The Westport Island The Westport Island quilt, a town heirloom, dating back about 150 years, is one of the historical items that will be displayed in public exhibits next year. (Photo Charlotte Boynton)

Barnes moved to the island about two years ago, and immediately became involved with town business by attending the town meetings, and by meeting the residents. She became involved in the conservation commission, and was soon made chairman of the history committee, which is a sub-committee of the commission.

Moving from Portland, she was asked why she chose to move to Westport Island, "Because of its beauty," she said.

Her father instilled in her the value of history at a very young age. She remembers going to many Revolution War sites in the Mohawk Valley with her dad.

Barnes takes great care and interest in historical resources. Her enthusiasm is displayed with the amount of work she and the committees have already accomplished.

The history committee is currently working with the town hall committee and the cemetery committee and plans to work with the Community Association in promoting public exhibits of the town's historic items and documents next year.

Barnes commutes from Westport Island to Yarmouth each day. She is the Development and Public Relations coordinator for the Yarmouth Historical Society. Her duties include having oral history interviews with the older citizens of the area.

Oral history interviews have become a tool to help the generations to talk to one another. It is an opportunity for the older members of the family to pass on their traditions, values, stories, beliefs and historical experiences, according to Barnes.

She has conducted some oral interviews on the island with older family members that have lived on the island for many years.

During the past few months Barnes and the history committee have been making an inventory of the town's historic items and documents.

Among the items of historic interest is the Westport Island quilt. The quilt dates back to 1886. The quilt has several signatures of old Westport names. It is registered with Maine Quilt Heritage.

The Maine Quilt Heritage is a committee of the Pine Tree Quilters guild that was established for the purpose of preserving the Maine quilt heritage, and documenting the old quilts along with their location.

The signatures on the quilt include: Luretta Hodgdon; Mrs. N.G. Coker; H.H. Tarbox; Addie McCullams; Katie Dunton; Annie Dunton; Henry A. Hilton; Cora L. Hilton; K.A. Shaw; Flora N. Erskine; Birdie Montgomery; F. Jones; Carrie May Tarbox; N.M. Heal; Tarbox; L. Irving Drew; Blanche Webber; Isabella Hodgdon; L.B. Colby; Marion Heal; G.M. Webber; S.A. Tibbetts; George H. Dunton; Millard L. Dunton; Susan S. Dunton; Scott H. Hilton; R.A. Shaw; Johnny Erskine; G.L. Montgomery; and James McCarty.

The earliest date signed on the quilt was in 1859, through 1896.

Westport nearly lost this heirloom. "We are very thankful to Austin and Linda Moore, of Whitefield, for rescuing this for us," Barnes said.

Linda was at a yard sale one day, saw the quilt and realized by the names embroidered it must belong to Westport and would be very special to the town.

The Moores knew Jerry Day Mason and her husband Dike so they gave the quilt to them. Jerry said they kept the quilt for about five years before turning it over to the Town Hall Historical committee.

The quilt was originally 90" by 95." However, the quilt was cut in half at one time and separately bound. The history committee is looking for additional information regarding the quilt.

The history committee is seeking donations of family material that can be preserved for future generations such as photographs of the island, postcards, old letters, photographs of people on the island; family scrapbooks; sea captain's log books, or any items that a family would like to have preserved.

Currently being displayed at the Island Variety are some Westport baseball team uniforms of the late '50s and early '60s, a catcher's mitt, and scorebook that was donated to the town by John Bailey Jr., whose father once played on the team.

"Our goal is to preserve the history of the people who lived on the island in earlier times and even in more recent times," Barnes said. "We are interested in collecting stories about events that they were a part of, or perhaps were told about by their parents or grandparents. Those memories must be recorded to live on."

Barnes attended the weekly selectmen's meeting Wednesday, November 9, to report on her progress.

She told the selectmen the first step in establishing what the committee would need for space for the preservation of historic materials is the inventory that is now underway.

She said the object was to display the documents and items so the people of the island can enjoy them, and to make materials available for genealogists and historians. Committee member Anne Bradford is looking into proper ways to preserve and store textiles and photographic images.

"We hope to team with other committees within the town to plan public exhibits and displays," Barnes said.

"The committee is looking for volunteers," she said. "There is so much to do. We have talked with the cemetery commission about helping to celebrate Westport Island veterans. We are planning a celebration for veterans in the old cemeteries on Memorial Day next year. There is a lot of history in those old cemeteries."

"Preserving our history for the younger generation of the island is important, but sharing it with the new people of the island is important also," she said. They also want to know about the history of the town they have decided to make their home.

Anyone that would like to share a story or would like to volunteer is encouraged to call a member of the committee. Members of the committee, other than Barnes, include Carol Spiegel, Carol Way, Anne Bradford, and Ruth and John Nelson.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22 7 p.m. at the town hall.