Yesterday was the first day of summer.
Today is the last day of school.
Soon, we’ll see scenes like this at Compo Beach.
Well, sort of.
Westport artist Stevan Dohanos used our beach as the inspiration for this painting.
I’m not sure if the Good Humor man was ever allowed to hang out where he did.
But the raft is totally legit.
Back in the 1950s and early ’60s, several of them were anchored off shore.
Kids did actually what the models are doing in Dohanos’ work. And a lot more.
Which is probably why there are no more rafts in the waters off Compo Beach today.
What I miss most about Compo Beach (from the 60s) is The Pavilion. Joey’s is great … but The Pavilion was the best. Does anyone else remember it? THE best cheeseburgers in the world — the smell of which as they cooked on real grills with flames was so scrumptious, and you could smell them for blocks because The Pavilion was open on 2 (or was it 3?) sides. The milkshakes were great too. And oh! those gorgeous young guys doing the grilling! 🙂
Bring back the rafts‼️👍🏼👍🏼😎
Bring back the rafts‼️👍🏼👍🏼😎
Those great hamburgers (and grilled onions) were thanks to ‘Chubby’ Lane. Our kids, now in their 50’s and 60’s remember his place on the Post Rd also and often speak of those burgers.
I remember the rafts in the ’40s and yes, bring them back but I guess the town doesn’t want the liability.
I’m so glad someone remembers those burgers! They ruined me for any others. I eventually quit eating meat altogether! 😉
Those rafts in the early 50’s were terrific fun sad the safety rules had to remove them. But once in a while coming up underneath one while horsing around was dangerous.
You sure that was inspired by Compo? Looks more like the neighborhood beach at Covelee and Norport Dr. The Good Humor man definitely did hang out that close. And there is still a raft there, as there was in the 50s.
While we’re on the subject, here’s what else I miss: transistor radios on the beach. They couldn’t play very loud so they never bothered anyone … and you’d be walking to or from The Pavilion hearing snippets of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” or “Cathy’s Clown” or “Duke of Earl” …
It was always a party!
Found some pics, and definitely think it is the Covelee Beach. I know Dohanos reworked his scenes for his SEP covers, but this would require way too much rearranging, even for this artist. Raft is too small and close to shore, there is no place at Compo where the background features would appear so open, flat and empty, beach was all rocks in those days, and never mind the Good Humor man, the cars are way too close to the action. All of the above details, however, fit the Covelee beach to a tee. Check it out; it is still much the same.
Perhaps Stevan’s son Anthony knows the inspiration for this painting. I didn’t know the Covelee beach even existed. (I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.)
Is this a public beach with parking?
Nope: private beach of the Covelee Association. We lived at 12 Covelee Drive, when what is now Bermuda Lagoon and surrounding development was all salt marsh.
I remember diving off the rafts and the great burgers at Chubby’s.
ahhhh! The rafts. We used to love to swim out to them.
Perhaps the Dohanos painting depicts Covelee?but the rafts were definitely at Compo as I never went to Covelee and I was too small to get out to the rafts and had to settle for watching the
big kids while I made sand castles with my pail and shovel
Peter is correct about the rocks; there was barely any sand to be found on Compo in those days.