Related Records

1. 2006.085.001 - Westport Lobster Company building sustains an estimated $125,000 in damage February 18,1987. The building is about 150 years old and a very important to Central Village. It is one of the oldest pieces of property in the Village.

   Lobster Company Central Village

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. 2007.038.010 - Resolution of the Selectmen of Westport in appreciation of the work of Colonel Frank J. Cassidy.

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. 2008.099.017 - Dana Reed and Russ Hart. Oral history.

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. 2008.099.026 - History Study Group: Jean and Russ Hart, Charlie Costa, Gertrude Feio Maduro, Norma Judson, Elaine Ostroff

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. 2008.099.029 - Westport Historical Society: An Oral History: Russ and Jean Hart, Freddie and Thelma Candeias

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. 2019.020.006 - Interview with Russ Hart about stone wall history https://vimeo.com/320602834

   Stonework Stone walls

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. 2024.014.018 - Remembering barge Angela - Russ Hart

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. 2024.014.033 - History of lobstering written by Russ Hart 2006 A brief history of the Westport lobster fishery, some of the families involved and the effects on the community and the fishery. Starting back in the 1920s, after World War 1, small lobster boats usually locally built were powered with small engines, one or two cylinders, generally manufactured by Lathrop or Palmer. The only fast boats were owned by the rum runners sometimes powered with WWI liberty aircraft engines. Prior to the 1920s, small cat boats with sail and fishermen working off the beach in row boats provided the area with lobsters. Refrigeration was non-existent and transportation was a problem. Lobsters die quickly in warm weather out of water. The lobster gear was hauled by hand.In the 20s and 30s, keeping lobsters alive and transporting then1 was still a problen1. The catches were sold locally and the lobstermen kept their catches in floating crates about the size of lobster pots. We have to consider that during this period of time weather reports were primitive before satellites and Doppler radars. The fishern1en depended on their barometers ( or the glass) and their knowledge of local conditions.Even then, they took chances. Many of them got caught in hard weather and took a beating to get home.Browns Ledge, about 10 miles off shore) seems to have been about maximun1 as far as day trip fishing in this era. All the navigation was done by compass and time and anyone who dared to go to Cox l edge (about 20 miles) was really pushing it until the middle 30s. S01ne of the fishermen lost their boats in the 38 hurricane, some boats that survived were repaired with the help of the Red Cross, etc. 2. Lobstering was generally not the main source of income. Even in the 40s and 50s most of the lobstermen supplemented their income by farming, carpentering, and other modes of occupation during the winter months. A few examples: In the 30s after and during the depression, Joe Whittle's wife ran a restaurant at 96 River Road, served great lobster meals.Fred and Etta Palmer had a restaurant on Main Road called the "Pilot House" and served great lobster meals. Joe Brouillard was a stationary engineer at the power plant, Del Perron owned a laundry in Fall River, Eddie Croake was a union bricklayer, Don Chace had a farm in Somerset, George Hart was a carpenter etc. Many of the lobstermen who lived in town worked the rivers shellfishing, eeling, etc. Many of the lobstermen during September and October went Fall fishing and took fishing parties for about $5.00 a head. They fished for tautog and crated them up to be sold in December hoping to get 10 cents a pound. If it snowed , and the fish got snow in their gills , they would die and that was the gamble that was taken. This brings about terminology.We in this area through the 40s and part of the 50s referred to lobster equipn1ent as lobster gear, lobster pots, nozzles were the twine entrances to the pots, the buoys were of wood , generally cedar 4 x 4 x 1 2, the rope was manila or cycal and was measured by 6 thread, 9 thread, etc. With the best of care, the rope would last 2 seasons if you were lucky. The nozzles were made of manila twine and dipped in tar to help with the lasting quality. Some lobstermen dipped the rope in copper paint thinned with kerosene to prevent n1arine growth and help with lasting quality. 