BONNET SHORES BEACH CLUB HISTORY PAGE published 10/30/99

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BONNET SHORES
(Reprinted from the Bonnet Shores Historical Committee Brochure, 1995)

"When State Senator Harry T. Bodwell of Cranston began developing a summer resort on land that once compromised three farms off the Boston Neck Road in the young town of Narragansett, many of his business and political colleagues were skeptical. "You can't expect people to drive all the way from Providence to Narragansett just to be near the water," many of then probably told him.

But Harry had a dream, some influential friends and, perhaps most important, persistence. In late summer of 1928 he began building "summer cottages" along a scenic outcropping of cliff and water that he foresaw as a colony that "would be the rival of Newport." Included in the master plan for the 400 or so acres was a beach club along the bay and a pavilion consisting of cabanas and bathhouses at a "Bathing Beach" on the ocean just a few hundred yards away.

In a large advertisement in the August 21, 1929 PROVIDENCE SUNDAY JOURNAL, the developer extolled the virtues of this "exclusive" resort area - such as "good roads, water and electric service, and ample room" for development or recreational amenities. In the developer's own words, "You'll enjoy a visit to Bonnet Shores. Its remarkable advancement will surprise you - its natural beauty and advantages will delight you."

Natural events in the fall of 1929, including the stock market crash in October, proved a serious setback to the developer's dreams. His persistence once again tested, the small community and the club survived thanks to the help of the wealthy and influential Frederick S. Peck of Barrington and the formation of the Belton Corporation in 1932.

Setbacks were not limited to man-made disasters. In September, 1938 the great Hurricane of '38 wiped out the Club House on Bonnet Shores Road. A new Bonnet Shores Beach Club was subsequently opened at Wesquage Beach, where today's beach club is located. The old "Club House" was partially razed and parts of it moved so that today it comprises three separate homes at Bonnet Shores and Col. John Gardner Roads.

Continued growth of the fire district followed. While only two of the cottages were year-round residences in 1934, by the 1960's many cottages were becoming winterized. Year-round residency along with rental to students in the "off season" gradually changed the district from a summer colony to a neighborhood. Many indeed were to delight in the beauty of the district through the ensuing decades.

A summer camp for children, swimming lessons, a bowling alley, a boat dock, baseball teams, an active women's club, and many other social activities filled many summer days and evenings of Bonnet residents and visitors... and became treasured memories - "memories we intend to try to preserve for ourselves and to share with those who follow us........."

This is a 1981
Newspaper Advertisement
The narrative is not clear on this reproduction.
It says:
"NO MORE THAN TWO GALLONS AWAY"
When you choose a tray, bathhouse or Cabana
at Bonnet Shores Beach Club, you'll enjoy the
privacy and pleasure of your own personal
beach club, with parking assured, clean
facilities, a beautiful beach and all the plus
benefits of planned children's activities, a
relaxing boardwalk, and convenient dining
facilities. You can get there within 20-30
minutes of most areas in Rhode Island. Your
facilities will always be ready and you know
they'll be properly maintained to suit your
family's or your own individual taste. Come
look us over. The accommodations are amazingly low in cost and the pleasure is not only affordable, but tremendously enjoyable. For rates, brochure, visit us or call ...................."

A BIT OF BONNET HISTORY
by "OLD RELIABLE" FRED CRANDALL
(Written August 28, 1970)

"...In June of 1928 Senator Harry T. Bodwell opened Bonnet Shores. He called me in New Britain, Conn., where we had developed many properties, also in Hartford, and asked me to come to help develop Bonnet Shores.

I came and fell in love with the wonderful beach, and the beautiful cliff drive. There is no duplicate of it in the State. I saw the chance to create the masterpiece of our years of development experience. We did!!

In the 42 years since it started we have made thousands for those who followed our early foresight. For instance, in 1935 there were 65 homes - today there are nearly 1,000.

At first we sold some lots for less than $500, - that today are worth $2000 or more.

