Town of Westport
Incorporated July 2, 1787

Westport was part of the original purchase of 1652 which was established as Darthmouth in 1664.

The Noquochoke River splits the lower two-thirds of the town providing access to the ocean. Indians lived in this area as artifacts plowed up in the riverfront farmland attest plus there is at least one known (and preserved) Indian burial ground near the head of Westport.

The town has been known for its large farms in more recent days, both dairy and crop producing (potato farms predominated and the "Westport turnip", a white variety, is well-known regionally), and a small fishing industry.

In the past the town played a fairly major role in whaling. It has been said that Westport had more whaling captains in proportion to its population than any other town in the country. Homes in two of the largest villages, the Head of Westport (so called because it is located at the head of the river) and Westport Point, were built by these masters. No fewer then 23 captains, all Westport born who worked up from green hands to master, lived within a mile of the Head.

Those who originally set out from Westport to fish for cod turned to whaling soon after 1760 with voyages recorded as early as 1806. Whaleships were built in the town, some of them at the Head of Westport. Since the river is shallow, although tidal, at the Head, ships were floated downriver on top of casks. Timber and good shipwrights were plentiful and the Head also had a grist mill, shoemaker, harness maker, blacksmith, etc. In later years a doctor operated his own hospital in the village.

From 1811 to 1879 approximately 45 whalers made some 263 voyages from Westport. Once the whales came to them. A humpback whale and her calf were sighted just beyond the breakers at Horseneck Beach and were taken.

Paul Cuffee, born in 1759, was a well-known local shipbuilder, black merchant and mariner. Education was important to Cuffee who built his own school on his farm and hired a teacher. His school is believed to be the first integrated school. There is a monument to Cuffee in the yard of Friends Meetinghouse in Central Village near the cemetery where he is buried.

Near the Head of Westport at Westport Factory a mill was built which produced textile products and at the Lower Mill site another factory produced a variety of products including hoes and rules. At each site a row of mill houses for the workers was built and are still in use today. A machine to turn carriage spokes was invented in town which revolutionized the carriage wheel industry.

At Westport Point, now a mile-long street with some 75 homes and buildings there were several early mills, a cooper, and a blacksmith, among others. A saw mill was rigged like a schooner with a great sail and 8 jibs. The village is presently an historic district.

The Westport River (Noquochoke) has numerous islands, none large enough to inhabit but which add to the considerable scenic assess of the town.

Fishing, farming, and boatbuilding are still carried on in Westport and there is increasingly more land committed to conservation.

www.westport-ma.com



Historical Sites

Village of Wesport Point - historic district

Head of Westport - plaqued homes

Bell School, Head of Westport - home of the Westport Historical Society

Powder House, on the green, Head of Westport - used as in ammunition house, built shortly after the war of 1812 for use of the Home Guard

Paul Cuffee monument, Central Village