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Minutes from downtown Westerly is the romantic sea village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, which in its hey-day, 1850 – 1910, was known as the Queen of Atlantic Resorts. In 1868, George Nash, son of Jonathan Nash, the lighthouse keeper, opened the newly built Ocean House. At its peak, the hotel boasts over 150 rooms. It was one of the first hotels to be built and the last one to come down in 2005 – after closing in 2003.
One hundred and forty-two years later, on a sunny, warm May 20th, Charles “Chuck” Royce, owner, Ocean House, with his wife, Deborah, and RI Governor Donald Carcieri, and first lady, Sue, commemorated a rebirth by cutting the ribbon at the entrance of a $140M restoration and rebuild of the majestic Ocean House. More than 600 invited guests applauded as the ribbon draped the top step leading up to the main entrance of this icon. With enthusiasm and awe, guests greeted Chuck Royce, a most distinguished looking gentleman wearing a colorful bow tie – thankful for the most gracious invitation to a party that as Attorney Tom Liguori states so well, “Now, we have our own Great Gatsby!”
Dedicated to preserving the Ocean House site as a hotel, Bluff Avenue LLC, a community investment group led by Chuck Royce, Nicholas C. Moore, Donna Simmons and Grant Simmons, formed in 2004. Decades of structural damage determined the fate of the Ocean House was demolition with the objective of rebuilding the hotel to its former grandeur.
Great care was taken to recreate the classic Victorian-era style of the original hotel. Over 5,000 artifacts were salvaged from the hotel and restored or replicated in the new resort, including original fixtures, a reception desk, phone booth, and even a fireplace.
Today, the 152,600 square foot resort includes 49 guest rooms, 23 private residences, the 12,000 square foot OH! Spa with seven treatment rooms, over 10,000 square feet of event space, private Club Room and bar, Seasons Restaurant, Seaside Tavern Café, an oceanview lap pool, fitness center, croquet court, and a 1,000-foot expanse of private, white-sand beach.
Sprawling across six acres of oceanfront property, the Ocean House offers a serene beachfront getaway for travelers and locals alike. The last of the iconic New England seaside resort, the Ocean House is a return to the golden age of hospitality.
(l-r) Chief Ken Richards, Old Mystic Fire Department, receives a plaque from Michael Cardillo, owner, The Old Mystic Inn, Susette Tibus, Vice-Chair, Stonington Police Department, and Vickey L’Homme, owner, The Pizza Grille in appreciation for the Department’s rescue efforts after the floods in the area.
story & photo
by Angela Olsen
It seems like only yesterday, I watched my friend’s car and a massive dumpster float down Route 27 in Old Mystic. Water rushed through the street past The Old Mystic General Store at nearly 25 miles per hour! The Old Mystic Fire Department spent countless hours helping with this unprecedented emergency. Michael Cardillo, owner, The Old Mystic Inn, and Vickey L’Homme, owner, The Pizza Grille, joined forces to show their profound admiration for the Fire Dept. through an Appreciation Breakfast held at The Pizza Grille on May 22nd.
Doors to The Pizza Grille opened at 7am. Michael and Vickey graciously welcomed members of the community who turned up in droves to show gratitude and support for a department comprised of mostly volunteers. The breakfast cost $5 of which 50% was donated to the Old Mystic Fire Department.
A lovely gift basket, containing items from local businesses such as The Old Mystic Inn, Mystic Art Center, Angel Haven and more were raffled. Local photographer Hadley Gilman donated a framed photograph of a fireman’s helmet to say, “Thank you.”
Chief Ken Richards said that as the sky unleashed its fury, he thought, “This could not happen to us,” yet it did, and there are “firemen and women still working to do the good work.” The volunteers responded to three months worth of emergency calls in three days!
Ken gave a brief history of the Department, saying that it began in 1837 as a day company. He joined as a volunteer when he was just 14 years old and being involved kept him out of trouble. Ken recalled two moments where the residents have come out in a show of support, giving a tremendous morale boost to his department. Once in 1999, the taxpayers came out to help build a new station, and on May 22nd at the Appreciation Breakfast. He mentioned how the little things mean so much to the volunteers, like when they are parked at McQuades Market, and people wave “hello.”
Thanks to Michael, Vickey and the community, it is abundantly clear to the volunteer firefighters that their fearless efforts do not go unnoticed. When you see them out and about, please give them a big wave!
