Then and Now


Clubhouse and tennis courts, Christmas Cove, ca. 1910

Clubhouse and tennis courts, Christmas Cove, ca. 1910
Item 79552   info
South Bristol Historical Society

SELECT "LIST VIEW" TO SEE THE "THEN" AND "NOW" PHOTOS IN SEQUENCE.

PAIR 1 - THEN

Christmas Cove Improvement Association clubhouse and tennis courts, around 1910. The west side of Christmas Cove can be seen in the background,


The CCIA Clubhouse and tennis courts, looking northwest.

The CCIA Clubhouse and tennis courts, looking northwest.
Item 81749   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 1 - NOW

NOW: The CCIA building remains much the same except for an additions on the south, or left end, the first of which was made around 1913.

A small office was added on some 30 years later.

The tennis courts have been rebuilt several times, but always on the same spot. They were covered for the winter when this photo was taken.

Second Holly Inn, Christmas Cove, ca. 1917

Second Holly Inn, Christmas Cove, ca. 1917
Item 79554   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 2 - THEN

This is the view from in front of the CCIA clubhouse east toward the Holly Inn.

The building on the left was the Christmas Cove post office.

The red-roofed building on the right was probably the dormitory for the staff.

View across the CCIA tennis courts toward Holly Inn site, 2013

View across the CCIA tennis courts toward Holly Inn site, 2013
Item 81760   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 2 - NOW

The post office building still stands, though no longer a post office. It is obscured, however, by another building between the tennis courts and the post office that is presently used as housing for CCIA staff.

There is no longer a summer hotel on the hill and a private residence stands on part of the old Holly Inn foundation.

Christmas Cove, the Holly Inn and the Boston Yacht Club, ca. 1917

Christmas Cove, the Holly Inn and the Boston Yacht Club, ca. 1917
Item 79553   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 3 - THEN

The 100-room "New" Holly Inn, built in 1908 after fire destroyed the original building, can be seen across Christmas Cove.

The boats of Boston Yacht Club members are moored in the Cove during their summer cruise.

Looking toward the site of three Holly Inns, Christmas Cove, 2013

Looking toward the site of three Holly Inns, Christmas Cove, 2013
Item 81753   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 3 - NOW

There is no longer a big hotel across the Cove, and though in the summer there would be many boats moored there, this early spring photo shows an empty harbor.

Russell House and cottages, Christmas Cove, ca.1936

Russell House and cottages, Christmas Cove, ca.1936
Item 79559   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 4 - THEN

The Russell House was one of the first hotels at Christmas Cove.

The owners, Albion P. and Hannah Gamage first took in boarders around 1890 and later enlarged their home, naming it Russell House.

Looking toward the Russell House site, from Tea Island, 2013

Looking toward the Russell House site, from Tea Island, 2013
Item 81754   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 4 - NOW

This photo was taken from a vantage point somewhat closer than the "then" image above, but it shows clearly that there is no longer an inn on the site.

The house to the far right of the Inn, with the barn-style roof, still exists and can be seen through the trees, behind the flag pole.

Coveside Inn, Christmas Cove, ca. 1980

Coveside Inn, Christmas Cove, ca. 1980
Item 79560   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 5 - THEN

The Russell House was renamed "Coveside Inn" in 1940 and continued to serve summer visitors until 2006.


Item 81736   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 5 - NOW

Where the Coveside Inn once stood, there is now a lawn, and new homes are being built elsewhere on the site.

Demolition underway at the Thompson Inn, South Bristol, ca. 1960

Demolition underway at the Thompson Inn, South Bristol, ca. 1960
Item 79562   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 6 - THEN

The Thompson Inn had been fixture in South Bristol village from the 1890s until the early 1960s, but most of the building was demolished around 1960.

By then the Inn, which had grown larger and larger over the years, was no longer a viable business.

All that is left of the old Thompson Inn, 2013

All that is left of the old Thompson Inn, 2013
Item 81759   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 6 - NOW

The original homestead of Ada Thompson McFarland and her husband Eliphalet is all that remains of the Thompson Inn.

Original shed at the Gamage boatyard, South Bristol, ca. 1930

Original shed at the Gamage boatyard, South Bristol, ca. 1930
Item 79583   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 7 - THEN

The A & M Gamage Shipyard was established in 1871 on the northwest side of South Bristol harbor.

The sheds used then were smaller and much of the boat building was done outside, but the large shed in this image is on the same site.

Gamage Shipyard and Marina, 2013

Gamage Shipyard and Marina, 2013
Item 81755   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 7 - NOW

The Gamage Shipyard remains on the same site today, though boats are no longer being built there.

A modern marina and storage facility continues the maritime tradition.

Packing lobsters at Farrin's Wharf, South Bristol, ca. 1973

Packing lobsters at Farrin's Wharf, South Bristol, ca. 1973
Item 79584   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 8 - THEN

This photo of the docks on the eastern side of South Bristol show the bustling maritime activity that has always characterized South Bristol, even before it became a separate town in 1915.

Fishing boats at Osier's dock, 2013

Fishing boats at Osier's dock, 2013
Item 81758   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 8 - NOW

Today, not much has changed at the same location - some larger boats, but others much the same.

