The Little Compton Blog

Polly’s Pantry ad featured in the 1934 Summer Locater , offering a nostalgic look back at Little Compton's summer commerce . When flipping through the pages of the 1934 Summer Locater published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society, you quickly realize how bustling our corner of Rhode Island was nearly a century ago. Among the established local storefronts sits a charming advertisement for a long-lost small business: Polly’s Pantry . While the business is no longer around, and precise records of its exact physical location in town have faded with time, the ad paints a clear picture of a cozy neighborhood general store. It operated in the same spirit as town staples like Simmons Store, Wilbur's General Store, or even East Lake Variety just across the border—a quick one-stop shop for everyday essentials and summer treats. Presumably run by a local proprietor named Polly, the store offered simple everyday treats and conveniences: Magazines & Reading Material Cold ...

E. C. Palmer — Sakonnet Market (Meat and Fish) as advertised in 1934 . Flipping through the pages of local history offers a fascinating glimpse into how our coastal community used to operate . Take a look at this advertisement from the 1934 Little Compton Village Improvement Society Summer Locater : E. C. PALMER Sakonnet Market—Meat and Fish TEL. 150 While simple and direct by today's standards, this small ad tells a big story about life in town during the 1930s . The Local Merchant: E. C. Palmer ran Sakonnet Market, serving as a key source for fresh meats and fish for both year-round residents and seasonal visitors in Little Compton . A Three-Digit Phone Number: Long before modern ten-digit dialing or cell phones, reaching your local butcher was as simple as asking the operator for "150" . The Summer Locater : Published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society, the directory was an essential guide for navigating local commerce and connect...

Take a step back to 1934 with this Summer Locater ad for Georgina Souza’s home cooking in Little Compton. Flipping through the pages of the 1934 edition of the Summer Locater —published nearly a century ago by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society—is like stepping straight into a time capsule. Amidst advertisements for local garages, markets, and summer beauty parlors, one simple, crisp ad immediately catches the eye: an offering of hearty, homemade food by Georgina Souza . The advertisement highlights classic New England comfort foods and everyday kitchen staples: Baked Goods: Rolls, Sandwiches, Cakes, and Pies New England Classics: Beans and Brown Bread The Summer Locater and 1930s Little Compton Life In the 1930s, Little Compton was a quiet agricultural and coastal community navigating the lean years of the Great Depression. During the summer months, the town welcomed seasonal visitors arriving to enjoy Sakonnet Point and the countryside. To help summer residents and lo...

Mae Wilbour taking appointments for hair dressing and cosmetic therapy in the pages of the Summer Locater . Flipping through the historical pages of local publications offers a fascinating window into the daily lives, businesses, and style of Little Compton’s past residents. One charming snippet comes from a vintage advertisement featured in the 1934 edition of the Summer Locater , published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society. The advertisement highlights the services of Mae Wilbour , a local practitioner offering modern beauty and personal care treatments during the height of the 1930s summer season. What the Advertisement Featured: Mae Wilbour Hair Dressing Cosmetic Therapy (spelled Cosmetic Therepy in the original printing) Multiple Electrolysis Appointments: Phone 17-12 A Glimpse into 1930s Personal Care & Local Life Local Roots: The surname Wilbour is deeply tied to the history of Little Compton, Rhode Island, so seeing Mae Wilbour offering services in town ...