A resident of Centerdale, Rhode Island, for many years, Harry Sharp is known as one of the most enterprising men of business in this section of the State. He has founded and operated several important projects, and is now president and general manager of the Yacht Club Bottling Works, manufacturers of carbonated beverages. Mr. Sharp established this enterprise in 1915, and under his guidance it has grown to be one of the largest beverage manufacturing businesses in the State.
Mr. Sharp was born in Bradford, England, on December 9, 1882, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Boothman) Sharp, both born in England. The father was born at Baildon, and was engaged in the textile business until his death. The mother is still living.
Harry Sharp was educated in the public schools of his birthplace. As a boy he learned the carpenter’s trade and was engaged in this occupation during the years of young manhood, until he reached the age of twenty-five. At this time, in 1906, seeking fields of larger opportunity, he came to Rhode Island and settled at Centerdale. Here he was engaged as a carpenter for one year, and then entered into the fish and chip business for himself, being the first man to begin the development of this field in his section of the State. Mr. Sharp was so engaged until 1915, building up a successful trade. At the end of this period he returned for a visit to England, and while there took the opportunity to familiarize himself with details connected with the manufacture of carbonated beverages. Coming back to Centerdale, Rhode Island, in the latter part of the year, Mr. Sharp established himself as a manufacturer of carbonated beverages, operating under his own name until 1918. Then he adopted the tradename which he has since made famous throughout the State, the Yacht Club Bottling Works. He has continued the manufacture of carbonated beverages under this name ever since. Mr. Sharp is president and general manager of his company, and his offices and factory are located at No. 2239 Mineral Spring Avenue, Centerdale. He has been highly successful in building up a large enterprise and now enjoys a fine trade throughout the State. Modern in every respect, maintaining the highest standards of quality, his plant is not only one of the largest in the State, but is known as one of the cleanest and finest in all New England.
Mr. Sharp is a Republican in politics, and since 1925 has been town treasurer of the town of North Providence. For four years he was also a member of the town council, serving the interests of the people of this section faithfully and well. In addition to his own business operations, Mr. Sharp is a director of the Greenville Trust Company. Golf and football are his hobbies, while with this family he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sharp is affiliated, fraternally, with Roger Williams Lodge, No. 32, Free and Accepted Masons; he is also a member of Scituate Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Calvary Commandery, Knights Templar; and Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Centerdale Business Men’s Association and the Rhode Island Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages, the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages, the British Club of Providence, the Greystone Social Qub, and the Palestine Shrine Qub.
In 1903, Harry Sharp married Sarah Marshall, who was born in Bradford, England. They are the parents of three children:
- Arthur N. Sharp.
- Elsie M. Sharp.
- Marion E. Sharp.
The residence of the family is maintained at North Centerdale.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.