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From the Archives: Mae Wilbour’s 1934 Beauty Business in Little Compton, RI

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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 ...
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Vintage Little Compton Ads: Adamsville Garage & Service Station (1934)

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Print advertisement for Adamsville Garage & Service Station from the 1934 Summer Locater. Flipping through the pages of the 1934 Little Compton Summer Locater offers a fascinating window into the local businesses that kept our town moving nearly a century ago. Among the vintage advertisements featured in the directory is a classic piece of local commercial history: Adamsville Garage & Service Station . Back in the 1930s, as automobiles became indispensable for both summer residents and year-round locals, neighborhood garages served as vital hubs for the community. This particular ad highlights Adamsville Garage as an official destination for Ford Sales and Service . Beyond selling and maintaining Fords, the station offered a comprehensive range of auto care essential for the era: Repairing & Battery Service to keep routine traffic running smoothly. Wrecker Service for those inevitable roadside mishaps along rural coastal roads. Official Brake and Light Station , ensurin...
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Location: Adamsville, Little Compton, RI 02837, USA
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Service With a Smile: Frank S. Flores and the Little Compton Garage

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Goodyear Tires, Exide Batteries, and a 2-digit phone number. A slice of Little Compton history from 1934.   A Snapshot of 1934: Frank S. Flores and the Little Compton Garage Flipping through the pages of the 1934 Summer Locater —published nearly a century ago by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society—is like stepping straight into a time capsule. Amidst the advertisements for local inns, farms, and markets, one modest ad immediately catches the eye: a simple, crisp feature for the Little Compton Garage , run by proprietor Frank S. Flores . Back in the summer of '34, America was deep in the grips of the Great Depression, but life in Little Compton kept rolling along—quite literally. As automobiles became an everyday essential rather than a novelty, having a trusted local mechanic was vital for both full-time residents and summer visitors navigating our coastal roads. "Service With A Smile" The ad captures a wonderful slice of local automotive history: The Slogan: ...
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Location: Little Compton, RI, USA
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Little Compton History: John F. Pierce’s Sakonnet Point Road Auto Repair Garage

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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 ...
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Location: Sakonnet Point Rd, Little Compton, RI 02837, USA
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Fruit, Vegetables, and Broilers in Little Compton - A.E. Wilbur’s 1934 Farm Ad

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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") summ...
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A Slice of Little Compton History: Abel W. Jennings, Painter and Decorator (1934)

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A "Painter and Decorator" didn't just paint walls—they were the original interior design specialists, handling fine finishes, wallpapering, and color styling for historic homes. There’s something endlessly fascinating about flipping through old local publications. While browsing through the 1934 edition of the Summer Locater —originally published by the Little Compton Village Improvement Society—I stumbled upon this delightful, understated advertisement for a local tradesman: ABEL W. JENNINGS Painter and Decorator Tel. 184-3 A Look Back at Local Life It’s amazing how much history can be packed into just a few lines of plain text: Simplicity at Its Best: Long before website URLs, QR codes, or 10-digit phone numbers, all Abel Jennings needed to advertise his services was his name, his trade, and a short 3-digit phone extension ( 184-3 ). Craftsmanship and Pride: Calling himself a "Painter and Decorator" reflects the classic pride of mid-20th-century local artis...
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Wells, Masons, & Septic Tanks: A 1934 Little Compton Flashback to Stephen B. Wilber & Sons

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Back when phone numbers were two digits long. 📞 Stephen B. Wilber & Sons advertising their services in the 1934 Summer Locater . Flipping through the pages of the 1934 Summer Locater —published by The Little Compton Village Improvement Society—offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in town nearly a century ago. Among the vintage advertisements for local small business owners is this straightforward, understated ad for Stephen B. Wilber & Sons . Essential Local Services While today we rely on multi-digit direct dialing, websites, and email, life in 1934 Little Compton was a bit different. If you needed essential stonework, drainage, or modern plumbing infrastructure, you'd pick up the phone, reach the local operator, and ask for Tel. 81 . The ad highlights core services essential for building and maintaining homes in coastal Rhode Island: Wells: Crucial infrastructure for 1930s homeowners, providing a service that remains just as essential in Little Compton today....
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