Little Compton
Settled by the English in the 17th century, Little Compton, with three sides to the sea, offers 23 square miles comprised of stone-wall bound farms, woodland, marshes, beaches, comfortable summer houses all connected by tree lined, winding roads. A population of 3,500 occupies the town stretching from Sakonnet Point to the town center, The Commons and to the far east, the village of Adamsville. Its Native American history includes the Sagonate tribe, which was one of thirty tribes comprising the Wampanoag Tribe. Little Compton was home to Queen Awashonks and later King Phillip of the King Phillips war.
The Commons
The commons serves the town with school, church, town hall, post office, library, restaurant, stores, recreational facilities and offices. It is very much the town’s gathering place. The commons is unique in the state of RI as a village that both serves as a whole town’s focus and retains much of its historical setting, buildings and function. A historical cometary in the middle of commons is the burial grounds to many public figures of area throughout history.
Adamsville
Adamsville, called the “Valley of Sin” back when rum running dory men rowed their hooch ashore, lies at the head of west branch of the Westport River. It came into being more than 200 years ago, nurtured by a grist mill. The village center, with lamp post along the streets and duck pond, includes two general stores, two eateries, a gift shop and a post office.
Adamsville also boasts the world’s only monument to a Rooster. Just near the baseball diamond you will find a bronze tablet commemorating the birthplace of the Rhode Island Red breed of fowl, which were originally bred in this area and became popular throughout the world.
Despite the recent loss of Abraham’s General Store to a fire, much of the early historic buildings remain. In addition to several early houses, there is the former Odd Fellows “Electra Lodge”, Grays Grist Mill, Gray’s General Store, and an early Water Tower just off Old Harbor Road.