A new exhibition featuring 22 historical panoramic views of Westport is open at the Westport Free Public Library, presenting astonishing expansive visions of the landscape as well as fascinating tiny details of everyday life in old Westport.

Covering locations from Westport Factory, the Head of Westport and Westport Point to the Harbor, the images reveal Westport as it appeared in the early 1900s — on the cusp of modernity, but still very much frozen in the horse and buggy era. "Retro Perspective: Panoramic Vistas from Westport's Past" is being presented at the library by the Westport Historical Society.

Each week, Shorelines will feature one photo from the exhibit. This week's entry, taken in the early 1900s, captures the busy atmosphere at the Head of Westport. The town landing along the river was used for town celebrations such as Old Home Week and the annual agricultural fair. The scene is in stark contrast to the tranquil town landing that we know today — a place for quiet picnics and yoga!  In this scene, people and animals crowd under tents lining the riverbank on the west landing. The image hints at the coming of the modern era of transportation — impressively large automobiles contrast with horse-drawn wagons seen in the background. Heaped mounds of salt hay, utilized for forage and for bedding for animals, line the banks of the river.

Several buildings appear on the landing including, in the foreground, A.H. Brigg’s wheelwright shop. Originally built as a hall for the Washingtonian Society, a temperance organization, this structure had many lives. By 1929 it was owned by David Allen, who operated a tea room and ice cream parlor. Keeping in mind the building’s temperance heritage, it is noteworthy that its next owner, Arthur M. Reed, got approval from the Westport Selectmen in 1935 to open it as a tavern. However, the Landing Commission was opposed (the building was on town land), so Reed moved it a few hundred feet to the north. The tavern closed shortly thereafter because it was considered “too rowdy.” The original Washingtonian Hall is currently a private home, on the banks of the Westport River on Old County Road.

This image is part of an exhibition by the Westport Historical Society, “Retro Perspective: Panoramic Vistas from Westport’s Past” on view at the Westport Free Public Library, 480 Old County Road, Westport, through Feb. 28. The Westport Historical Society’s entire collection of photographs can be searched or browsed at www.wpthistory.org/collection/.