Dennis Arruda: A 1934 Little Compton Business

 

When a two-digit telephone number was all you needed—Dennis Arruda's 1934 advertisement reflects the simplicity of small-town life in Little Compton.

The 1934 Summer Locater, published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society, offers a fascinating glimpse into the local businesses that served both year-round residents and the growing summer community. Among its advertisements is one for Dennis Arruda, who supplied fruits, vegetables, fireplace wood, and kindlings—everyday necessities for homes and summer cottages alike. The simple listing, complete with the memorable telephone number "5-4," reflects an era when Little Compton's telephone system was small enough that only a few digits were needed to reach a neighbor. Though modest in appearance, the advertisement captures the essential role that local merchants like Arruda played in supporting daily life in Little Compton during the 1930s.


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