For decades, friends and family of the Smith Neck Friends Meeting have come from all over to complete the labor necessary to prepare the annual clambake.

“It was a little funky this year here with the hurricane. We were really worried about rain,” said Eric Reid, deputy bakemaster.

This meant the collection of the rocks, seaweed and firewood had to happen a bit earlier than planned, but everything still came together for a rainless and sunny clambake on Saturday, Aug. 10. Smith Neck Friends has hosted the clambake, an over 90-year tradition, since the 1970s, when they took over from the Apponagansett Men.

Cooking everything is a complex process: a wood fire is lit to heat rocks up, then seaweed is placed on top of those rocks, which generates the steam that actually cooks the food.

Eric explained before the cooking begins, all the workers stand in a line and fill bags with the meal components, which are then placed in crates that are stacked up and covered for the steaming.

The Reid family has been a part of the Smith Neck Friends Meeting for generations. Bakemaster William Reid said this is a tradition he and Eric, his cousin, have been a part of “since birth.”

“It brings everybody together — families from all around — so the whole day is kind of special,” William said. “People enjoy the food, but for us, we’ve been doing it for so long it’s just a good time to see everybody.”

Eric agreed, adding how “neat” it is to see families dispersed across 10 states come back together and help serve over 200 people.

Carol Cannan, who helped run a bake sale table, said it’s become a family tradition she looks forward to every year, especially the chowder, which she appreciates isn’t too thick.

She highlighted the challenges the Meeting faces in “getting the right supplies,” including a refrigerated truck.

“It’s really a community endeavor,” Cannon added,

Eric said attendees might not realize hosting the clambake likely entails 200 hours of work: “It’s a lot.”

And it continues to grow, too. 

William said ticket sales were up again this year, having dropped previously due to the Covid pandemic. 

“Now, we’re looking really good,” he said. 

However, Meeting members also expressed interest in seeing more of the community at its future events and encouraged participation, especially in regard to Dartmouth’s younger generations.

Eric said, “It’s always the second Saturday of August,” so people are able to get it into their calendars.