History Center Sign

The History Center

The History Center is the town’s first dedicated space for history. It serves to:

 

• Store the town’s collection in a secure, climate-controlled space;
• Provide exhibit display space;
• Provide volunteer work space; and
• Provide public access to the holdings and genealogical records.

 

The creation of a public boat launch and the History Center have restored the historic Ferry Landing’s prominence for townspeople.  The grounds are beautifully maintained by the Horticulture Committee.

2021 History Center exhibit: My Island Home
Exterior of History Center

 

 

 

THOSE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE

 

The Friends worked alongside many community partners to create the History Center at the historic Ferry Landing — now the Wright Landing. For decades, the Town’s history collection was stored in a small room at the Old Town Hall. With the common goal of a dedicated space for our history, the Select Board offered the main floor of the town-owned “Wright House.” After a year of renovations by Friends and History and Wright Landing Committee members, the History Center became a reality in 2020.

 

Your support brings the History Center alive with: annual exhibits; a small store; a place to research history and genealogy and view thousands of digitized items, and a place to view the beautiful landing of Westport’s ferry of yore.

 

 

FERRY LANDING HISTORY

From 1899 to 1950, today’s Wright Landing was the town’s Ferry Landing. A “ferry” — referred to by some as a raft — carried islanders, vehicles, and mail about 850 feet across the Back River to and from Wiscasset. A steel cable between the two landings ran over stanchions at either end of the ferry allowing a ferryman to manually pull the ferry across. In later years, a motor boat guided the ferry. The opening of the north-end causeway in 1950 ended ferry service.

Today, in addition to being a beautiful, scenic spot on the island, the Ferry Landing is a stop on the Westport Island History Trail.  Visit to learn more.

 

 

 

WRIGHT HOUSE HISTORY

 

In her will in 2000, Mary Wright (1924–2004) gave the town a Right of First Refusal to her land and house at the old Ferry Landing. She and her husband Adrien had bought the land, their “dream spot on the river,” in the 1960’s.

 

Adrien (1923–1998) was a town folk hero. During World War II, he served as a gunner on a B17 bomber that was shot down over Germany where he survived 1½ years in captivity. Mary and Adrien built and retired to their ferry landing home in 1968. in 2004, the town bought the property as a “working waterfront” for fishermen and a public boat launch and recreational space for residents.

 

The Wright’s old house now houses the History Center on its main level. The Wright’s wish to preserve the beauty of this spot has been realized.

Adrien and Mary Wright, c. 1970

History Center