19th century Westport — Winter is near

Maury Thompson
2 min readOct 9, 2024

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Westport residents were getting ready for winter.

”Coalmen and stove dealers are beginning to feel jubilant. Gibbs Brothers are selling more than usual this fall,” the Westport correspondent reported in the Elizabethtown Post & Gazette on Nov. 6, 1879. “Those who cannot afford to have a new one are brushing up their old ones, and the man who had a good overcoat last season will not mind the change in fashion this year.”

In other 19th century Westport news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

1879

  • “Although this is the off year for apples, the crop in this town is a very good one, more than average,” the Westport correspondent reported in the Elizabethtown Post & Gazette on Nov. 6.
  • “The steamer Herald made her last trip of the season Saturday, Nov. 1st.”
  • “The Westport Farmers’ Club have secured a nice room over the post office and will hold their meetings there every Saturday afternoon until further notice,” the Post & Gazette reported on Dec. 11.

The new club had overcome the early skepticism of some.

“Its organization, nearly a year since, so far as we know, was an untried experiment in this county, and while receiving the hearty sympathy and support of many intelligent farmers, was looked upon with distrust by the more conservative portion,” the Post & Gazette reported on Dec. 25. “Its future growth and prosperity seem well assured.”

  • “Navigation on the lake has closed for the season,” the Westport correspondent reported on Dec. 18. “Captain Jo. Williams of the steamer Witherbee is home for the winter looking hale and hearty.”
  • “Light house at Barber’s Point closed for this season,” the Westport correspondent reported on Dec. 25.

1880

  • “The M. E. (Methodist Episcopal) Society of Westport have purchased the old organ formerly belonging to the Presbyterian Society of Cambridge,” the Elizabethtown Post & Gazette reported on April 8.
  • “The Weed House at Westport has been newly papered and looks as easy and home-like as it is possible to make a public house,” the Post & Gazette reported on April 29.

“The Weed House at Westport is ready for the reception of summer guests. Those who enjoy boating and lake fishing cannot find a more pleasant locality or more accommodation host,” the Post & Gazette reported on June 17.

  • “Mr. Joseph Hutchins, familiarly known as ‘Uncle Joe’ has gone into new quarters at Westport, and in connection with the stock of confectionaries, nuts, etc., which he has usually kept, (and) is about to reserve a large stock of canned goods,” the Post & Gazette reported on May 13.
  • “The turnpike road to the Westport R.R. station is in fine condition, and we hear no complaints for having to pay toll over it,” the Post & Gazette reported on June 17. “Superintendent Kelly is determined to have a good road if the stockholders have to pass on their dividends — as they always have done.”

Click here to read the most recent previous 19th century Westport post.

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Maury Thompson
Maury Thompson

Written by Maury Thompson

Freelance history writer and documentary film producer from Ticonderoga, NY