A Slice of Little Compton History: Abel W. Jennings, Painter and Decorator (1934)

Vintage 1934 local advertisement for Abel W. Jennings, Painter and Decorator in Little Compton, RI.
A "Painter and Decorator" didn't just paint walls—they were the original interior design specialists, handling fine finishes, wallpapering, and color styling for historic homes.

There’s something endlessly fascinating about flipping through old local publications. While browsing through the 1934 edition of the Summer Locater—originally published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society—I stumbled upon this delightful, understated advertisement for a local tradesman:

ABEL W. JENNINGS

Painter and Decorator

Tel. 184-3

A Look Back at Local Life

It’s amazing how much history can be packed into just a few lines of plain text:

  • Simplicity at Its Best: Long before website URLs, QR codes, or 10-digit phone numbers, all Abel Jennings needed to advertise his services was his name, his trade, and a short 3-digit phone extension (184-3).

  • Craftsmanship and Pride: Calling himself a "Painter and Decorator" reflects the classic pride of mid-20th-century local artisans who helped care for and beautify Little Compton’s historic homes and summer cottages.

  • Community Connections: Publications like the Summer Locater served as the ultimate neighborhood directory, bridging seasonal summer residents and year-round local businesses.

Do You Remember or Know the Jennings Family?

Little Compton’s history is built on the families who lived and worked here. Does anyone in town remember Abel W. Jennings or have stories passed down about his work?

Drop a comment below if you have any local lore or history to share!

This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the Little Compton Blog!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1934 Summer Locater Lists Little Compton Village Improvement Society Board Members, Emergency Phone Numbers

Image
Those wishing to contact the LC Volunteer Fire Department or State Police were instructed to   dial 'EMERGENCY' According to the 1934 Summer Locator , five officers looked after the LC Village Improvement Society.  Honorary President: Mrs. C.F. Withington President: Miss Ruth Parks Vice President: Mrs. C.R. Wilbur Secretary: Mrs. J.H. Archbold Treasurer: Mrs. J.E. Newton The Little Compton Village Improvement Society extended membership to 'any person interested in the welfare of the town.' Annual dues were broken down into four categories, ensuring membership was affordable to all.  Annual Members $.25 Active Members 1.00 Contributing Members 5.00 Sustaining Members 10.00 Capt. Stephen B. Wilbur was listed as the LC Volunteer Fire Department contact, while Town Sergeant Chas E. Petty was the law enforcement point man. The Rhode Island State Police could be reached by dialing 'EMERGENCY' Arthur W. King was the town doctor, with an office in Adamsville. Red Cross...
Read more

My Heart is in Little Compton, RI Heart Shaped Coffee Mug - Relic of LC's Retail Past

Image
My ❤️ is in Little Compton, R.I." — a vintage 1990s Wilbur’s Store treasure! There's a mug in the cabinet that always seems to draw an abundance of curiosity and questions. It's the heart shaped 'My Heart is in LC' coffee mug! If memory serves me correctly, this unique product was sold by Wilbur's in the late 80s and early 90s. Probably not available anymore, but you may luck out and find one at the Thursday Thrift Shop!  This quality mug has withstood decades of staining coffee, full bodied tea, and relentless punishment by the dishwasher. I'm happy to report that it still looks like new and is in my normal mug rotation. I can't explain why, but my coffee tastes bolder, sweeter, and ever more delicious when drank from this mug. Forever, My Heart is in Little Compton! A survivor from the 1990s: heart-shaped mug originally sold at Wilbur’s Store! This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commissio...
Read more

Little Compton, RI Church Services Directory - Summer of 1934 (The Churches of LC)

Image
Little Compton was a particularly active religious community in 1934. This 'Church Services' page was included in the 1934 Summer Locater publication, presented by The Village Improvement Society. Churches listed were: St. Andrew's-By-The-Sea Sakonnet - Rev. Arthur H. Beaty St. Catherine's, Little Compton - Rev. John Todorowski St. Theresa's, Sakonnet Congregational, Little Compton - Rev. Thomas E. Thompson Methodist Episcopal, Little Compton - Rev. Sidney Adams Free Will Baptist (Stone Church) Adamsville This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the Little Compton Blog! Little Compton, RI Summer Beach Cabanas (LC)
Read more