Trudy Harriman Metzger points to a photo of her mother, Beatrice Smith Harriman, included in the Brooks Cove exhibit at the Westport Island History Center. Located at the Wright Landing, the exhibit continues until spring 2026. (Charlotte Boynton photo)
The historic Brooks Farm is currently featured in an exhibit on Brooks Cove at the Westport Island History Center. The exhibit traces the history of the land from the earliest evidence of the Abenaki to the eighth generation of the Brooks family, who reside on the site today.
Located along the southern shore of the island, the cove and land is named for Charles Stockbridge Brooks, who purchased the property with his wife Hanna in 1799. Today there are nine houses on the site, all owned by direct descendants of Charles and Hanna Brooks.
According to town records, which date back to 1748, members of the Brooks family are among the first documented European settlers of the island.
The current resident of the Brooks family homestead is David Bradford, the son of Phyllis Harriman Bradford. Phyllis’ father, Philip Harriman, a sixth generation descendant of Charles and Hanna Brooks, purchased 168 acres of land from his cousin for $3,000 in 1933.
Philip Harriman and his wife Beatrice had three children: Herbert, Phyllis, and Gertrude “Trudy.”
For a time, Beatrice Smith Harriman was Westport Island’s historian and authored “Family Records of Westport.” David Bradford said he remembered riding up and down the island with his grandmother, who would continually point out who once lived where, what houses burned when, and where other historical events happened.
At a time when access to information was not always readily available, David Bradford said his grandmother gathered information from interviews, family Bibles, and public documents. She began collecting information for her book on her first trip to the island and continued working on the manuscript until it was published by the Westport Community Association in 1970.
According to Bradford, Beatrice Smith Harriman absolutely considered herself a “Westporter,” even though she was only here in the summer months.
“She was also ‘from away’ but considered Westport her home and was involved in many civic and community activities,” Bradford said.
According to Trudy Harriman Metzger, her father, who was a school administrator in New Haven, Conn., was asked by several people why he purchased the old place on Westport Island in 1933. At the time it was all dirt roads with no electricity or indoor plumbing. Nevertheless, Metzger said, it was wonderful.
Shortly after Philip Harriman bought the property, renovations were done on the house and electricity, a drilled well, a modern kitchen and indoor plumbing was added.
The Harrimans lived in New Haven, Conn. and returned every summer to Westport, where they tended to a garden, chickens, a cow, and whatever fish was available, Metzger said.
During the Brooks Farm History Alive fundraiser, held at the homestead July 13, David Bradford’s daughter Nora Bradford was asked to add the perspective from the younger generation.
She spoke of her great-aunt Trudy, who had been coming to the island since the 1930s and is still visiting.
“That really tells what a special place this is,” Nora Bradford said.
Growing up on the island the Bradford children enjoyed ice skating, playing kick the can, chasing chickens down the road, sledding, and gardening. Nora Bradford said she, her siblings, and their cousins played for hours in the pond and explored the coastline. When the power went out in the winter, there were no generators. The family would drag out mattresses in front of the woodstove and use kerosene oil lamps to do their homework.
“Our childhood gave us a glimpse of what living in the past was like,” Nora Bradford said.
Bradford said another favorite activity of her childhood was exploring in the woods and digging up artifacts, remnants of the people who formerly lived on the property.
“This leads me to wonder, what will future generations find on this property to give them a glimpse into how we lived,” she said, “Will they find any plastic eggs hidden in the rock wall or remnants of our tree forts?”
The Brooks Cove exhibit is on view at the town’s history center until spring 2026. The exhibit includes photos and the history of the eight generations of Charles Stockbridge Brooks’ family members who have been stewards of the homestead for over 225 years.
The Westport Island History Center is located at 38 Ferry Road. The center is open from noon until 2 p.m. on Sunday and by appointment. To make arrangements for a visit, email info@fowih.org.
