Monument (again) salutes town worker killed on the job

Thomas E. Pettey was crushed while tending to Gooseberry causeway

Bruce Burdett
Posted 9/21/17

WESTPORT — Thomas E. Pettey was the only town employee to lose his life on the job and Westport will honor him once again on Saturday — and this time they hope the memorial lasts longer than its …

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Monument (again) salutes town worker killed on the job

Thomas E. Pettey was crushed while tending to Gooseberry causeway

Posted

WESTPORT — Thomas E. Pettey was the only town employee to lose his life on the job and Westport will honor him once again on Saturday — and this time they hope the memorial lasts longer than its predecessors.

All are invited to the Gooseberry Island causeway Saturday morning at 10 where a block of granite will be dedicated. That engraved block, installed earlier in the summer, confirms a decision made years ago to name the causeway the ’Thomas E. Pettey Memorial Causeway.’

Thomas Hancock told the Board of Selectmen Monday that Mr. Pettey of the town Highway Department was working with Fred Wilson to reinforce the causeway on December 24, 1931, when he was crushed to death by boulders.

The town and state later named the causeway in his honor and a sign bearing the new name was erected. A few months later it was stolen, Mr. Hancock said.

So a new sign was installed — that too was stolen a short while later.

A few months ago, Mr. Hancock asked Highway Surveyor Chris Gonsalves whether the department could supply a surplus stone from behind the highway garage.

A stone was provided and then engraved at Albanese Monuments of Westport.

“If that stone is ever stolen,” Mr. Hancock said, “I suggest we don’t report it to police but get ahold of Bill Belichik — he could probably use that person.”

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.