The Little Compton Blog

A look back at the 1934 Summer Locater ad for Pierce’s Garage—offering gasoline, motor oils, road service, and repairs to local motorists! Flipping through the pages of the 1934 Little Compton Summer Locater , it’s easy to get transported back to a time when motoring down Sakonnet Point Road was a whole different experience. Back in the 1930s, as automobiles became the standard mode of transport for summer visitors and year-round residents alike, local businesses stepped up to meet every roadside need. One prominent fixture catering to drivers was Pierce’s Garage , operated by proprietor John F. Pierce. Located directly on Sakonnet Point Road , Pierce’s Garage served as a one-stop shop for local motorists. Their advertisement in the Summer Locater highlights a comprehensive list of essential services from the era: Fuel & Fluids: Gasoline, Motor Oils, and Lubricating Maintenance & Repair: Full Repairing, Tires, Tubes, and Batteries Emergency Support: Road Service In an era ...

Back in 1934, you didn’t need an app for grocery delivery—just a three-digit phone number. Taking a look back at the historic Bluff Head Market. If you’re anything like me, flipping through old local records and ephemera is one of the quickest ways to lose an afternoon. Recently, I stumbled across a gem from the 1934 Summer Locater —a vintage advertisement for the Bluff Head Market right here in Little Compton. Take a look at this beautiful snapshot of our town's coastal history: Fresh Off the Boat (Literally) The ad proudly offers the public a classic New England trio: Fresh Fish, Lobsters, and Clams, emphasizing that they are “Right from the water.” While we are used to modern logistics and supermarket seafood counters today, back in 1934, things were wonderfully straightforward. Check out that note at the bottom: (Boats unload every week day at 9 o'clock very interesting to watch) Can you imagine? A morning stroll down to Sakonnet Point to watch the fishing boats haul in the...

The entrance to present day Lloyd's Beach is displayed in this 1912 postcard. The entrance and beach look much the same today, though Lloyd's Beach appears considerably less rocky in this 1912 postcard. Back then, an unpaved sandy road led up to the imposing entrance, with sweeping dunes visible in the distance. A one cent stamp made sure this 1912 postcard made it from Little Compton to Boston. Although the sender's handwriting was a bit shaky, they made sure to emphasize the "great scenery" of Sakonnet and Little Compton, Rhode Island. In 1912, Sakonnet boasted its own postmark, and this "Gateway" to Lloyd's Beach was a landmark that visitors traveled long distances to see. Produced for the Sakonnet Transportation Co., the postcard likely served as a marketing tool to encourage tourism to Little Compton’s beaches. Like many other postcards of the era, "Gateway, Sakonnet, RI" was manufactured in Germany, printed by B.Y. and Co. Sakonn...

West Island was home to several stately buildings in 1911. West Island was once home to the exclusive West Island Club. Organized by a group of influential men, the club was used as a fishing getaway until 1906, when the club closed. At the time of this postcard's writing, West Island would have been owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. It's unclear if the writer actually visited West Island or purchased the postcard at Sakonnet Point. M.M.C. raves about her 1911 lobster dinner at Sakonnet Point. In this letter, M.M.C. writes about the fine lobster dinner she enjoyed, probably at a hotel or restaurant on Sakonnet Point. M.M.R. addresses the postcard to Mrs. E.A. Taylor, 130 Pleasant St, Attleboro, Mass.  Interestingly, the postcard was made by the Excelsior Postcard Company, an outfit with offices in Leipzig, Dresden, and Berlin, Germany. C.R. Wilbur of Little Compton published the postcard. Here's the letter, as written by M.M.C. "Dear Missy, Wish you were ...

  Swimming at Warren's Point with 'Onadune' and other cottages in the background. This 1919 postcard depicts a glorious summer day on the beach in Little Compton, RI. Although the postcard describes the beach as "Sakonnet," locals will know this stretch of sand is Warren's Point. The beach is noticeably empty, with only a few swimmers braving the surf just where the waves are breaking. The Warren's Point Beach Club bathhouses had yet to be const ructed, and amenities such as showers, restrooms, or a sandwich shop were mere pip e dreams. One can only wonder if umbrellas and backboards—though out of view—had yet made their debut on the beach. Beachgoers didn't have bodyboards, masks, or snorkels; simply relaxing in the refreshing ocean water was the activity of the day. Although LC's beaches have gotten busier over the years, it's reassuring to know that much also remains the same. The rock formations and summer houses in the background provide...

Vintage photo of 'Sealands' estate on Warren's Point. Located on a town road—with no homeowners association to contend with—yet within walking distance of one of Rhode Island's finest private beach clubs, Sealands seemingly has it all.  Mott & Chace Sotheby's Realtor Cherry Arnold said, "With its rich history dating back to the early 1920s, it is a truly treasured Little Compton estate." While the house in its current form is smaller than the one pictured on the postcard, Sealands still boasts more than 8,000 square feet of living space. The home and its accompanying five acres last sold in 2020 for $7.3 million, a price not seen in the Little Compton real estate market since 2012.  Property highlights include limestone fireplaces, beautifully landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, and multiple patios. Although the front of the postcard reads "Sakonnet, RI," locals will recognize Warren's Point as the property's more precise location....

Standing on Lloyd's Beach and looking north to Rhode Island Road. There is no sandwich shop, ice cream stand, lifeguard, or even a bathroom. The northern section of Lloyd’s Beach is covered in smooth rocks, while the southern tip is often awash in pungent seaweed. You can find small patches of sand, but don’t expect a picture-perfect Caribbean getaway. Bringing an oversized beach towel is essential, as flies breed in the seaweed and are impossible to avoid completely. Still, swimming at Lloyd’s Beach is one of life’s great pleasures—especially without lifeguards blowing whistles every few minutes. However, a quick disclaimer: only confident, experienced swimmers should venture past their knees. Beginners, children, and seniors may be better off at South Shore Beach, which offers lifeguards on duty. While the lack of amenities helps keep some out-of-towners away, finding a parking spot has become increasingly difficult as visitors travel from afar in search of a free beach. Rhode Is...