(l-r) Members of the Paul Houghton Detachment Marine Corp. League: George Viens, Richard Harrington, Commandant, William Lee Jr., Vice Commandant and Stephen Sears marched in the Town of Plainfield’s Memorial Day Parade.
Every year, the last Monday in May is set aside as an observance for Memorial Day. Sometimes called Decoration Day or Poppy Day, it is to honor those Americans who gave the supreme sacrifice for our country, their lives.
On May 30, the Town of Plainfield held their annual Memorial Day Parade, a tradition for as long as most residents can remember. This year, it was sponsored by the American Legion. The parade started off on Victoria Drive, and the mile and a half route ended at the American Legion.
Marching in the parade were the Plainfield High School Panther Band, Drum Line and Color Guard. It also included Boy Scouts Troop 36 of Moosup and Cub Scouts All Hallows Pack 36. The VFW, American Legion and Veterans joined ranks, along with the Paul Houghton Detachment Marine Corp. League. Local firefighters and emergency personnel were there, blowing their horns to the delight of the children lining the parade’s route.
I remember when everyone would stand and salute while soldiers and veterans would walk by – a show of respect and honor for those who fought for our freedom. We appreciate those men and women that have fought for our rights and gave their lives, and also for those that continue to fight.
(l-r) Pierre Wicker, Mystic, takes Resident reporter Angela Olsen, Noank, on an Angel Flight. Angel Flight Northeast opperates medical compassion flights at no charge.
“It is not known precisely where angels dwell – whether in the air, the void, or the planets.
It has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode.”
- Voltaire
An assignment for the Resident recently let me in on a secret as to the whereabouts of the “dwelling” of Angels. They live all over our beautiful country and there might be one living in your neighborhood! Friday, May 28th, I met Pierre Wicker, Mystic, at Lanmar II, Groton-New London Airport, at 4:15 pm. The purpose? An Angel Flight, a medical compassion flight, leaving from Groton, to bring a patient from Boston to Maine.
Pierre, a handsome, fit, high-energy man of French origin, kindly extended his hand and helped me into the copilot seat of his Cirrus SR22, a single-engine aircraft which was first-rate. He explained emergency procedures to me, such as pulling a red handle with 25 pounds of pressure to activate a parachute, and how to open the doors. He went over his checklist with great attention to detail and shared the flight plan with me. We were to land in Boston, at Logan Airport, in about 45 minutes.
We were airborne within seconds, above the Long Island Sound, Ledge Light, and downtown New London in the blink of an eye. My hometown of New London looks exquisite from that vantage point.
Pierre, who began flying planes in 1975 and comes from a long line of aviators, flies at least two Angel Flights per month. I watched in amazement, as his capable hands maneuvered the aircraft and instruments, marveling at the fact that this flight is completely paid for out of Pierre’s pocket. There is no charge for an Angel Flight, and Angel Flight Northeast, which covers nine states, never refuses anyone in need.
We arrive in Boston and there is a sense of dignity given by the air traffic controllers when they hear that an Angel Flight is landing. As we escort our patient, Diane, to the aircraft, she seems exhausted.
Diane’s fight with cancer began in 2007. When her beloved doctor moved out of Maine, in pursuit of greater opportunities elsewhere, she was devastated. She began driving four to five hours in each direction, every week, to and from Boston for treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Center.
I sensed an intense determination to live in Diane. She had a catheter removed from her lung – while excruciating, it was necessary because she was retaining fluid. She learned how to care for it and won’t let it interfere with her plans to go on a trip to Tuscany for several weeks to enjoy the culture of Italy.
She said that cancer is disappointing because, “Your body is no longer your body.” She plays tennis when she is feeling well enough, saying that she is “not very good,” but enjoys the exercise, as she used to be a jock. Her two dogs, a Corgi and a Sheltie give her unconditional love. As a self-employed bookkeeper, people have shown tremendous support, even raising money to pay an exorbitant medical co-pay.
I sit in awe of Pierre, who is often silent if the patient is not up to chatting, and also of Diane, for her strength and grace while facing such a profound weekly burden of the trips to Boston.
In Maine, we say our goodbyes to Diane and Pierre and I head back to Groton. Everything feels a bit different after this experience. I gained a closer insight to the challenges so many people face and the generosity, which lives in the heart of the human spirit. After this flight, I can say, without hesitation, I believe in Angels.
If you or someone you know needs an Angel Flight please call 1.800.549.9980 or visit www.angelflightne.org
