The early history of the COA can be found in the introduction to the 1911 COA Handbook. It presents the origins and struggles of the COA from 1894 to 1909, including the financing and building of the Casino - the showpiece of the COA.
In addition, an article was published in the Summer 2011 issue of the SooNipi magazine, “Blodgett’s Landing C.O.A. - The Early Years...”
The 1911 COA Handbook, including a history of the COA (from it’s origin in 1894 to 1911); the original By-Laws; list of offices; treasurer’s report; and a membership list is included in these 16 pages. Here are the current COA ByLaws (2005). Here are the current COA Mooring Field Rules & Regulations
Courtesy of the Newbury Historical Society, here is a copy of the 1923 COA Annual Meeting minutes, held at the Casino. In reading these minutes, you will get a flavor of the typical activities and concerns of the citizens of Blodgett Landing in 1923. You will note many prominent names of the attendees, including Dr. Doubleday, Rollins, Kellsey, Will Cressy, Frank Cressy, Blanche Dayne, Raymond, George Taylor, Etta Blodgett( wife of George). Some of their decendents are still on the Landing.
Additional COA documents from 1911 to 1938. These records were rescued by Jeff Jordan from the Casino in 1978, just before the demolition by a controlled fire by the Newbury Fire Dept. Here is a sample of those Early COA records.
Additional COA Meeting minutes can be read below; courtesy of the Newbury Historical Society: 1923_COA_Minutes 1924_COA_Minutes 1925_COA_Minutes 1926_COA_Minutes 1927_COA_Minutes 1928_COA_Minutes 1929_COA_Minutes 1930_COA_Minutes 1929_to_1944_COA_Misc
Also, courtesy of the NHS, here is a list of all COA members in August 1924. The list includes cottage names, owner’s names and home addresses. You can look up your own cottage and see who the owner was in 1924. Also, you can look at the Blodgett’s Cottage Names web page to view the 1956 sewer survey map of the streets/cottages/owners names and the indexed 1911, 1915 Hancox Maps.
There were annual Regattas at Blodgett Landing, sponsored by the COA. Here are a few photos from such events. Regatta “Viewing Stands” - from the water Regatta “Viewing Stands” - from Lake Ave Lake Ave. and the Boathouses - about 1905 Regatta viewing from the Casino Shore - 1930s Regatta viewing from the Casino Shore - 1930s
Will Cressy initiated what turned into being an annual “COA Ladies Fair” which was an auction of (sometimes) a lot of junk that nobody would buy at any price. Will said - “...another of the perquisites of my official position. I have to auction off the stuff”. He did amazingly well as an “auctioneer” and added to the COA Treasury handsomely! Here is a poster for the 1907 annual COA Fair which was hand-painted by one of Will’s vaudeville friends, Hal Merrit.
COA Casino Photos - thru the years... The Casino was built in 1900 and demolished in 1978, by a controlled burn by the Newbury Fire Dept. Unfortunately, the Casino became too great a liability and cost to the COA by 1978.
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