“WAYERSHED RAMBLES”

BY DON DOUCETTE

Our local watershed adventures led us to the Westport River Watershed in Westport, Massachusetts this afternoon.

The Westport River Watershed has remained a pleasing watershed environment to explore in southeastern coastal Massachusetts and consists of two main branch tributaries – the smaller west brach gathers in nearby Adamsville, Rhode Island while the larger East Branch is an extension of the nearby Copicut Reservoir and its Shingle River extension transitioning into the Westport River East Branch south of U.S. Route 6.  Both branches become the tidal Westport River estuary flowing to sea between Buzzard’s Bay and Rhode Island Sound. 

Westport Point remains the historic and perennial hub of maritime industries long associated with Westport Harbor – also known as PAQUACHUCK by the local Indian people.

The Town of Westport was once known for its prolific dairy production during past years – prized for a period of local history as the largest milk producing community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Two small local cheese producers exist today and their cottage industry cheese products are available at Lee’s Supermarket in Westport, Massachusetts.

ADAMSVILLE CHEDDER is a West Branch country favorite and nearby, SHY BROTHERS FARM produce a unique thimble-sized product called HANNAHBELLS. Today, we  purchased the lavender bud infused HANNAHBELLS rendition – a creamy little bite-size cheese with a hint of lavender essence.

Two tiny Westport River tributary brooks are curiously named – BREAD and CHEESE BROOK and MOUSE MILL BROOK. Local lore says that a tiny grist mill associated with MOUSE MILL BROOK only produced enough finished product to feed a mouse – vaguely reminiscent of some kind of local humor in the distant past.

Westport Harbor hosted eighteen commercial sailing ships in 1857 and Westport Point Village today is a nostalgic architectural collection of historic period dwellings reflecting this local maritime tradition – all in good nick surrounded by classic Westport stonewall excellence.

Don Doucette

“Ten Mile River Rambles”

Friends of the Ten Mile and Bucklin Brook

Citizens of the Narragansett Basin