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"a village within a village - the evolution from an Inn to a Residential Condominium Apartment Complex" |
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HISTORY |
 VIEW OF WATCH HILL HISTORIC BUSINESS AREA |
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In the 1600's, the
"Niantics", a Narragansett Indian Tribe,
lived on this beautiful piece of land. The colonists used it as a lookout
point during the French and Revolutionary wars. As a result, this
lookout post was named Watch Hill. In the 19th century, the Federal Government
purchased the land for $500,000.
In 1806, the famous and historic Watch Hill Light House was built. About 90 years later, Jonathan Nash, the village's first lighthouse keeper, started to rent rooms in his house, and so the first hotel was born.. With the extension of the railroad in the late 1830's from Boston to neighboring Stonington, developers realized that the area with its natural beauty could be a prime destination resort. By the turn of the
20th century, there were seven sumptuous
hotels on the water's edge. Also, at this time the first "summer cottages"
were built by a syndicate of Cincinnati industrialists. By 1920, most
of the Watch Hill cottages that stand today had been constructed by people
from such places as Philadelphia and St. Louis.
The seclusion of the resort attracted the rich and famous:
Isadora Duncan, Clark Gable, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Mary Pickford, Andrew Mellon
and Henry Ford. In 2003, a tragic event occurred in West Warwick, Rhode Island in which 100 young patrons of The Station night club perished in a fire that was caused by pyrotechnic incendiary effects promoted by the rock band performing at the establishment. As a result, the State of Rhode Island made drastic changes to the Fire Codes placing old structures in jeopardy of extinction if Code conformity was not achieved by July 2005. This was an introspective moment in time for Watch Hill as the two remaining hotels faced an unforeseen challenge. The Watch Hill Inn purchase by New York architect and real estate developer, Peter Catalano in December 1985, for his wife Dana Valery as a Christmas present, was faced with the possibility of demolition or restoration. They elected to close the Inn in November 2005 which for 20 years catered to local weddings, restaurant diners, and annual year round boarders in the 20 room historic building. The decision to convert the Inn to a residential one and two bedroom condominium apartment complex complete with modern kitchens, set the stage for the re-birth of the Watch Hill Community to echo its glory days. The oldest historic Watch Hill hotel was about to give up its status as a hotel and set the stage for luxury residences in the center of Watch Hill Village. The collaboration of Peter Catalano, RGB Architects, and the Historical Preservation Commission, enabled the owner to keep the exterior structure intact with minor modifications while gutting and causing a total rehab of the interior. Simultaneously, Peter Catalano who owned the adjacent one acre parking lot, envisioned a set of buildings that would compliment the historic Watch Hill Inn. He constructed a 20 studio apartment complex and expanded an existing 1915 three story residential apartment building with retail shop on Bay Street to include an additional shop with studio apartment above and connected to the residential structure. Introduced as the Bayside Inn, a separate and independent business venture, the completion in 2007 highlighted a new Bay Street skyline with continuous horizontal lines penetrated by dormered windows, a Watch Hill architectural feature. As a result of the two massive renovations, a "village within a village" was created. The three white independent buildings look and act like one "gated community", however, some apartment owners opted to participate in a cooperative rental program owned and operated by the managing agent Watch Hill Properties LLC located on Bay Street. No longer a hotel, the name "Watch Hill Inn" was adopted by the managing agent to rent condo apartments in a manner similar to renting private homes. The ability for tourists to come and live in Watch Hill had been preserved, although on a limited yet upscale basis. The evolution of the Watch Hill Inn Apartment complex added real estate tax base to the Town of Westerly and the Watch Hill Fire District making it possible to upgrade the infrastructure and green areas along the waterfront. During this renaissance period of rebirth, the Ocean House was sold and completely demolished. Chuck Royce, local developer and philanthropist, pioneered the acquisition of the property and set out to replicate most of the original building with a northerly extension component. While the historic value of the Ocean House is not longer a reality, it is expected that the new building with condo apartments, hotel rooms, banquet and spa facilities, will once again dominate the Atlantic Ocean skyline and added additional height and character above the Watch Hill Inn complex skyline on Bay Street and Little Narraganset Bay. The Ocean House plans to open to the public in Summer 2010 offering upscale high end amenities. Today, Watch Hill is still an exclusive and fashionable destination resort and one of the best kept secrets in the Northeast. Traveling along winding roads past mansions built as summer cottages, you will arrive at the village of Watch Hill. This charming village, with its small quiet Business District located on Bay Street, features quaint shops, antique stores, and boasts the oldest flying horse carousel in the United States. Watch Hill, situated at the southwest tip of Rhode Island on Little Narragansett Bay, is surrounded by white sandy beaches. Napatree Beach, stretching into the Bay, is a popular spot for bird watchers, saltwater anglers, and sun worshipers alike. The remains of an old Spanish American fort one and a half miles at the very end, is a special attraction for those who wish to just stroll along the stretch of beach. Facing west over Little Narragansett Bay, Watch Hill boasts one of the best sunset views on the East Coast. Because Watch Hill is located midway between historical Mystic Seaport and the mansions of Newport, it is a perfect pivotal point for Spring, Summer, and Fall excursions. In the Fall, a long winding drive along little traveled roads lined with brilliant Fall foliage will take you past shops offering home made cider and the ancient art of wine making in the Connecticut countryside. Whatever the reason, Watch Hill is central enough to offer
something to everyone. |
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HILL INN 38 Bay Street Watch Hill, Rhode Island 02891 Hotel Office 401.348.6300 Management Office 401.315.5454 CONTACT US Copyright © Watch Hill Inn. All rights reserved. |