Lees was developed and is managed by the Arts Council, in cooperation with Lees Market. Both the Photo Contest and Exhibition as well as the Exhibit Space were made possible by funding from the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust, administered by the Bank of America.

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SPECIAL REPORT

“Community on Camera” on Display at Lees Market!

The Westport Historical Society conducted its first Photo Contest and Exhibition, with the entries and winning photographs being displayed at the Helen E. Ellis Exhibit Space at Lees Market from November 30th to December 2nd, 2006. Winners were announced and prizes awarded at the opening reception, which was Thursday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Light refreshments were served. The two contest judges were: Robert Barboza, Editor of the Dartmouth Chronicle, and David Dionne, Westport Selectman.

There were six suggested categories for the submissions: people at play and at home, village and rural life, scenes of 'working Westport', celebrations and traditions, growing up in Westport, and that which is unique or endangered. The Westport Historical Society is endeavoring “to document the material culture of Westport”, partly through this medium as well as preserving historical artifacts and documents. In fact, the purpose of this photo exhibition was to collect Westport residents’ images of their daily life and the town around them. One only has to view pictures from the late 1800’s and early 1900 to discern their ordinary composition; however, from a historical perspective they reveal abundant detail about the people and time in which they were created.

“The idea behind the contest was to collect photographs that will become

historically significant or reflect something unique to Westport.” JJeennnnyy OO’’NNeeiillll,, DDiirreeccttoorr..

Left: The community room at Lees Market hosted the 1st photo contest exhibition. Center: Adult first place winner Joan Fradley with her winning entry “Croquet”. Right: Youth first place winner Meg Levesque’s winning

entry, “Sheep Eating a Leaf.”

Want to view more photos? Please visit www.aldenhill.com/essay/community.htm

The Photo Contest and Exhibition were supported in part by a grant to the Westport Historical Society from the Westport Arts Council. The Helen Ellis Exhibit Space at Lees was developed and is managed by the Arts Council, in cooperation with Lees Market. The Photo Contest and Exhibition as well

as the Exhibit Space were made possible by funding from the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust, administered by the Bank of America.

Hundreds of visitors viewed the 109 photographic perspectives of Westport submitted by 50 entrants. View a virtual slideshow of the

winning photographs and all the entries at www.westporthistory.com.

Photos by Jon Alden/WHS

And the Winners are: clockwise from upper left: Adult first - Joan Fradley, Adult second - Jeanne Kendall, Adult third - Lee Rudolph; Youth

First - Meg Levesque (right) receiving award from Jenny O’Neill, Youth third - Mica Low, Youth second - Heather May Leach.

The Jolly Roger

During John McNiff’s presentation a question was raised about the origin of the name “Jolly Roger.” Here’s what internet research produced:

The Oxford English Dictionary first defined Jolly Roger in 1724.

Early pirates appeared to have signature (marked) flags, mostly black, a few red. The flag depicted above was Thomas Tew’s.

Some sources are in agreement that "Jolly Roger" is thought to have come from jolie rouge (pretty red), a wry French description of the bloody red banner flown by early privateers.

When the War of Spanish Succession ended in 1714, many privateers turned to piracy and some retained their red banner (flag), for red symbolized blood. No matter how much seamen dreaded the black pirate standard all prayed they never encountered the red. This flag boldly declared the pirates’ intentions. No life would be spared. No quarter given.

Typically, if a target ship decided to resist, the Jolly Roger was taken down and a red flag was then flown, indicating that the pirates intend to take the ship by force and without mercy, according to several historians and the History Channel.

The name "Jolly Roger" is also thought to have originated from an English nickname for the devil, "Old Roger".

Still another explanation is the reference to the brutal treatment of female prisoners by pirates - I can’t explain why here. The origin of the skull and cross bones serves only to confuse the issue as many pirate flags didn’t use them. This icon has been attributed to the Knights Templar and the Skull of Sidon legend around 1200 to 1300 AD. There is no reference, however, how the term Jolly Roger may have come about.

Thus, the etymology of Jolly Roger may forever remain a mystery. You decide. One thing is certain; historical references must be documented to insure accuracy over the long haul. The next issue of The Harbinger will present an article highlighting this issue.

Westport Historical Society Events - Late Fall/Winter 2006

The Westport Historical Society wrapped up its schedule of monthly programs with two very interesting and quite different presentations, both held at the Westport Senior Center on Reed Road. Our annual meeting, open to the public, was conducted earlier in the evening of October 19th, with presentations by Roger Griswold (below left), WHS Treasurer, and Jenny O’Neill, Director. The reports with election of officers can be viewed at www.westport history.com.

October 19th - “Pirates and Privateers of New England”

John McNiff (right), in full privateer regalia, took us on an entertaining and extremely informative journey into the lives of pirates and privateers from the 1600’s to the end of the American Revolution. Privateers, originally hired by the English government to legally harass their enemies, were the precursor to the cutthroat pirates of lore, who weren’t quite so official. Some of these villains were based in the Providence/

Newport area, including Thomas Paine and Thomas Tew, and a few elevated them-selves later in life into respectable businessmen and political cronies. Contrary to popular belief, most merchant vessels surrendered without a fight at first sight of a Jolly Roger (see sidebar). John McNiff, a native of Rhode Island is both an archeologist and historian. He currently serves as a ranger in the National Park Service. The Oct 25, 2006 Dartmouth Chronicle has a great article on McNiff’s presentation.

September 21st - An Afternoon with Dick Hawes

The value of oral and video histories was never more apparent than to the audience who listened to Richard Hawes speaking via videotape from the comfort of his vintage farmhouse in Westport Harbor to an audience at the Westport Senior Center. Thanks to Nancy Burkholder, WHS Oral History Chair, and Jim Panos for providing us with this fascinating evening of superb cinema. Dick regaled us with tales of Prohibition, ancient Harbor waterworks of cedar and copper, hurricanes and rum running, and neighborhood goings-on; there was something for everyone upon which to reflect. “Tom Rogers’ present house was owned by Charles Chase, his wife was a relative of mine. Everybody’s a relative of everybody else around here!” Dick’s fascinating recollections were sometimes informative, sometimes chronological, most often very vivid, and always charming and full of Yankee humor. Dick was sometimes joined by his wife Anne in describing the people, places and events of Westport Harbor. Much verbal history of this colorful area from the turn of the century forward has now been preserved. Pete Truesdale, in attendance and with equal credentials, provided the evening’s “color commentary”.

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On December 19th Jim Panos organized and led a choral group of Westport Historical Society members and guests to the Greenwood Terrace elderly apartment complex, and later to several homes at the Point for a night of caroling, despite the chilling temperatures. We all ended up at the Paquachuck Inn, which Brenda Figuerido so kindly opened to us, and were treated to a warm fire, an even warmer wassail donated by Lees Market, and delicious snacks made by Brenda. We finally left after she threatened to charge us for a night’s stay! Jon Alden

Jon Alden/WHS

Jon Alden/WHS

Membership o Individual - $15.00

o Family - $30.00

o Contributing - $50.00

o Sustaining - $150.00

o Special Gift - ____________

Please make checks payable to: Westport Historical Society P. O. Box N 188 Westport, MA 02790-1203 Name: _________________________________

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Thank you for your generous support!

A Pirate comes to Westport! Page 7

Jon Alden/WHS