|
The Legacy of Luther B. Bowman EverythingWestport.com Saturday, May 02, 2007 Updated: Thursday, March
19, 2015 Turn of the 20th Century Early to Mid-20th
Century
Fall 2006
All of us watch as the Bowman house in Central Village undergoes
construction and renovation to become the new location for Partners Village
Store & Kitchen. The house was originally built in the 1870’s as a summer
home, and has retained its original character. But there is also an interesting history to this property. Around
1915, as the story goes, 11 year-old Luther Bowman was walking down Main
Road, then a dirt road, and saw Mrs. Barrett attempting to hang a banner or
flag from the parapet of her home, now 865 Main Road. Mrs. Barrett saw Luther
and asked his assistance in hanging the aforesaid item. He good-naturedly
offered his help, and so began a long working and familial relationship that
lasted until Mrs. Clara Barrett’s death on December 13, 1952. Luther Bowman
inherited the Barrett properties in Westport and New Bedford, as well as
sizable other assets. Luther was one of 11 children in the Bowman family who lived in a
small saltbox house (now gone) directly across from the town pump in Central
Village. His father was the local blacksmith in the building that is now the
lobster barn on the corner of Main and Adamsville Roads. The Central Village
Improvement Society (CVIS) put in stone watering troughs around 1907, one of
which still occupies the spot where the town pump once stood. One can look at
Luther’s picture as a young man of 18, an amiable and handsome young man, and
easily imagine how the childless Barretts could
take a shine to the hardworking, easygoing child who helped Clara that day,
and who continued on to be their valued, lifetime handyman. Luther earned through hard work and loyalty the respect and friendship
of his benefactors. Apparently, high school at that time in Westport only
went to the 10th grade. The Barretts invited Luther
to go to New Bedford for his last two years of high school, where he lived in
the Barrett’s New Bedford property. Later in life, Luther acquired the barbershop and social club
buildings that now occupy part of the original Bowman homestead. Luther
recalled how he and his brother, scything by hand, reaped the wheat in the
fields where those buildings now stand. In 2002, through the generosity of Luther
Bowman’s estate, a $10,000 contribution was made to the Westport Historical
Society. This money was held in an account until a suitable use was found.
That use came in 2006 when the money was used to help procure journals from
the whalers President and Mexico. Luther’s history as written here was provided by a long time, younger
friend who knew him well, and heard first hand Luther’s remarkable story of
good fortune through industriousness and providential timing. To the best of
that friend’s memory and this writer’s ability, Luther Bowman’s story has
been faithfully retold here. Please forgive any inaccuracies, and report them
to the Westport Historical Society for proper recording. As an
interesting footnote, Sarah Michaels daLuz is a great niece of Luther Bowman and an employee
of Partners Village Store & Kitchen, and will soon be back in her great
uncle’s old home working in Partners new kitchen! Photographs and
property transfer details provided by Jennifer Hall, Nancy Crosby, and Sarah daLuz Left photo below: The Barretts are to
the left of Luther; the lady to the right of Luther in the photo is Luther's
youngest sister Rachel. Rachel was a
nurse serving in the army during WW2 and was married to a Colonel Frank
Cassidy.
© 2007-2013
Community Events of Westport All
rights reserved. |
![bowman house 2]](Legacy_of_Luther_Bowman_New_files/image004.jpg)
