Westport Is Your Oyster Exhibit Opens At Westport Historical Society

Westport, CT — Before there were hotdogs and hamburgers to liven up your Fourth of July weekend festivities, there were oysters. Oysters were the quintessential American food—especially in the estuaries and inlets of shoreline Connecticut where they grow in natural abundance. Westport Historical Society is kicking off the Fourth of July week by celebrating the culture and lore of oystering on the Long Island Sound with a month-long exhibit entitled Westport Is Your Oyster which will begin July 1 and continue through August 1.

The exhibit is made possible by the generous support of Robin Tauck and Norman Bloom of Copps Island Oysters.

Ms. Tauck, a native Westporter, has long supported the cultural and environmental preservation of Westport’s Mill Pond, an area once known for its natural oyster growth and, later, farmed cultivation.

The exhibit offers a glimpse into Westport and Norwalk’s oystering history using original artifacts and objects from the private collections of Ms. Tauck and Mr. Bloom as well as items from Westport Historical Society’s permanent collection. Ephemera relating to the consumption of oysters round out a display that includes tools of the trade and archival documents.

Oysters were enjoyed by native people who seared them in hot coals, in a method later adopted by European colonists. In those days, the oysters pulled from the waters around Westport were as large as dinner plates. The exhibit will open on July 1st from 5 to 7pm with a summer kick off featuring an oyster and clam raw bar courtesy of Copps Island Oysters, prosecco, beer and tasting of bourbon. Live music from Verbatim.

“Westporters love our summertime traditions and this event allows “thanks” for our cleaner Sound waters and the Local oystering families of generations ago and today who maintain our cultural traditions .”, said Ms.Tauck

25 Avery Place, Westport, Connecticut 06880 Tel: 203-222-1424 Fax: 203-221-0981 www.westporthistory.org

 

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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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