| Dear Alliance Members and Friends:
Deborah Weaver, Executive Director
Heading into the New Year, we are happy, finally, to be starting renovations for the new River Center! Workers are at the Head of Westport now, beginning the repairs and alterations on the stone and block foundations. Soon, the new ground floor will be poured, support beams will be installed, and the actual remaking of the structure will begin.
2019 is going to be a very exciting and interesting year, with our renovation of the Head Garage and our moving to the new River Center. Thanks for your continuing support that enables us to continue work to protect and sustain the natural resources of the beautiful Westport River. Our new location, right in the heart of the Westport River watershed, will enable us to increase our outreach and better engage the public on issues that affect the health of our River.
We at the Watershed Alliance count on your friendship and generosity. If you have supported the 2018 Annual Fund Drive, thank you so much! If you haven't yet given, please take a few minutes to make a contribution before year's end. The Annual Fund pays for over 30% of the operating budget; it helps keep the lights on and the projects moving forward.
At this time of year, we often reflect on the things for which we are thankful. We are so grateful to our friends and benefactors, our board and staff, and for all the volunteers who take part in our activities protecting our precious watershed and Westport River. Thank you for supporting our work in the community we all love.
Best wishes for the holidays,
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River Center Construction is Underway
As we watch workers begin the renovation of the old Head Garage, it is interesting to reflect on the history of this building, situated in an important historic district of Westport.
According to the Westport Historical Society, The Head was the original center of activity for the area before Central Village developed. From approximately 1740 through around 1850, The Head was an active shipping and ship building location. The wooden hulls of ships were floated down the Noquochoke and up to Hix's Bridge where they were rolled on barrels around the bridge. Then, they were placed back in the river and sailed to The Point, where they were outfitted for the fishing and whaling industries. By 1871, manufacturing enterprises and stores lined the west bank of the Noquochoke River and Old County Road.
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| This photo taken in the late 1800's shows the old granite foundation (building second from left) of the blacksmith shop where the Head Garage now stands. The Harness Maker shop pictured is where the Osprey Kayak building is now. |
It is believed that the old building burned down around 1900. After that time, the footprint was increased, and the second floor and attic were added. The granite foundation remained.
Early in the 20th century, the building was used as a Ford dealership, with garage on the first floor and cars taken to the second floor showroom by way of a ramp and sliding door (still visible before renovation on the east side of the building).
We are so grateful to our members, foundations, and donors for the generous support in this effort. Moving to the "heart" of the watershed and on the river, places WRWA in a unique location where we can continue our mission to protect and restore the river - the essence of our work. We will report our progress in future editions.
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WRWA YEAR IN PICTURES 2018
Here are some images from our past year at WRWA, featuring just some of the programs,
projects and events that you, our members and donors, support!
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It's a New Year!
Do you have your 2019 WRWA Calendar?
People love our annual calendar. It features tide lines, which tell you the times and heights of all the tides throughout the year. And the beautiful photographs remind us all of the beauty of our home -or our home away from home!
This year's photos are the winners chosen from over 75 entries in WRWA's photo contest held this past spring. An independent group of volunteer judges viewed the photos and selected the winners last May.
The photographs, donated by area photographers, represent the most beautiful of Westport landscapes throughout the seasons, along with some remarkable wildlife shots.
They make a great gift, especially for those who like to be reminded of summers in Westport while they are elsewhere.
The 2019 calendars are on sale now at the WRWA headquarters at 1151 Main Road, online at
www.westportwatershed.org
, and locally at Lees Market, Partners Village Store and the Dedee Shattuck Gallery.
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Happy New Year from WRWA Staff
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WRWA Staff from left: Jennifer Lynch, Roberta Carvahlo, Shelli Costa, Bailey Sweet (Commonwealth Corps Service Member), Gay Gillespie, Deborah Weaver, Steve Connors. Dogs: Lola and Teka (volunteers)
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Please save us your Lees receipts
!
WRWA is happy to be a Lees Market Community Partner member. Please save us your Lees receipts! You can drop them off at our office at
1151 Main Road
, or mail to:
Westport River Watershed Alliance
PO Box 3427
Westport, MA 02790.
Thank you, Lees Market!
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Our fourth annual Summer Concert at Westport Rivers Vineyard
Presented with the Narrows Center for the Arts
will be on Saturday, July 13, 2019.
Artist details coming in next issue!
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Do you own a local business?
Consider becoming a WRWA Sponsor
WRWA offers many levels of annual sponsorship which can benefit your business while supporting your local environmental organization.
We will be happy to send you a package outlining the various options, which range from single event sponsorship like River Day and our Summer Concert, to Corporate Sponsorship for year-round visibility.
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Thank you to our 2018 Corporate Sponsors
Please note that each of the logos for our generous corporate sponsors is an active link to their web page.
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