Tripps from far and wide gather for Westport reunion

The Tripp Family Reunion, descendants of Alexander and Ellen (Dolman) Tripp of Westport, was held recently in Westport at the home of granddaughter Gaile (Tripp) Fletcher and husband Wallace.

There were approximately 100 in attendance this year with members of the family coming from Colorado, Montana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Virginia, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and many towns in Massachusetts.

The children of Alexander and Ellen were Grandville, Walter, Herbert, Ralph, Willis, Arthur, Elliot, Leslie, Emily and Alice.  A Tripp Reunion has been held each year since 1964 by a descendant of Alexander and Ellen.

The eldest attending was grandson Alvin Tripp of Westport with his wife Arline (Wordell) Tripp and the youngest was great-great grandson Christian Nelson, son of David and Dorothy Nelson of River Falls, Wisconsin.  Alvin, Donald Tripp of Rhode Island, Gaile of Westport, and Karen (Tripp) Gavel from No. Grafton, Mass., are the last living grandchildren of Alexander and Ellen Tripp.

All of Alexander and Ellen’s children were born and grew up on their farm on Gifford Road in Westport.  They also had a farm on Horseneck Road and “Tripp’s Dairy” on Gifford Road.

Son Ralph ran the dairy and later grandson Ralph took over and still used a horse and wagon to deliver the milk.

Gaile, who grew up at the Head of  Westport, remembers watching for the milk wagon to come down Drift Road. She would then jump on and then ride back up as far as Old County Road and then, of course, would have to walk back home.  That was the thrill of the day.  The horse knew exactly which houses they were delivering milk to as it would slow up. Ralph would jump off, run in with the milk and then run back and jump on the wagon ready for the next delivery, the horse not stopping in the process.

At the reunions, after the potluck luncheon, family members participate in the egg toss, which is one of the highlights of the afternoon, along with games for the children.  The rest of the day is for catching up on all the relatives and meeting other members of the family.

Next year’s reunion will be held in Westport at the home of great-granddaughter Wendy (Tripp) Furtado and husband Joseph.