Fruit, Vegetables, and Broilers in Little Compton - A.E. Wilbur’s 1934 Farm Ad

Vintage 1934 Little Compton advertisement for A.E. Wilbur, featuring fruit, native vegetables, and broilers.
Decades before "farm-to-table" became a trendy buzzword, it was just daily life in Little Compton!

A quick peek into our town’s history reveals how much has changed—and how much has stayed delightfully the same. While flipping through a vintage copy of the 1934 Summer Locater, published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society, a simple print ad caught my eye.

It reads:

A. E. WILBUR

Fruit, Native Vegetables and Broilers

Tel. 167-12

A Window into 1934 Little Compton

  • The Wilbur Legacy: The Wilbur name is woven deeply into the fabric of Little Compton’s agricultural heritage. Seeing "A. E. Wilbur" front and center reminds us that local farming wasn't just a business back then—it was the heart of our community's daily life.

  • "Native" Produce & Broilers: Decades before the "farm-to-table" movement became a modern trend, eating locally was simply a way of life in town. From fresh orchard fruits and local ("native") summer vegetables to young chickens ("broilers") for dinner, local farmers provided everything the community needed.

  • Five-Digit Phone Numbers: Perhaps the charming detail is the telephone number: 167-12. Long before area codes and seven-digit dialing, you only needed a brief party-line exchange number to reach your local grower.

While technology and phone numbers have changed over the decades, Little Compton's appreciation for local agriculture, open fields, and fresh produce remains as strong today as it was in the summer of 1934.

How do you think our local farm stands today compare to the roadside markets of the 1930s?

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!

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