Over 100 years ago, the world was embroiled in war. Still — like us, 4 months ago in December — no one had any idea what lay ahead.
Seth VanBeever is a 4th-generation Westporter. In 1916 and ’17, his great-grandfather was diligently making payments to his Christmas Club account.
What’s a Christmas Club? It’s an account customers pay into weekly, to have enough money in December for presents. They’re still around, amazingly.)
Also in 1916, Seth’s great-grandfather plunked down $5 for a summer bathhouse at Compo Beach.
If all you know about those bathhouses are the current wooden ones by the pavilion, think again.
Here’s a photo shared on Facebook by Maureen Driscoll of her relatives, circa 1931. The bathhouse — in the background — looks pretty grand.
Here are other views, from other years:
The 2020 bathhouses cost a lot more than they did in 1916. Hey — you should put your money in a Bathhouse Club!