Wooden lobster traps, South Bristol, ca. 1978

Wooden lobster traps, South Bristol, ca. 1978
Item 79585   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 9 - THEN

Learning how to rig a wooden lobster trap was an important skill passed on from father to son well into the 1970s.

In this photo, Lewis Kelsey Sr. shows his grandson Lewis the way it is done on the family dock on the mainland at South Bristol.

Lobster traps ready to be put out, South Bristol 2013

Lobster traps ready to be put out, South Bristol 2013
Item 81757   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 9 - NOW

Another Lewis Kelsey, father of the young Lewis in the photo above, stands on the same dock in South Bristol.

Now the traps are no longer wooden, but made of plastic-covered wire.

An early bridge across "The Gut," South Bristol, ca. 1900

An early bridge across "The Gut," South Bristol, ca. 1900
Item 79589   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 10 - THEN

Crossing the narrow passage between mainland South Bristol and Rutherford's Island has played a major part in South Bristol's history.

While still a part of the Town of Bristol, keeping the bridge in working order was a major source of contention.

The view south from near the bridgetender's house, South Bristol, 2013

The view south from near the bridgetender's house, South Bristol, 2013
Item 81746   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 10 - NOW

The large building across the bridge in both pictures has changed little on the outside in the intervening years, but is now a private residence instead of a general store.

The bridge, however, has undergone many changes.

South Bristol village from a distance, 1910

South Bristol village from a distance, 1910
Item 79597   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 11 - THEN

This image illustrates one of the reasons for dissatisfaction with being a part of the large town of Bristol - residents of South Bristol felt their roads did not receive the same attention as roads elsewhere in Bristol.

This road was the main thoroughfare from the north to Rutherford's Island.

Looking south toward the bridge across the Gut, South Bristol, 2013

Looking south toward the bridge across the Gut, South Bristol, 2013
Item 81744   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 11 - NOW

The house that appears in the center of the image above remains today, but is barely visible because of other buildings erected in the years since 1910.

Many more trees have grown, further obscuring the view toward the harbor.

 Looking north toward the bridge and mainland, South Bristol, ca. 1926

Looking north toward the bridge and mainland, South Bristol, ca. 1926
Item 81747   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 12 - THEN

South Bristol's commercial activity was clustered on both sides of the bridge which connected Rutherford's Island to the mainland and the rest of the town.

The black steel superstructure of the bridge built in 1921 can be seen in the center of the image.

Looking toward the bridge from the north, South Bristol 2013

Looking toward the bridge from the north, South Bristol 2013
Item 81745   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 12 - NOW

The same view today shows that several of earlier buildings remain, though none house commercial operations any longer.

The green railings of the present bridge are visible in the center.

Third bridge over the "Gut," South Bristol, ca.1926

Third bridge over the "Gut," South Bristol, ca.1926
Item 79588   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 13 - THEN

This image shows the steel draw bridge across the Gut not long before it came crashing down in 1929 when one of the chains holding the counterweights in place broke loose.

The swing bridge at the 'Gut', South Bristol, 2013

The swing bridge at the 'Gut', South Bristol, 2013
Item 81748   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 13 - NOW

The swing bridge which spans the gut in 2013 is more modest in size and aspect.

The building across the bridge can be seen in both images, but it has been substantially altered over the years.

S Road School class, Bristol, 1914

S Road School class, Bristol, 1914
Item 79576   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 14 - THEN

The S Road School was one of several one-room schools in the South Bristol area of Bristol. South Bristol residents felt their schools were neglected in favor of schools located nearer the center of Bristol.

Teacher Sarah Emery was responsible for the education of students in grades 1 through 8 in the tiny school.

South Bristol School grades 5 & 6 at the S Road School, 2013

South Bristol School grades 5 & 6 at the S Road School, 2013
Item 81751   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 14 - NOW

Standing beside the now restored S Road School, Jason Bigonia's 5th and 6th grades pose for their class photo in 2013 just as Miss Emery's students did in 1914.

Lincoln School and Union Church, South Bristol, ca. 1915

Lincoln School and Union Church, South Bristol, ca. 1915
Item 79572   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 15 - THEN

AT the time of South Bristol became a town in 1915, the Union Church stood at the top of the hill up from the bridge; the Lincoln School, an elementary school, was just down the hill.

Former high school building, seen from near the church.

Former high school building, seen from near the church.
Item 81750   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 15 - NOW

The red-roofed building in the distance is the former Lincoln School, which began as an elementary school and later became the town's high school.

The church can be seen through the trees on the right having been moved some distance west from its original location.

South Bristol High School, 1937

South Bristol High School, 1937
Item 79578   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 16 - THEN

Many South Bristol residents were determined that the town should have its own high school, and in 1929 that goal was achieved. The first senior class graduated in 1931.

Former South Bristol High School building, 2013

Former South Bristol High School building, 2013
Item 81752   info
South Bristol Historical Society

PAIR 16 - NOW

The high school building looks much the same, but has been a private residence since not long after it closed its doors for the last time in 1962.

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