The Scrapbook Project
Vanessa Jacques, 8/3/2024.
Little Compton, RI Scrapbook
As a graduate student working on my Masters of Library and Information Studies, I have been lucky enough to work on my internship project at the Brownell Library in Little Compton, Rhode Island.
Inside the library basement, library staff discovered a scrapbook of articles, photos, post cards, etc. pertaining to the town and people in Little Compton, collected by former library staff. It is not known which individual(s) created the scrapbook, or the exact date when it was created, but we can presume it was completed around/after 1975, which is the most recently dated document inside.
Part of my project is to make a digital copy of the scrapbook, which is in poor handling condition, in order to make it accessible to both library patrons and anyone who has an interest in the history of Little Compton, Rhode Island.
Citations have been added for the items of which I have been able to verify the source, but most of the documents in the scrapbook lack source information.
Fair Use Statement:
This scrapbook contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.
Table of Contents
Page 1 (inside cover): Our Town Poem
LCO_Scrapbook_p1.pdfClick to enlarge.
"Our Town" poem by Ian M. Walker. 6/28/1970, S'cunnet Scuttlebutt.
Page 2: Photo of L.C. Town Commons; News clipping: Town Acquired Name in Early History; Postcard: photo of Treaty Rock
LCO_Scrapbook_p2.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top left: Newsprint photo. Description: A view of the Commons in Little Compton in the early 1900's depicts the Town Hall in the right foreground and horse sheds and the Brownell house in the background. Source unknown.
Top right: News clipping: Town Acquired Name in Early History. Source unknown.
Bottom center: Postcard: photograph of Treaty Rock.
Pages 3-4: Little Compton Was Colonial Frontier
LCO_Scrapbook_p3.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_Scrapbook_p4.pdfClick to enlarge.
Newspaper article: Little Compton Was Colonial Frontier. Spans pages 3 and 4. Source unknown.
Page 5: Little Compton History Predates Revolution
LCO_Scrapbook_p5.pdfClick to enlarge.
Newspaper article: Little Compton History Predates Revolution. Photo credit on the back of the article refers to 'the Herald'; potentially from Fall River Herald; article unable to be located in search of newspaper digital archive.
Page 6: Graves of Wives of Simeon Palmer; Patton Jackson epitaph; monument marking Benjamin Church house, first house built in Little Compton.
LCO_Scrapbook_p6.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top center: Postcard, the graves of wives of Simeon Palmer; note that the grave on the left for Elizabeth says she should have been his wife, but they were in fact married at one point, according to the Little Compton Historical Society!
Bottom left: Newsprint quote of epitaph of Patten Jackson in Seaconet Cemetary, Little Compton.
Bottom right: Photograph, Stone marking site of first home built in L.C. belonging to Benjamin Church.
Pages 7-9: Dramatis Personae in Little Compton a Remarkable Group
LCO_Scrapbook_p7.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_Scrapbook_p8_1.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_Scrapbook_p9.pdfClick to enlarge.
Newspaper article: "Dramatis Personae in Little Compton a Remarkable Group" by David Patten. Possibly from Providence Journal. Publication date unknown. Unable to verify source in Providence Journal digital archives.
Page 8 bonus (taped onto plastic protective sheet): Naming the Reds
LCO_Scrapbook_p8_2.pdfClick to enlarge.
News clipping: In Perspective: Naming the Reds. Source unknown.
Pages 10-11: If The Wilbour House Could Tell Its Dramatic Chronicle
LCO_Scrapbook_p10.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_Scrapbook_p11.pdfClick to enlarge.
Newspaper article: "If The Wilbour House Could Tell Its Dramatic Chronicle" originally published in the Providence Journal, 7/25/1937.
Note on page 11: Due to fragile condition of item, article was photographed inside the book to avoid potential damage.
Pages 12 - 13: Little Compton Sniffs as World Notes Its Talk
LCO_Scrapbook_p12.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_ScrapbookP-13.pdfClick to enlarge.
Newspaper article: Herald Tribune, staff correspondent. Publication date unknown. Due to fragile condition, photo was taken inside of book.
Newspaper photos from above article: George H. Brown, holder of heriditary cane given to Little Compton's oldest man; Hannah Borden Peckham; Abel Simmons; Elizabeth Manchester.
Page 14: Abraham Manchester store; Ferryboat, Little Compton Studio
LCO_Scrapbook_p14.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top center: News photograph of the Abraham Manchester store in Little Compton, likely from previous article in Herald Tribune (unknown date and author).
Bottom center: News clipping, "Ferryboat, Little Compton Studio". Unknown source.
Page 15: Awashonks Monument; Awashonks Park, Little Compton
LCO_Scrapbook_p15_rotated.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top: Monument to Awashonks "Queen of the Sogkonates". Image credits Herald. Unknown publication date.
Bottom: Awashonks Park, Little Compton. Published in the S'cunnett Scuttlebutt, date unknown; publication notes this is originally from 'The Streets of the City' Broadcast by Florence P. Simister.
Page 16: Contrasts of a Beach; Goosewing Beach Pass, Do You Know Pegotty?
LCO_Scrapbook_p16.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top Left: Poem, "Contrasts of a Beach", note attributes to Assistant Editor of the Village Bell, 7/12/1975.
Top Right: Goosewing Beach courtesy pass, valid June -October 1938.
Bottom Left: "Do You Know Peggotty?", S'cunnett Scuttlebutt 6/25/1974,
Page 17: The Story of the West Island Fishing Club
LCO_Scrapbook_p17merged.pdfClick to enlarge.
News article: "The Story of the West Island Fishing Club" by Carl W. Haffenreffer, published in the S'cunnet Scuttlebutt, 6/28/1970.
Pages 18-19: 'Intrigue' of West Island, Dramatic Rescue Recalled
LCO_Scrapbook_p18.pdfClick to enlarge.
LCO_Scrapbook_p19_rotated.pdfClick to enlarge.
News article: 'Intrigue' of West Island, Dramatic Rescue Recalled. Unknown source.
Page 20: Betty Alden house; postcard of old hearth; Rhode Island Red Monument
LCO_Scrapbook_p20.pdfClick to enlarge.
Top: Newsprint photo of Betty Alden house, built by William Pabodie. Published in the Providence Sunday Journal, 8/2/1936.
Bottom left: Postcard showing old hearth. Source unknown.
Bottom right: Newsprint photo of Rhode Island Red Monument. Source unknown.
Page 21: Wills and Gravestones
LCO_Scrapbook_p21.pdfClick to enlarge.
Wills and Gravestones. Originally published in Village Bell 6/29/1882. Source of republication unknown.
Page 22: Map of Little Compton
LCO_Scrapbook_p22.pdfClick to enlarge.
Map of Little Compton, contributed by Shether Real Estate, 1974.