in answer to the question of when "beach towels" first appeared
(at least that's the first mention I can find of them)

The ad, ironically, appears in a San Bernardino newspaper. San Berdoo is, of course, in Southern California, but about as far from a beach as one can get. The earliest ads within the Bay State seem to be 1911 -- not that the product itself didn't actually exist before then.

[I would guess that, back when most laundry was done by hand and hung out to dry, and travel to the beach was mostly by streetcar, wet sandy towels would be problematic. - Dave]

After the blizzard of '78, I was startled to see these familiar landmarks to iron columns and trusses, their wood framing and slate roofs missing due to the force of rising waves.

It always amazes me when looking at these old photos showing outdoor scenes, seeing the garbage all over the place! Some of the larger pieces would make someone a great beach towel.

I thought it started when I was a young man, but I see that it did not.

Unless the trash can was not invented yet?

Much as Juan de la cruz wondered what the Baltimore shipyard workers were laughing at, I wonder what were the various conversations in this large, 1906 beach crowd.

There are four sets of pavilions along Revere Beach today. I picked the set closest to the island at right.

No one seems to have a towel, they are all lying directly on the sand. Does anyone know when beach towels became the norm?