3. In the late 30s, early 40s, gas engines became more efficient and a flat leather belt run off the front of the engine powered a capstan to aid in the hauling of the gear. Later, V-belts replaced the flat belts. Keeping the catch alive was still a problem. Many of the larger boats, 30-40 feet had wells built into the hulls. These were water tight boxes that went from the deck to the bottom of the hull and holes were drilled through the planking to allow circulation. These wells would generally hold 3 to 400 lbs. of lobsters but packing then1 too tight was dangerous because of the lack of circulation. The weight of the water in the well did add to the stability of the boat. ln the 1950s, there was an influx of light built but very efficient boats built in Nova Scotia. These were called Novie boats and the price new was about $100.00 per foot. The government limited the size of the boats imported from Canada to about 10 net ton or about 38 ft. x 12 ft. wide. This was to protect the Maine boat builders. The world war 11 surplus gray marine engines 671 diesels and the use of the loran navigation aid from the B-29s i1nproved navigation and on the surplus market were very reasonable. Radar became available and the industry began to expand. In my opinion, the invention of polypropolene rope which lasts for many years and the hydraulic pot hauler allowed what we now call the off-shore fishing industry to expand. With the old manila rope it would be nearly i1npossible to operate. 4. Back to technology -- with the import of 32" wooden pots at $3.25 each with nylon nozzles from Maine the terminology changed. Pots became traps, nozzles became heads, and the wooden buoys were replaced by styrofoam buoys and the rope became polypropelene line. In the last 50s, the lobster market became more stable with the development of large salt water pumps for the buyers to use for tanks indoors. Refrigerated trucks expanded the market to New York and the west. In the 1960s, shipping of lobsters by air to Europe and the west coast became possible with the developn1ent of Styrofoam containers. The 1narketability of the product increased the demand and thus the price. The location of Westport on the coastline, its proximity to Browns Ledge and Cox Ledge has attracted fishermen fron1 other areas to fish from Westport Point. Despite having a tricky breaking inlet at the Harbor mouth and a shallow channel in the river, it was an attractive place to fish from; however, the characteristics of the harbor Iin1ited the size of the vessels that could fish from Westport. Even today, the steel boats that are using Westport as a home port have to play the tides to get into the river. Examples - Henry Clem in the late 20s and early 30s came from Hyannis and brought with him the half-round trap which local fishermen adapted to. Carl Veeder came from Cuttyhunk, fished from both places and helped supply Laura's Restaurant as he was Laura Allen ' s brother. 5. Bill Whipple and John Osborne came from Marblehead in the 60 . Bill Whipple came to Westport with a pot (trap) roughly 4' x 3' x 18". This trap was developed by Watson Curtis of Marblehead to be used for fishing on Cashes Ledge offshore from Marblehead. Bill was successful in catching 3 - 6 lb. lobsters offshore, a crop never tapped by local fishermen with their smaller traps. During and after the 60s, the offshore lobster business basically exploded in this area. Bud Smith had 3 steel boats and an alun1inun1 boat built - 2 of then1 are still fish in g. The Captain Don, a steel boat came to Westport, Bill Whipple established the Prelude Corporation and had several large steel boats making long trips. lronically, some of these boats the Broadbill for example is nearly the same length as the Kate Cory was, perhaps not as wide or as deep. This brings us pretty much to date. Westport Lobstering Families Joseph Fields - Lost at Sea Son Donald Fields Son Raymond Fields Grandson, Albert Fields (Brad)-currently fishing Orin Crapo Son Orin Jr. - Lost at Sea Grandson - Sandy Pierce - Lost at Sea James Pierce Son - Sandy Pierce - Lost at Sea Grandson - George Pierce - Currently fishing Fred Palmer Son - Albert (Ab) Palmer Son - Raymond Palmer Donald Chace Son - Donald Chace, Jr. Son - Willian1 (Billy) Chace Son -John Chace George W. Hart Son - Roger E. Hart Son - Russell T. Hart Grandson - George W. (Bill) Hart Great Grandson - Kevin Hart - currently fishing 2. Carlton Macomber, Jr.