The Beach has grown tremendously in popularity under the management of Mr. Bodwell. We have been together for 58 years. Mr. Bodwell donated land to the Fire District so the Causeway could be widened. They honored him by putting it in his name as can be seen when coming out of the beach. I have sold nearly five million dollars of property during its 42 years.

Everyone loved the Bonnet Battery, but did not know too much about it. I went to the library and finally found a book... "EARLY FORTIFICATIONS OF NARRAGANSETT BAY".... and on the front page was a picture of the Battery.

Near the end of the book, was a statement... "While the Treaty with France was concluded in February, 1776 it was not until July of that year that Count D'Estaing with FOUR FRIGATES and eight ships of the line blockaded the entrance to Narragansett Bay. The next morning two of the ships sailed up the West Passage under the fire of the British Redoubt situated at Bonnet on the main."... This was IT... My heart leaped with joy!!

I told Cliff O'Reilly about my findings. He was then Treasurer of the Bonnet Shores Fire District - - and he was as happy as I. We arranged to buy the Battery for the Bonnet people.

I met with the DAR Ladies, asking them to come to Bonnet to dedicate the Battery. 35 of them came, placed a bronze tablet on a large rock which reads "Captured from the British July 1776". I have always been interested in the Bonnet Shores children so Cliff and I bought the Recreation Field for them.

To those children I am "UNCLE FRED" and they now need a recreation building and I hope it can be realized. Therefore, to that end my wife and I donate the first $1000 conditionally if a proper building can be built for $50,000.

WRITTEN BY:
"OLD RELIABLE"
FRED CRANDALL - August 28, 1970

BONNET SHORES BEACH CLUB
Combining Natural Beauty
and Modern Facilities for
Safe Surf Bathing - Recreation
and Relaxation
(Reprinted from a Historic Bonnet Shores Brochure showing Bonnet's Past)

THIS HORSE SHOE BEACH has long been known as one of the finest on the Atlantic Coast.

Our very complete layout of modern Club Buildings includes the Main Pavilion and Observation deck with Benches and ample Shade Areas - all providing a specious out-door Lounge and Sun Area.

Directly off the Main Deck is the Short-Order Spa, the Recreation Room, 44 x 60 ft., for Movies, Dances and all indoor Evening Activities, and 4 Bowling Alleys.

To the left of the Main Entrance is the Season Bathhouse Section with 537 Family Bathhouses, while on the right are the exceptionally appointed daily bathing sections with separate Men's and Women's Dressing and Lounging Areas, proving a popular and economically daily or Season Service chosen by an increasing number of Members and guests.

The several types of Memberships are listed in our Application Blanks - one of which we are sure you will find suited to your Personal and Family needs.

NOTE: In the photo above you can see the bathhouses at the far right. TODAY there have been Cabanas constructed above them on a second deck. On the Boardwalk there were large SHADE areas (another photo of the shade area is below take in 1950). On the Beach, that building is the UMBRELLA SHACK. (Another photo of the UMBRELLA SHACK is below taken in 1950.) The small building closest to the beach and next to the bathhouses is the summer home for the Beach Club Manager. The row of "cabana-like structures up near where the POOL AREA (of today) is located are the summer homes /cabanas for the Lifeguards. TODAY these are first floor cabanas near the pool. A Second Floor of Cabanas were built as well. The SAND Area (The Sand-Pit) in this PHOTO is the POOL and TENT area of TODAY. The BOWLING ALLEYS are located in that LONG building next to the restaurant.

On the Beach at Bonnet - AUGUST, 1949
(Photo credit to Terry Sweeney)
The identity of the sand-pail youngster will have to remain a mystery at the request of the owner.
But here's a hint...... His initials are T.S.

In the background is the Umbrella Shack and the covered boardwalk for shade equiped with picnic tables. Summer, 1950.
(photo credit to Terry Sweeney)
We have the same "unidentified" youngster with his father
...... Hmmmmm... let me guess who?


Bonnet Shores Club House THEN (Does it look Familiar?) The ORIGINAL Bonnet Shores "Club House" at Col. Gardner and Bonnet Shores Roads, c.1934	TODAY the Club House is a private home