BASHING IT! - the Groton Long Point Yacht Club!

Graham Gavert
“FROM THE ARCHIVES”
“How It All Began
THE GLP News”
In issue #7, I addressed the
origins of the Archives. But
GLPʼs history canʼt be written
without discussing the News
itself where so many of our
experiences here at the shore
are captured. There had been
a paper of some kind at the
Point prior, but the News as we
know it today officially started
with Vol. 1, No. 1 on Wednesday,
July 2, 1941. Hereʼs the
announcement:
“Today marks the debut of a
new journalistic force in Groton
Long Point! The Groton Long
Point News, with more news,
more features and more advertising
than any publication hitherto
seen on the Point, makes
its first appearance with this
issue.
“The Groton Long Point News
is sponsored by the Groton
Long Point Yacht Club Inc., and
will be managed by Vice
Commodore W. P. “Sid” Burr
and Howell R. “Big Boy” Geib
who will be assisted by a large
staff of Groton Long Point journalists.
It will appear every
Thomas (Zack) and Lynn
Tsagarakis
860 535-0301
Wednesday during the summer.
“A subscription to the paper is
included with each club membership.
The paper will be
mailed to any place in the
United States. It has finally
been made possible for those
who would like fathers, uncles
etc., to read of their childrenʼs
athletic feats or of any other
news of the Point, to have
another issue sent….
“There are three hundred cottages
on the Point and this year
there will be three hundred
papers printed. If everybody on
the Point doesnʼt join the club
then, of course, it will be necessary
to sell the remainder to
those who didnʼt join. Here
again there is a change. There
will be no more weekly peddling
of the paper, but there will be a
campaign until those children
on the Point who want to earn
some easy money have finished
selling … subscriptions to
the non-members. Here is an
opportunity for those who want
to make some extra spending
money. For every dollar subscription
sold the salesman
gets twenty-five cents, and for
the special fifty center there is a
dime commission. [Note: perhaps
the lower rate was for residents
who didnʼt stay the entire
summer] If you care to take
advantage of this wonderful
offer, see Mr. Burr or come to
the ʻLaurierʼ cottage on the corner
of Shore Avenue and
Venetian Street.”
Today, the News is free and is
dropped off at our doorstep regularly,
on Fridays, by a troop of
friendly and dedicated delivery
people, much like 70+ years
ago. Thanks to our editor,
Luise. and to the young people
for helping to keep us all up to
date with whatʼs happening on
the Point!
New paper deliverer, Quinn Chase
from San Francisco, brought along
his SF Giants world championship
baseball flag for his picture!
Jeffrey Messina RPh
A Full Service
Neighborhood
Pharmacy
(860) 445-6431
Fax (860) 446-0530
116 FORT HILL ROAD, GROTON, 06340
GLP NEWS Page 3
DID YOU
KNOW
KING TOM
King Tom farm in
Charlestown, RI is the former
home of the last Sachem of the
Narragansett tribe. Born in
1736, Thomas Ninigret was
crowned in 1746 with a headdress
of blue and white “peage”
(Wampum beads). Commonly
known as King Tom, the young
King displayed such promise
and ability that Roger Williams
helped to arrange for the boy
King to be sent to England for a
formal education. King Tom
returned to Rhode Island in
1750 with a set of house plans
and built “Sachem House”,
which is now the King Tom
Farm bed and breakfast. The
wainscoting and fine woodwork
were made by craftsmen in
Newport and shipped to
Charlestown. It is said that
King Tom was a “large, fleshy
man” with an “uncommon
appetite for strong drink”. He
slowly sold off the majority of
his thousand acre estate to pay
his debts. King Tom died penniless
and in a 'wretched state”
late in the winter of 1769. It is
said that the day before his
death, he dined in Newport with
the Governor. Sachem House
is only a stoneʼs throw from
Fort Ninigret and Coronation
Rock is also on the farm property.
Coronation Rock had
been used for many centuries
by the Narragansetts in their
coronation ceremonies.
Jon Fuller
David Bell, President
ELC.0125432-E1
Michael Bell
ELC.0197503-E1
201 North Main St.
Stonington, CT 06378
860.572.1180
www.themysticboathouse.com
8 COOGAN BLVD MYSTIC, CT
JOHN HEWES • PROPRIETOR
Independent Investment Management for:
Individuals and Families • Retirement Plans
Foundations and Endowments • Trusts
David K. Laidlaw, Esq., CFA
Managing Director
2 Depot 95 Katonah Plaza, Suite Avenue 202C • Katonah, Bedford New Hills, York NY 10536 10507
Ph. 914.767.0650
www.laidlawgrp.com
D.B. Electric, Inc.
Electrical Contractor
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
call: 860.536.2354
fax: 860.447-3328
P.O. Box 98,Mystic, CT 06355