The Head of Westport

 place with historical importance, boating, interesting place, canoe, kayak

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Early in the historic period, this area was known as Westport Village. It was initially settled by Euro-Americans around 1671. This was followed by the development of several small mills; sawmills, grist mills and forges being developed on the rivers banks.

The Head of Westport was also the location of Thomas Winslow’s nineteenth-century shipyard, which produced several noteworthy whaling ships. Winslow may have acquired the property around the landing from Lemuel Milk, who may have built several small ships at the site to transport his products down the river. Winslow built ships on both the west and east sides of the river at the previously established landings. The Head also served as an important town landing, and during the historic period a great quantity of materials passed in and out of the town through this area, designated as one of several public landings in Westport. One of the largest vessels built at the east landing was the 202-ton Phebe Ann in 1805.

It is now mostly residential but has a small ice cream/variety store and a canoe and kayak rental and small boat landing.

www.wpthistory.org/news/archives/000468.html