Bailey's Beach (officially named as and owned by the Spouting Rock Beach Association) is a private beach and club in Newport, Rhode Island, United States.
According to the Providence Journal, Bailey's Beach in Newport Rhode Island was:
founded in the 1890s after new trolley service gave mill workers from Fall River ready access to Easton's Beach, a wide expanse closer to downtown Newport that the well-to-do had claimed as their own. Not wishing to associate with people who took their lunches in buckets, high society relocated several miles to Spouting Rock, smaller and often seaweedy but safely beyond the reach of trolleys. Today, approximately 500 families belong, and for the most part, new members are added only when old ones die.[1]
Spouting Rock Beach Association, named for a geological formation, and membership in it tends to define summer life here in ways that are sometimes difficult to comprehend, even for insiders.[2]
Local reporters have criticized Bailey's Beach for its alleged all-white membership, saying it lacked diversity.[3]Newsweek magazine described it as an "elite all-white beach club" in its June 21, 2021, issue.[4] Jack Nolan, the general manager of the beach club, denied the report, telling The Boston Globe two days later that members of the club and their families include people of "many racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds from around the world who come to Newport every summer."[5] Questioned about his family's membership, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) defended the club as "a long tradition in Rhode Island".[6] Whitehouse also told the Globe he was not a member of the beach club, but his wife has been a member of the club for decades, and is currently one of the club’s largest shareholders. He stated that the club has "no discriminatory policy," and it has members who are people of color.[5]
Despite the exclusive status of the beach club and membership, the northeast end of the beach is open to the public and known colloquially as Rejects' Beach (or Reject's Beach or Rejects Beach).
^GUY TREBAY, "SUMMER PLACES; At Bailey's Beach, The Ruling Class Keeps Its Guard Up," Published: Sunday, July 20, 2003[1]
^Nagle, Kate (August 31, 2017). "VIDEO: U.S. Senator Whitehouse Won't Quit All-White Exclusive Private Club". GoLocalProv.
^Hill, Zoe Kalen (June 21, 1921). "Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse Defends All-White Beach Club Membership, 'It's a Long Tradition'". Newsweek. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^ abGagosz, Alexa (2021-06-23). "Bailey's Beach club says reports calling its membership 'all white' are 'inaccurate and false'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
^Fenton, Josh (June 21, 2021). ""It's a Long Tradition in RI," Whitehouse Defends Family's Membership in All-White Club". GoLocalProv. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bailey's Beach.
Cliff Walk Website
December 15, 2023
bailey, beach, officially, named, owned, spouting, rock, beach, association, private, beach, club, newport, rhode, island, united, states, after, hurricane, sandy, 2012, with, rejects, beach, foregroundvirginia, birdie, graham, fair, wading, water, contents, h. Bailey s Beach officially named as and owned by the Spouting Rock Beach Association is a private beach and club in Newport Rhode Island United States Bailey s Beach after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 with Rejects Beach in the foregroundVirginia Birdie Graham Fair wading in the water at Bailey s Beach Contents 1 History 2 Membership diversity 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editAccording to the Providence Journal Bailey s Beach in Newport Rhode Island was founded in the 1890s after new trolley service gave mill workers from Fall River ready access to Easton s Beach a wide expanse closer to downtown Newport that the well to do had claimed as their own Not wishing to associate with people who took their lunches in buckets high society relocated several miles to Spouting Rock smaller and often seaweedy but safely beyond the reach of trolleys Today approximately 500 families belong and for the most part new members are added only when old ones die 1 According to The New York Times Spouting Rock Beach Association named for a geological formation and membership in it tends to define summer life here in ways that are sometimes difficult to comprehend even for insiders 2 The organization has attracted notable members of nearby families such as the Vanderbilt family Astor family and Sheldon Whitehouse The 1938 Hurricane destroyed the original clubhouse and the current clubhouse and cabanas appear relatively modest to passersby Bailey s Beach was one of the centers of elite Newport social life along with other institutions such as the Redwood Library Newport Country Club Trinity Church Clambake Club Newport Reading Room New York Yacht Club summer clubhouse and the Newport Casino Membership diversity editLocal reporters have criticized Bailey s Beach for its alleged all white membership saying it lacked diversity 3 Newsweek magazine described it as an elite all white beach club in its June 21 2021 issue 4 Jack Nolan the general manager of the beach club denied the report telling The Boston Globe two days later that members of the club and their families include people of many racial religious and ethnic backgrounds from around the world who come to Newport every summer 5 Questioned about his family s membership Sen Sheldon Whitehouse D RI defended the club as a long tradition in Rhode Island 6 Whitehouse also told the Globe he was not a member of the beach club but his wife has been a member of the club for decades and is currently one of the club s largest shareholders He stated that the club has no discriminatory policy and it has members who are people of color 5 Despite the exclusive status of the beach club and membership the northeast end of the beach is open to the public and known colloquially as Rejects Beach or Reject s Beach or Rejects Beach See also editNewport Reading RoomReferences edit The Grande Dame Archived 2011 06 29 at the Wayback Machine Chapter 1 7 2 2000 The Providence Journal GUY TREBAY SUMMER PLACES At Bailey s Beach The Ruling Class Keeps Its Guard Up Published Sunday July 20 2003 1 Nagle Kate August 31 2017 VIDEO U S Senator Whitehouse Won t Quit All White Exclusive Private Club GoLocalProv Hill Zoe Kalen June 21 1921 Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse Defends All White Beach Club Membership It s a Long Tradition Newsweek Retrieved June 21 2021 a b Gagosz Alexa 2021 06 23 Bailey s Beach club says reports calling its membership all white are inaccurate and false The Boston Globe Retrieved 2021 06 24 Fenton Josh June 21 2021 It s a Long Tradition in RI Whitehouse Defends Family s Membership in All White Club GoLocalProv Retrieved 21 June 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bailey s Beach Cliff Walk Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bailey 27s Beach amp oldid 1123737869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
