The Westport Historical Society will be displaying some of the works of Ted Mead at the Bell School, 25 Drift Rd., Head of Westport on August 21-22 and 28-29 from 2-5 in the afternoon.
Theodore P. Mead graduated from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York in 1945 and began a lifelong career in the arts. He earned an advanced degree in education from Columbia University. He taught photography and design classes at Bradford Durfee Technical Institute in Massachusetts for several years and was Dean of the Fine Arts Department at the then Southeastern Massachusetts University and Professor of Photography at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth until his retirement in 1985. Ted and his family lived in Westport Point, Massachusetts for many years. He opened the Sandpiper Gallery, across from the Post Office, and featured the work of many local artists. His wife Helen and he retired to Marion, Massachusetts, and soon thereafter they moved to Maui, Hawaii, realizing a lifelong dream to return to the islands where Ted served in the Coast Guard during World War II. Ted worked in many media, but it was photography for which he was known and to which he devoted his efforts. He was particularly proud of a series of photographs he took of Horseneck Beach in Westport, unspoiled by the bits of glass and detritus, carelessly left behind, that his camera’s eye would record in later years. He and Helen were inveterate travelers and generous hosts to their friends and family. One of their trips took them to the studio of Ansel Adams, where Ted studied. Their son Kimble is an artist working today in Brooklyn and Maui. Ted and Helen died in Maui within years of one another.
On July 22nd at 7:30 P. M. at the Westport Council on Aging (75 Reed Rd., Head of Westport) Dr. Philip T. Silvia, Jr. will give a talk entitled: "Nineteenth Century Fall River and the 'No Irish Need Apply ' Challenge." Dr. Silvia is well known for his involvement in local organizations and for his work on local history. He has written on baseball and immigration, and has published works on Fall River history. His doctoral dissertation dealt with Fall River: "The Spindle City: Labor, Politics, and Religion in Fall River, Massachusetts, 1870-1905." His talk is part of our series devoted to immigrant populations. Please make a reservation by calling 508-636-6011.
The Westport Historical Society will again this year present a "Show and Tell on Guns" on July 14, Wednesday, at 7:30 P. M. at the Bell School, 25 Drift Rd., Head of Westport. Again Nick Niles and Jim Nelson will be on hand to describe gun manufacture in the area. Also on hand will be George Neumann, an expert on Revolutionary War weapons. You are encouraged to bring any older fire arms you possess so that they can be discussed by all present. The event is free to members of the Historical Society, $5.00 for all others.