The Flower King of Little Compton: F.W.C. Almy’s "Super-Dahlias"

1934 Little Compton Summer Locater vintage print ad for F.W.C Almy’s Supreme Dahlias flower business.
F.W.C. Almy’s business ad in the 1934 Summer Locater.

If you flip through the pages of the 1934 Little Compton Summer Locater, you’ll catch a fascinating glimpse into the town's vibrant horticultural history. Among the local businesses vying for the attention of summer residents and locals alike was Almy’s Supreme Dahlias, a business run by F.W.C. Almy.

Take a look at this incredible vintage advertisement that reminds us just how deeply rooted our coastal town is in agricultural excellence:

The "Super-Dahlia" of 1934

Almy wasn't just selling regular garden-variety flowers; he was operating at the cutting edge of dahlia breeding. According to the ad, Almy’s Supreme Dahlias offered "New Introductions and Up-to-date Varieties in both Plants and Roots."

Most notably, his nursery was the proud home of "Lord of Autumn"—a flower boldly described as "the super-dahlia of the day." Almy proudly notes that it was "considered by expert growers the greatest dahlia ever produced."

A Legacy of "Supreme" Originations

"Lord of Autumn" wasn't F.W.C. Almy's only claim to fame. The ad lists an impressive lineup of his other unique floral originations. Dahlia enthusiasts of the 1930s would have recognized names like:

  • Grant Glory of the Dawn

  • Supreme Glory & Supreme Monarch

  • Sakonnet Queen (a wonderful nod to our local geography!)

  • Royal Glory

  • Exquisite

  • Wedding Bells

  • Purity

  • Sally B.

In addition to his own creations, Almy grew most of the "Honor Roll" and outstanding introductions of the era, offering a free catalogue to anyone interested in elevating their summer gardens.

Dialing Back the Clock

One of the most charming details of the ad is at the very bottom. If you wanted to get your hands on some "Sakonnet Queen" roots in 1934, you didn't look up a website or a 10-digit cell number. You simply picked up your receiver and asked the operator for Phone 156-11.

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