Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Comfort Station
Historic Wilcox Park
| | Westerly, Rhode Island | |
Comfort Station
Built in the Arts and Crafts style popular at the turn of the 20th century, this Comfort Station was opened October 11, 1911. It served as a public rest room for nearly half a century. Although Comfort Stations were commonplace in public areas at the time it is now one of the few remaining of its kind.
Nestled into the hillside, the building reflects a tactful acceptance of human necessity. To the left and right, separate entrances for ladies and gentlemen provided a discrete escape from public view. Inside, attendants provided both assistance and security.
The building now serves as a storage area for recurring park events. Withstanding many efforts to destroy it, the Comfort Station stands as a testimony to a bygone era; a culture of courtesy and amenities.
Comfort in the Details
The architectural details of this building are remarkable. The barrel-style roof matches the library. The register at the peak allows for good air circulation. When in operation, the bathroom stalls were individually heated via a kerosene heater. The stalls were partitioned with 5/4 inch white marble. The window gates are a decorative steel design. Like most historic restrooms, the men's urinals were enormous at nearly 5 feet tall!
1910- Comfort Station Construction
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this page online
2012 - Restoration, New Roof
Erected by Rhode Island Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is October 11, 1911.
Location. 41° 22.679′ N, 71° 49.758′ W. Marker is in Westerly, Rhode Island, in Washington County. It can be reached from High Street north of Broad Street (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling north. The marker stands on the grounds of Wilcox Park in front of its namesake comfort station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 High Street, Westerly RI 02891, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Narragansett Bay and in South County. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Welcome to Historic Wilcox Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Bandstand (within shouting distance of this marker); Westerly Library and Wilcox Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arboretum (about 300 feet away); Westerly Library (about 300 feet away); Cristoforo Columbo (about 300 feet away); Granite Industry (about 400 feet away); Westerly Band (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerly.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 24, 2023
2. Comfort Station Marker
The comfort station is visible in the rear of the photo.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
