Frank Vibberts

A long tradition a 1920 and a 1912 invitation to the Drunkard Cove’s Yacht Club clambake

Gay Moore, Max Moore, Sandy Low, Denny Cutler (Prudy Pease Cutler's husband), Marty Moore.

Ed Conlin, James Cagney, Sandy Low

According to Harthaven historian, John Moore, the clambakes began as family picnics, often after a sail to Lambert’s Cove or to Tarpaulin Cove (on Naushon island).

“After exploring island trails and swimming,” John writes, “they would settle down to drinks and lunch. A “bartender” at one of these forays was a good friend of Sandy and Ginny (Hart) Low’s, Thomas Hart Benton (no relation)... The clambakes were usually held the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. “This not only reflected the sociability of the family and friends of Harthaven, it was a means of raising money for harbor maintenance. Originally these were the real thing, complete with fire pits lined with beach rocks. A large bonfire was built in this pit to heat the rocks. When deemed ready, the coals were raked out and seaweed was tossed onto the red hot stones along with sundry delicacies from sea and field. Many members of the community pitched in, preparing mountains of food, setting up tables and benches and, of course, a well stocked bar. By the time all the Harts, Moores, Peases, Eddys, Abbes, Youngs, Frisbies, Vibberts, Stanleys, Russells, Upsons, Hydes, Grandfields, Rathbones, McDowells, Lows, Hookers, Boardmans, Clarks, Conlins, Prizers, Everetts, Stevens and others arrived, they were usually more than ready for a most social time of eating and drinking... and for saying goodbye to another idyllic summer.”

Anyone know who these folks are?

Ginnie Low - toast

Kim Hart (with beer) - Gill Russell is to the right of Kim Hart.

Steve Dohanos, Phronsie Conlin, Jack Vibberts

1992 -  (above) Jed Conlin and Carol Jann

1975 (below) “many hands” make short work

Alice Moore

“The Harthaven Clambakes! For very good reason, viz., the amount of alcohol consumed, kids under the age of 18 weren't allowed to attend. When I was 16 or 17, however, Ted enlisted me and cousin Ben Moore to help. There was a tremendous amount of work

involved. Many of the community pitched in, shucking corn, peeling potatoes, wrapping pieces of swordfish in cabbage leaves, hauling tables, benches, cooking equipment, food and booze, etc. over to the beach just north of the harbor entrance. When the clambake started, I was to pick people up at the dock by Walter Hart's house in Ted's Susie Q and ferry them out around the harbor entrance close to shore. My passengers then disembarked into a rowboat manned by Ben, who then took them the rest of the way into shore. Many of our passengers had obviously got a head start on the festivities; they were very merry!

Out of nowhere appeared a large yacht, belonging to James Cagney. He was a good friend of Ginny and Sandy Low and had been invited to several clambakes over the years. Ben and I were dispatched to the yacht where James and his guests were to load themselves into the rowboat. I was to follow them as Ben rowed to shore. One of Cagney's guest's, an attractive young woman, was about the first to climb down to the rowboat. They had been partying as well and she slipped, plunging into the water. They retrieved her and all eventually made it ashore. When Cagney was rowed in, he insisted I stay right behind them, even when my bow gently touched bottom. He wasn't very nice about it either ... a real tough guy!”

John Moore