Squantum Association


The Squantum Association is a private club in East Providence, Rhode Island on 947 Veterans Memorial Parkway. Its Colonial Revival building was constructed in 1870 by Martin & Hall and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

History

Squantum is a Native American word for "heap of rocks," a musical name for a handsome peninsula where Indians enjoyed the fruits of the bay. By the mid-1800s, clipper ships gathered here and word spread of its uniqueness and beauty. In 1870, two groups of local men purchased Squantum Point to serve as a gathering spot to perfect their clambake.
The first clubhouse, built in June 1871, was a simple open-framed pavilion. In 1872 the Squantum Association was incorporated and permanent clubhouses were erected with the richness of detail that characterized fine period architecture.
The Main Club House, built in 1872 overlooking the entrance to the cove, features ornate woodwork, polished brass, luxuriant drapery, an artisan stone foundation and a sunroom with southerly views of the bay. The Bakehouse was built out over the rocky coastline in 1889, and provides views of the Providence River and Narragansett Bay.
The membership of the Squantum Association has been traditionally drawn from leading citizens of Rhode Island.