- (Cukey) Son - Paul Macomber - currently fishing Joseph Brouil1ard Son- John (Jackie) Brouillard - currently fishing Son - Milton Brouillard Grandson - Milton Brouillard, Jr. - Lost at Sea Alexander (Bud) Smith Son - Dale Smith Brother - Herbert Smith Peter Leuvelink - Lost his life in a boat construction accident Son - Peter Leuvelink, Jr. currently fishing Son - Paul Leuvelink - currently fishing Clint Lusitano - Lost at Sea Son - Clint Lusitano , Jr. - Lost at Sea Costa-Rosinha family Tony (Costa) Rosinha Son - Albert Rosinha (died after a fishing accident) Grandson - Albert Rosinha , Jr. - currently fishing Grandson - Alan Dean - currently fishing Brother - Mannie Costa Roshina Albert Sherman Son - Gary Sherman 3. William (Bill) Borges - currently fishing Son - Chapin Borges - currently fishing Kenneth Manchester Son - Kenneth (Skip) Manchester Roger (Father) Reed Son - Roger Reed, Jr. Son - Samuel Reed Fishermen and boats that fished from Westport for the 20s to 2000: Joseph Fields Joseph Whittle Henry & Fred Palmer Orin Crapo George Hart Salem Bshara Lillian Idlewhi1e Hilda Alice Salem West River West River The Point The Point West River Westport Harbor Henry Clem Car] Veeder Ed Croake and Father Reed Joseph Brouillard Capt. Bill Broadbi11 Janice B Westport & Falmouth Westport & Cuttyhunk The Point The Point Adelard Perron Don Chace Gus Robillard Edward (Dill) Messier Chace Heaton Ave MariaThe Point Betty & Marge The Point Good LuckThe Point The Point The Point Jim PierceEast Beach Bi11 WhiteEast Beach John BordenOrin CThe Point Joe Whittle & Al BowersBilly BoyThe Point (nicknamed "'Between Drin ks") built at the top of Sherman ' s Hill across from Santos's barn Robinson Brad Fields* The Point Rock 'n RollThe Point Donald FieldsWest River Raymond FieldsWest River Pete ManchesterSparrow Hawk West River Alex (Bud) Smith* Sherry Ann Dale The Point Ray DavollThe Point Milton Brouillard You Got to BelieveThe Point Milton Brouillard, Jr. Peter Leuvelink Peter Leuvelink, Jr.* Paul Leuvelink* Jim Manchester 2. Elizabeth Ann White Fly Jessie M The Point The Point East Beach The Point The Point Raymond Elmer Manchester Paul Macomber & David Grace* Russ Hart & Roger Hart and Dick Squire Harold Wood, Ed Bibeau & Candy & Paula Cee Dee Jeannie H The Point The Point The Point Bill Hart Edward (Deacon) Earle Jackie Brouillard* Bill Whipple Jim DandyThe Point Kay T.The Point Janice BThe Point Horizon & PreludeThe Point John Osborne - Clint Lusitano 5 l A- \-PLaurie L. Sheila & Linda The Point The Point The Point Albert Ros i nha, Jr.*Rebecca & Naomi Jim Holl isrtv6 s-,":> - t '<>c:. A .uJ un e 1-:1. Billy Gell*Gale Curtis DavollBay Breeze Bob Ha ine s Orin Cra po, Jr. and The Point The Point The Point The Point The Point Sandy Pierce Jim Delaughter Atlantic SwordThe Point John Pa u ld i ngThe Point 3. Grant Moore* Sideshow & DirectionThe Point Now New Bedford Harry Kirby & Russell Walters 11.,:::ret Shelton Judson & John Osborne Rob Reitano Bill Borges* Dorothy M.The Point Moby DickThe Point Marci AnnThe Point Jean BThe Point Arthur Denault Jim Smith, Jr. Alan Dean* Kevin Hart Bridget Ann & Rodman SwiftThe Point Westport Harbor Kim & JakeThe Point BullwinkleThe P, o nt And New Bedford John Borden Kevin Mello and Dave Mello* Bob Hebden Gary Sherman and Al Shern1an Jim King George Pierce* Orin C Ocean Hunter Scotty Meredith B Little Gull The Point The Point The Point The Point The Point The Point Mike O'Connor Herb Smith* John Chace and Bill Chace Don DePriest Fred Cambra Dan Sullivan ShamrockThe Point Mary F. andThe Point Curlewand New Bedford ChabroThe Point ChristineThe Point The Point The Point 4. Richard RavenelleAmerican Born The Point Arthur BerardBi11y BThe Point Bob LeesThe Point Brad ShermanLaughing GullThe Point Hugo DenaultThe Point Paul Brayton and Richy Earle.Side ShowThe Point Bill Hart, Don Chace & Bud S1nithJackie & Jennie The Point And Capt. Don Larry Yacubian Bill Pires Half a day Frank Frank Dutra M rt;F MC r!flt1fiJ' Susan Y.The Point Mr. BillThe Point Half a DayThe Point The Point "(her /20 r(l/r Some of these fishermen only lasted one season and others lasted 40 or 50 years. This list is from memory and n1ay be incomplete. 1t may be trivia today but it may be history tomorrow. oCurrently fishing l would be remiss not to n1ention the folks who worked with me as crew over the last 45 years: My brother Roger (Pierre) Hart, Edward (Deacon) Earle, M1 J

   Lobstering Prelude Corporation

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. 2024.014.037 - Russ Hart boat - Hazel, lobster boat

   Lobstering

   Record Type: Photo