Today the '95 GL (109K miles)developed an increasingly frequent and louder dry squawk in the front right side. While driving, it seemed to sound whenever the car bounced up in its normal damping.

Is this the dreaded control arm replacement I'm looking at?

Could be the front antisway bar. they can slip sideways if the split ring retainers slip. Not a big problem but it can sound bad. The sway bar can be pushed back in place and retained with a simple screw type hose clamp.

I am looking at a view of the front suspension components in the Haynes manual right now.

I can't identify what you mean by a "split ring retainer". Where? What? is that?