Eleanor Spears Dove Turns 100
By Eleanor Dove Harris
One of the oldest living members of the
Narragansett Tribe, Eleanor Spears Dove,
Pretty Flower, turns 100 on August 1st.
A mother to four, grandmother to ten, great grandmother to many, and a great-great grandmother to a few, her family has been at the heart of her life’s work. In addition to raising her own children, she took on many other “sons and daughters” helping to raise nieces, nephews, and other indigenous youth in need. This centenarian has lived a rich and vibrant life, leaving a lasting legacy not only within her tribal community, her hometown of Richmond, the greater state of Rhode Island and throughout much of New England.
Eleanor started her career as a caterer serving the state’s dignitaries in Watch Hill and Charlestown, Rhode Island. Along with her husband, Ferris Dove, Chief Roaring Bull, they opened the award winning and world renowned DoveCrest Indian Restaurant in Arcadia Village, Exeter, Rhode Island.
Dovecrest restaurant was written up in the
New York Times (12/9/81) about Eleanor's "Raccoon Pie", and her Johnnycakes received the "America's Best!" award in 1979. In 1981 she was written up in the Congressional Record, her cuisine was written about in the Washington Post (March 24, 1982) as well as in The Boston Globe (1982), to only list a few. Eleanor was also awarded along with Wolfgang Puck in 1982 for the Salute to American Food Awards hosted by Ocean Spray.
Eleanor in her younger years. Family photo
Eleanor once shared in an interview; “My love affair with restaurants and cooking with good traditional Indian food may have come about because my grandfather, my father, and my uncles were all chefs and owned restaurants. (in my thirties) I was employed in (the) private industry, and I decided I wanted to stop working an eight-hour day and to stop punching a time clock."
"My husband said as long as I was still able to buy the groceries, he would support and help me achieve my dream of a restaurant, and so the Dovecrest Indian Restaurant came into being," she said. "My father, my husband, my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and other relatives have all worked in the restaurant. Now, instead of working an eight-hour day, I work eighteen...but, I don’t have to punch a timeclock.”
Eleanor opened a Native American gift shop in the 1960s in Arcadia Village, around this time she also supported the
Tomaquag Museum (National Medal for Museum and Libraries Awardee) by providing a much needed home to house the priceless indigenous artifacts held in collections. Eleanor served on Tomaquag’s Board of Directors and sits on the Honorary Board of Directors to this day. Eleanor is known throughout New England along the Powwow Trail where she traveled for decades selling traditional handcrafted Native American art and jewelry.
In the 90s, Eleanor traveled to the South of France and to Russia with championship Native American dance troupes to perform at the World Folk Festival in Martigues, France and at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. At 70 years old, after she retired, she took up painting, she also learned to make traditional porcupine quill earrings, at 73 she took up golf, for her 74th birthday she celebrated in the South France, where she was among 31 Native Americans that joined with 11 foreign countries, to perform their songs and dances at the World Folk Festival.
In her eighties she rode in both a hot air balloon and on a motorcycle. Eleanor continues today to be an avid card player, enjoying daily games of solitaire, cribbage, and pitch. Eleanor is an avid reader and enjoys working crossword puzzles.
As she approaches her 100th birthday she continues to be active and is always eager to go on a ride to visit her loved ones. Eleanor is honored and revered as a traditional elder and matriarch of the Narragansett Tribal Nation, her generous spirit, and love for her people will carry forward in the stories and the hearts of all she has touched.
Eleanor Dove Harris is the youngest granddaughter and namesake of Eleanor Spears Dove.
Join the Conversation
