195 Things: Elephant Rock, Westport's pachyderm-like landmark

WESTPORT — In the early days, and even before the white people came, people were always looking for resemblances between rocks and other things. One place might have a “Muskrat Rock,” another would host an “Old Man of The Mountain.”

In Westport, it’s Elephant Rock, a humped-up bit of stone that does indeed resemble a pachyderm.

Such named features not only served the whimsy of the guy who named it, but served as a landmark.

“Jedediah," you told a friend. “Follow the coast. When you see the rock that looks like an elephant, you’re almost there.”

In the old days, this was much like telling someone to “turn left at the gas station.”

In Westport, Elephant Rock is just what it says it is, a surf-bathed rock that looks like an elephant.

It’s nice to look at, all right, but just as notable is the beach that bears the same name as the rock.

It’s a small, beautiful beach, home of the Elephant Rock Beach Club.

Westport is a town rich in beaches and scenery. Elephant Rock fits right in with both those things.

Watermen were always colorful talkers. There’s a “Dogfish Ledge” off the sane part of Westport, and there are other named features of the sea and the shore, every name half-whimsy and half-navigational aid.

The waves crash in Westport. The fog creeps in silently. The snow falls noiselessly into the sea. Footprints on the beach are erased by the tide.

The stone elephant bathes in the surf, watching.

With “195 Things Off 195,” we are showcasing all the “things” that make this area special — one per day, for 195 days straight. We’ve compiled quite a list, but we encourage readers to send us some ideas — let us know your picks at news@heraldnews.com.