A new nonprofit on Westport Island was incorporated last fall and the Internal Revenue Service recently approved its non-profit status. Friends of Westport Island History has been in the works for about a year, spurred by a desire of the current select board-appointed History Committee to involve more volunteers and raise funds to support the preservation of Island history. 

The purpose and activities of the nonprofit, Friends for short, have been designed to complement the Town History Committee’s efforts. Friends' mission is to further the collection of historical records and artifacts and showcase them to the public, while fostering a culture that values and recognizes volunteers and donors. The activities will focus on educating the public to promote interest in the town and its history, build on the town’s history to preserve the rich traditions and culture for future generations through story-telling, promotion and exhibits; acquiring historical materials; increasing the accessibility and visibility of historical materials; and fundraising.

The Town History Committee has devoted years to organizing and preserving Westport Island’s archival materials and a small collection of artifacts, with occasional public programs to showcase an aspect of Westport Island history. To expand the resources for collecting history, create more ways to exhibit and share it (not least to find or create suitable storage space for the collections), and to tell more stories, Friends plans to organize and train volunteers and raise funds through grants and other donations.

An interim board (Mary Ellen Barnes, Julie Casson, Gaye Wagner and Jeff Tarbox) is guiding the initial phases including a website overseen by Amy Mussman. Friends is planning a membership campaign for early summer, and one or more public programs later in the year. To contact Friends, email: FOWIH19@gmail.com