'Raven Quest' among Westport Historical Society's fall events

WESTPORT — Westport Historical Society upcoming events:

RAVEN QUEST

For the month of October, the new Handy House Heritage Trail is transformed into a fun Halloween trail. Young visitors will enjoy the Halloween themed "Raven Quest," locating the mysterious ravens that dwell in the woods. Friendly ghosts and ghouls will keep an eye on all visitors. The Handy House Halloween trail offers a safe, fun outdoor activity for young kids that will also accommodate the need for social distancing.

Pick up your "Raven Quest" instructions at the trailhead kiosk. The trail is open dawn to dusk, seven days a week. The trail is 0.7 miles, entrance is off the Handy House visitor parking lot on Hix Bridge Road. The experience is free!

Thanksgiving StoryWalk

Open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week

Nov. 14 – Dec 7 FREE!

Take a walk, read a book, have an adventure! Handy House Heritage Trail

Enter at Handy House parking lot off Hix Bridge Road

Nickommoh!

A Thanksgiving Celebration by Jackie French Koller

“Now frost lies thick on the fields at dawn, and the winged ones pass overhead in great numbers, calling out their good-byes. It is time, now. Time for the People to come together, together to give thanks. Nickommoh!”

Nickommoh is a Native American word meaning celebrational gathering. The traditional Native American harvest Nickommoh was held outdoors, lasting several days and included gaming, feasting, and contests of skill.

During these feasts, a giveaway dance was held. People would give away any extra food, furs, clothing that they might have accumulated. These gifts were distributed by the sachem to widows, orphans or any who were in need. The more a man gave away, the more highly he was respected.

StoryWalk is an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to signs, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story.

The Handy House Heritage Trail provides a safe outdoor space with plenty of room for social distancing.

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

The Life of a Westport Farmer

A virtual roundtable with local historians, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 (zoom registration and other details TBA)

By a fortuitous chain of events, an old journal returned to Westport, Massachusetts. It is the diary of Frederick Allen (1819-1874), who apparently lived his whole life on Hix bridge Road, where the Buzzard’s Bay Brewery is today. For 59 months from early June 1833 through the end of April 1838 he kept a journal almost daily. For the first 47 of those months he lived the life of a young, unmarried Westport farmer and recorded the wind and weather and his various activities of work and play. For the last 12 months of the journal he shipped out of Westport Point and went a-whaling and recorded his trip around the Atlantic Ocean.

Many volunteers have helped to transcribe the journal. Most recently, Maury May has completed the transcribing process and undertaken further research. Join us for a virtual roundtable of local historians who will discuss the journal and how it illuminates the life of a farmer in South Westport. Learn more here.

Westport Historical Society, 25 Drift Road, Westport, MA 02790

508-636-6011, westporthistory@westporthistory.net, www.wpthistory.org