New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
WATCH HILL CHARMS.
4 Resort Noe for COtt0gcrs as Vel
as Hotel Guests.

Watch Hi. 4. l. June (special).-Among
the popular New England summer resorts SIX
uated along the broad Atlantic Watch HI! has
long been the choice of many seekers FOR a
cool. comfortable and attractive summer abiding
place II affords the purest OF salt sea breezes
and the grandest OF marine scenery
geographically. Watch Hin is long PENN
sula Of lofty elevations. with point shaped
IKE nose protruding into the ocean It's son
is ri,h with verdgre and several small spring
water lakes lie picturesquely ia the valleys
AS hotel resort it has been famous for al
loast a oaurter % a century. but within the
les; decade a cottage colony has sprung up
about the hotels, which now embraces IL
summer residences. six new ones being added
This wear Some of the cottages are Of i'm
pressve proportions. with extensive grounds
and others are of most modest architecture ana
have surroundings well in keeping with their
dainty simplicity; but most Of them are Tar
too large and too elaborate for the simple name
OF cottage The residential district les over
q large stretch Of the hilly peninsula, on the
extreme end of which is a lighthouse, for the
most part further IN from the point than the
hotels It's thorOughfares are beautifully laid
out in park fashion br1cd macadamized roads
coursing about in graceful curves through the
hills There are two small parks, one called
Sunset Hil and the other Sunshine, and both
are on high ground, giving them a commanding
view of the ocean and Little Narragansett Bay,
which occupies 4 portion Of the western border
Close 70 the main point the highland there
is a long sandbar called Napatree Point on
which is situated the government coast defence
fertilization Fort Mansfield
The two big hotels. the ocean House and
the Watch Hill House, are on the highest ground
occupied by buildings and, situated well out
toward the lighthouse point they have a view
commanding the entire sweep Of marine per
spective. From their spacious porches the main
ocean shore leading out to the lighthouse point
which is called East Beach; the bathing beach,
which occupies a sandy ocean strand Of mile
and half between Lighthouse Point and the
fort the end OF Napatree Point, and Is some
what protected 10y these prOtusions Of land, ana
Little Narragansett Bay, may be seen. Ihe
bay view includes the mouth of Long Island
Sound, Fishers Island and Montauk Point. on
the East Beach side Block Island is also plainly
visible nine miles OF shore.
In the past year Watch Hill has had de-
cided boom. The visit Of Admiral Evans's
squadron last August brought il into prom
inence, and it is said that the fleet will anchor
off its shores for several days again this season
Philadelphia syndicate has purchased the
old Larkn House property for cottage sites.
Their plans said be exclusive, including
a clubhouse. All the furnishings of the old
hotel have been sold at auction and the build
ing is to be torn down I'm the fall Some of the
Philadelphians who have already purchased
cottage sites the tract will occupy the build
ing this summer while their cottages are being
erected
Trolley cars run 10 Westerly, a place of
about 5000 population. six miles directly in
land, and steamboats, go to Block Island ana
New London. The trolley road connects at
Westerly with the electric lines to Norwich
and New London by way of Mystic. This pro-
vides a pleasant outing to New London by boat
and back by trolley
Watch Hill has a little business thor
oughfare in Bay street. which along the
bay front and has many interesting shops. The
place derives its name from high mound on
East Beach. from which the Indians that once
occupied the land kept strict watch on the
operations Of rival tribes.
The six new cottagese erected since the close
of last season all have central locations within
short distances from the hotels. Two of them
are cr lots adjoining the Ocean House. Brad
ford Shinlle of Covington KY. built a plot
next 10 Mr. Balantines. opposite the Watch
Hill House. and on the ground formerly occu-
pied by the bowling alley pavilion. Miss S.
Moen, of Boston, selected the land lying be-
tween the new Shinkle house and the Ocean
House. where the athletic field used to be, for
her new cottage. Miss Mary w. Lippincott, of
Wyncote. a suburb Of Philadelphia built on
high ground near Mr.. Joy i'm Everett avenue
These three cottages and the one erected by
F. Kingsbury Curtis of New York next door to
George Y. MacLanahan's West Water, on "A
point extending out into Fosters Cove. are all
large and elaborate houses. The other two
new ones were built by Daniel L. Lyon. of Gin
cinnati. on Meadow Lane. facing the inner bay,
for renting purposes, and are much smaller.