Spotlight on East Greenwich

East Greenwich is one of the really lovely towns here in Rhode Island to live, work and play. Nestled right in the middle of the state, not too far from the beaches, Providence, or even Boston. There is a beautiful waterfront with ample boat parking and a public dock for fishing and eating. The classic and charming main street is lined with shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. There is something to eat, see and do pretty much all year long as well as fantastic schools and a wonderful sense of community.

History

East Greenwich was incorporated on October 31, 1677 and is the 8th oldest town in the state. The town has a long and rich history, with no shortage of historic homes and buildings throughout. A couple of interesting ones are the East Greenwich Odeum and Windmill Cottage. The Odeum was originally known as The Greenwich Theatre and was founded in 1926 as a Vaudeville House. Today you can catch a classic movie, play or live music show at the Odeum, which is a 100% volunteer run theatre. Windmill Cottage was originally built in 1818. It got its name in 1860 when famous American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, attached an actual windmill to a house for his good friend, George Washington Greene. He gave this unusual house to his friend as a gift. Windmill Cottage is still standing today.

Events and Community

Every summer you can enjoy Main Street Strolls in East Greenwich. They are on Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm and feature live music along with the lively shops and restaurants along the street. Each one has a different theme; “Dogs on Main”, “Arts on Main/ Chalk the Block.” “Music on Main” and “Taste of EG” are still coming up this summer! In past years, the Association of East Greenwich has held free outdoor movie nights throughout the summer at Academy Field as well as various parades and concerts. Nearby State Park; Goddard Park, holds a Farmers Market every Friday from 9am-1pm from May through October.

If you are thinking about calling East Greenwich home you have a lot of incredible options! I have highlighted a couple of properties currently on the market below.

Old Farm Middle Hollow Neighborhood

This Manor style home at 3 Old Farm Road is truly turn key and has 4 Bedrooms and 5 Bathrooms. Asking $2,400,000

Quail River Neighborhood

35 River Run was designed by Architect Richard Morris and sits on 2.15 lush acres. 4 Beds, 6 Bathrooms and over 6,000 square feet including a sunroom with an inground pool! Asking $1,050,000

Please contact Lisa Pagano at lisa.pagano@mottandchace.com or 401.447.9505 to view any of these or similar homes.

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My Watch Hill

My Summer Home in Watch Hill

Ro An Ro House circa 1970

From 1956 to 1975 my maternal grandparents owned and managed a guest house on 5 Bay Street in Watch Hill.  The Ro An Ro House (an abbreviation of the first names of the ladies of the family) was truly magical for me.  Its entry was met with a massive, mahogany staircase leading to 17 distinctive guest rooms, with or without bathrooms, but all filled with glorious antiques acquired over the years.  As a child, we welcomed guests each summer from neighboring Connecticut and New York, and Florida.  Ladies roamed the village in Lily Pulitzer-esque dresses and gentlemen in Madras blazers and Bermuda shorts.  The main storefront of the guest house was owned by Palm Beach socialite and clothing designer, Tat Saunders, whose sophisticated apparel and accessory designs were perfect for summer parties around the “cottages” and Watch Hill Yacht Club fetes.

Tat Saunders Designs

My earliest memories of this summer childhood paradise started in the mid to late 60’s.  My parents would take my siblings and me down “the beach” where we lived in an adjacent addition to the house.  My brother, cousins and I would slide down the staircase on our rear-ends and greeted all the visitors.   We got to know all the guests and summer regulars who came back year after year.  These folks became part of our extended family.  There was the couple from Waterbury, CT, Ralph and Doris, who drove up each Memorial Day in their mint, white convertible Cadillac with fire engine red interior.  It had a horn that when “honked” played a musical jingle as they cruised around town.  Tat Saunders would live in the premium suite as she ran the store below.  My grandmother had her daily needs ingrained. Breakfast was a perfect soft-boiled egg served in a delicate egg cup along with her toast which had to be sliced in 4 columns, not squares. She would take her tea at 2pm sharp, no exceptions.

20 Plimpton, asking $4.4 million.

2 Ninigret, asking $6.2 million.

31 Pasadena, asking $4.4 million.

Watch Hill back then, and to some extent even now, conveyed simple elegance.  It was modest, less traveled than the flashier Newport, Hamptons or Cape Cod.  The homes were expansive to accommodate generations of families, but not ostentatious, built to reflect the simple charm of New England with shingles weathered over time.  The village featured a modest row of ever-changing storefronts, selling gifts and beach attire, but The Candy Box, Bait & Tackle, St. Clair Ice Cream Shop, and the Olympia Tea Room returned every summer.  The Tea Room was the only “fine” restaurant in the village, and was a regular jaunt for our summer guests, village residents and those coming to shore from their yachts after a day’s sail.  And the main attraction for us back then was the Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round, said to be the oldest continuously operating carousel in America, surviving even the deadly hurricane of 1938.

Best of Watch Hill

We walked to East Beach each day, riding the waves all afternoon until we couldn’t breathe, and sun-tanned (no sunscreen back then) until our skin hurt.  Home for a quick shower and dinner outside—usually macaroni and meatballs.  We are Italian-American, and everyone knows there is nothing better than Grandma’s pasta enjoyed al-fresco after a day on the beach.

After dinner, we leisurely strolled the Watch Hill Village for a couple of rides on the Carousel, eagerly hoping to catch the gold ring for a free ride.  On the way back we stopped by St. Clair Annex for homemade ice cream while admiring the massive yellow waterfront hotel, Ocean House.  The “grown-ups” would often go there to dance to live bands on the ballroom veranda, until the hotel was literally crumbling and rumored to be a serious fire trap. When I see its grandeur today, I am grateful for it having been elegantly restored and enjoying its newer majestic life in full swing.

The Ro An Ro was sold in 1975, and now stands as the Watch Hill Harbour House.  My grandparents remained in the area, and have since passed, but my family and I return each summer and reminisce. My son grew up enjoying the carousel, homemade ice cream and the beach.  My dear friend from Brooklyn takes the Amtrak up to Westerly Station on Saturdays, where I pick her up in time for brunch at the Cooked Goose.  We head to the beach and then enjoy the sunsets from the Olympia Tea Room veranda over fresh pasta and a bottle of Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc.  I’m thankful the restaurant has weathered the ages with grace. 

I am truly grateful for the sweet memories of my youth in the village of Watch Hill.  It represents family, natural beauty, and general sense of well-being.  It’s become more popular over the years, but to me it will always be classic and sweet.  Enchanting, really.

The original sign was lovingly restored in 2019 by Jayson Salvi in Providence.