The following was submitted by The Town Crier, the official voice of the Little Compton 350th anniversary committee:

It is known that Native Americans in the eastern United States developed techniques to steam clams.  Contrary to legend, though, the colonists did not learn about cooking clams from the Native Americans.  The colonists fed clams to their animals, not considering it an acceptable food to consume, except during times of famine!

Clambakes, as we know them, were developed in the United States after the American Revolution, but exploded in popularity after the Civil war. Many Rhode Islanders were operating clambake pavilions at that time (there was a clambake pavilion at Sakonnet Point (The Clam House) available for those who dis-embarked from the steamships Awashonks, Queen City and The Islander, that brought folks to the “country”).  The first published clambake recipe credited Rhode Island as the origin, however clambakes soon spread throughout New England and other parts of the country, since at this time railroads were carrying fresh Atlantic seafood on ice from New York throughout the Midwest.

The First Baptist (Old Stone Church), right on the border of Adamsville and Tiverton, began their famous clambakes in 1864. In a 1936 newspaper article, David Wilbur Simmons, then 94, said that he dug two bushels of clams from the Sakonnet River for the first clambake at the church. He said his brother-in-law asked him to help “put up a clambake” since the church membership had decided two weeks earlier that this would be a good idea, in place of their usual ice cream parties. Philip Gray also dug two bushels, and Solomon Wilbur dug four bushels. Mr. Simmons remembered when “well-nigh of 1400 people sat down for the bake.”  He said he guessed it was dying out now, because that year only 565 people attended!

The clambakes were held in the pine grove behind the parsonage and church. People came from miles away in their horse-drawn vehicles, making it a reunion type of occasion. On the day of the 72nd clambake people were there from Marlboro, New York City, Providence, Boston, and other distant points, in addition to the locals. Years before a huge tent was erected, but that wore out and a pavilion was built. The bake was served on six long tables, and the tables themselves had rules and regulations. Each table had a manager, and that management was handed down in the family: For instance, Evelyn Hart was the manager of table number one, having succeeded her mother, Mrs. Lilly Simmons. Also, the tickets were numbered, as well as the seats, so there was no arguing about where to sit: Your ticket was #1, you sat at space #1. Abe Quick stated in “Remembering Adamsville” by the Little Compton Historical Society that it was a big experience working at one of those tables. “You thought you were king of the crew.”

The last pre-war clambake at Stone Church was in 1941.  They did try to bring them back many years later, but with little success.

Another fairly local long-time clambake is the one held every year by the Allen’s Neck Quakers (Friends) in Dartmouth, Ma. on the third Thursday in August. This event began in 1888 and continues still. This year the event is on August 21 and is already sold out.

In Little Compton and surrounding towns, the Little Compton Game Club members have become the clambake masters. From gathering rockweed and the perfect stones, chopping enough wood to build the necessary fire, procuring and preparing the groceries needed to feed over 450 people, these Game Club members have it all down to a science.

The Little Compton Game Club was founded in 1937 with 100 charter members! President was Robert Snow, Vice-President was Nathan Wilbur, Secretary and Treasurer was Lester Wilbur, and the Executive Board comprised Harry Pierce and Leroy Wordell.  The dues were $2 per year for active members, and 50 cents per year for associate members. The purpose of the organization was “to promote interest in legitimate sport with rod and gun, conservation and protection of wild life, and to encourage, promote, and cooperate in the protection, conservation, and distribution of fish and game, and to work for constructive and consistent legislation in the direction of social purposes.”

The Game Club members serve up several clambakes every year, as well as other specialty dinners in order to fundraise to uphold the tenets of their founders, and aid the community.

They have kindly offered to prepare an old- fashioned clambake as part of LC350’s celebration this year of Little Compton’s 350th birthday. The clambake will be held on Sunday, August 3.  Tickets for the ‘bake may be purchased at LC350’s store in the north end of the Brownell House, open Fridays from 3-6, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10-1.

By the time you arrive the BAKEMASTERS will already have picked rockweed from the beach, chosen the perfect round stones necessary to radiate heat during the cooking process, dug the area for the stone, chopped enough wood to cook the ‘bake, peeled hundreds of pounds of vegetables, prepared the bake bags with individual servings of vegetables plus clams, chourico, sausage, hot dogs, and lit the wood fire which will burn until the stones are glowing hot. The wood ashes are swept off the stones and raked between them to form an insulating bed.  The wet seaweed is placed over the stones, and the flats of food are added. Everything is quickly covered with a drenched tarp to cause the bake to steam until done. Exhausting work, done the same way our forefathers did – preserving history, and bringing it to the future – lest we forget.

Clambakes: Here’s where to get yours

Two clambakes are coming up in Little Compton; one at the ‘Village Green’ in Adamsville Saturday, the other in early August, as part of the town’s 350th celebration:

• Saturday, July 5

Saturday’s “Bake at Beer Field,” by Compton Clambakes, will be held at the ‘Village Green,’ 26 Main St., Adamsville. It runs from noon to 8 p.m. The bake benefits the Tomorrow Fund for children with cancer, at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, as well as the Izzy Foundation. It runs in memory of Thomas Harrington.

Food is served at 4 p.m., and pre-ordered tickets are $55, or $75 with a lobster. Entry is free, with live music, additional food and drink, and more. While the clambake is expected to sell out, entry is free and there will be additional food and drink options.

The clambake follows a July 4 celebration at the same venue Friday, which includes food, drink, a live country band and a dunk tank. Call 424-beer for more info.

•The Game Club will prepare a clambake as part of LC350’s celebration of Little Compton’s 350th birthday on Sunday, August 3. Tickets may be purchased at LC350’s store in the north end of the Brownell House, open Fridays from 3-6, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10-1.