 September 26th is Smithsonian Museum Day at Sprague Mansion from 10 to 3. Free admission to the Mansion with a Smithsonian Magazine Coupon. Details soon |
Coming in August.
Official Word has come down from the Rhode Island W3R committee that the Rochambeau trail goes through Cranston via Cranston Street, Phenix and Scituate Avenue. This means Westcott House, Joy Homestead, Sheldon House and the Knight Farm are all on the inventory of W3R as houses standing when the French troops went by. We want to thank everyone involved in this project including Mayor Fung and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's Office. Judging from the maps in the Rochambeau Collection and the early maps of Providence, the French army, on leaving the camp ground between Broad and Plane Streets, passed through the present Stewart Street to High Street, and west along this to the junction (Hoyle Tavern), where, leaving on their right the road to Hartford, they took the road to the left, then called the Monkey Town road, now Cranston Street, and followed this to Monkeytown, now Knightsville. The army here turned to the right following the old Scituate road over Dugaway hill by the late Pippin Orchard School house, over Apple House hill and Bald hill, crossing the Pawtuxet at the village of Kent and on to Waterman's Tavern, fifteen miles, the end of the first day's march and the first camp. Waterman's Tavern is still standing in good condition near Potterville on the old Scituate road a mile or so north of the new state highway. It is now the
home of Mr. Elmer A. Havens, who shows two wells of small diameter neatly stoned, that are said to have been dug by the French troops that camped here, both on the march to Yorktown and on the return march. The instructions for the march say : "The camp is in quite a good position although in the midst of woods, having a brook in front, and behind, the tavern and the main road from Providence to Watermans much better than that by Angells tavern. The accommodations for divisional headquarters are not aboundant but more than at Angell's tavern or Whipple house."
On June 19, the regiment of Royal DeuxPonts under the Baron de Viomenil, set out for the camp at Waterman's, followed on the 20th by the regiment of Soissonnais under the Count de Viomenil (brother of the Baron), and on the 21st by Saintonge, under the Marquis de Custine. With the departure of this last regiment, there were left in Providence a guard for the baggage and munitions stored in the Old Market House, and the surgeons and attendants at the hospital in University Hall. The American and French troops took a combination of strategic roads and waterways from Philipsburg through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the future District of Columbia, and Virginia, reaching Williamsburg in late September 1781. With a French fleet blocking the Chesapeake, barring British reinforcements from New York or a sea escape for Cornwallis' army, Washington and Rochambeau's three-week siege of Yorktown ended in Cornwallis' surrender to Washington on October 19, 1781. After their victory, Washington and the Continentals returned to defend northern posts while Rochambeau and his troops wintered in Williamsburg prior to marching north the following summer. Both armies were warmly celebrated by the towns and cities along their return routes.
Create your special moment at the home of governors. A beautiful Victorian Mansion can be yours for a day for a fraction of the costs of other sites.
The Sprague Mansion on Cranston Street has seen its share of Rhode Island history. It was the home of William Sprague II who was one of the first men to print calico cotton cloth in abundance at affordable prices.
It was the setting for the funeral of Amasa Sprague after his battered body was disocvered in Johnston on New Year's Eve 1843. His murder changed capital punishment in Rhode Island when a rush to judgment may have put the wrong man to death on the gallows.
This was the home of Col Amasa Sprague. He and his brother William Sprague 4 were the richest men in America at the time of the American Civil War. The A. & W. Sprague Company was printing calico cloth in the millions of yards. The Bell of Washington, Kate Chase and her father, Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury (later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) visited here before she married Senator William Sprague. This house was the site of the where Col Amasa Sprague thought of incorporating the Union Horsecar Railroad the fore runner of the Rhode Island Transportation Bus Line and here he decided to build the Narragansett Trotting Park because he did not like the corruption and gambling that was happening to the sport of the trotting horses at Washington Park. After the fall of the A. & W. Sprague Company in 1873 the Narragansett Park changed hands many times and served Rhode Island well as a back drop for much history including the Rhode Island State Fair until 1899.
With all this history and politics and murder at the mansion some say the house is haunted. It could be.
Sprague Mansion brochure
Flower arrangements donated by IVYROSE a Flower Shoppe. 1680 Cranston St
Cranston, RI 02920(401) 942-9540 A unique & charming ambience will cast a warm glow over you & your guests all during your wedding ceremony & reception.
Sprague Mansion has been hosting weddings, receptions, showers, bridal parties, corporate meetings and gatherings for nearly 30 years.
Close to Warwick and Providence.
Sprague Mansion is handicapped accessible to the first floor.
To rent the mansion for your wedding reception, shower or party call 401-944-9226.
We are also connected to Eventective
In 1780, as part of the alliance with the 13 colonies seeking to overthrow British rule, France sent an army of 5028 soldiers of our ally His Most Christian Majesty, Louis XV to the aid of General George Washington as he prepared for a decisive campaign against General Charles Lord Cornwallis. General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de (Count) Rochambeau sailed into Newport, Rhode Island, at the head of the Expedition Particuliere, an army of 450 officers and 5,300 men. After wintering in Newport, Rochambeau's army marched through Rhode Island. On June 18th in the early hours of the morning as to avoid heat the first regiment broke camp.
Rochambeau and the French Troops in
Providence in 1780-81-82 Howard W. Preston. (Read before the Rhode Island Historical Society,March 12, 1922.)
House Report 110-736 - WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL DESIGNATION ACT
Directions to Joy Homestead
September 6th, 2009. The Cranston Historical Society will remember the contributions of the French to the American cause for freedom and remember the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette with a wreath lying at the Joy Homestead.
| As of March 30, 2009, The National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is now law. Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to see this historic moment in time! The Trail will include the Joy Homestead as an orginal house that is open to the public. |
Rich in history of Cranston, the Joy Homestead was the first home of the
Cranston Historical Society. No longer the headquarters the homestead serves a greater function for the Society, it is used as the background for teaching elementary school children life as it was in the 1770's. Volunteers from the Society and children participate in various domestic arts from the period. These crafts include spinning wool, weaving and braiding, cooking and games of the period.
For twenty three years the Cranston Historical Society has used the historic sites of the Sprague Mansion and Joy Homestead as background to address central themes and issues of American history, local history and government.
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Members receive discounts on the rental of the Mansion for functions and discounts on society events.
The Cranston Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
HELP! Mystery Photos that maybe you can identify.
Cranston Print Works Village History
Our link for People and places of Cranston long ago.
Voices and Visions of Pawtuxet Village
| The Cranston Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and historic preservation organization. The Cranston Historical Society is categorized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and membership donations and other contributions are deductible for Federal income tax purposes to the extent permitted by law |
In honor of the City of Cranston's 100th Anniversary the Cranston Historical Society will be starting a new project. We hope to gather the memories of our citizens of places and people that have a special place in our city and in our hearts. Hopefully viewers to this webpage will send their photos of Cranston and their Cranstonian folks.
