Cranston Historial Society

Tuesday May 20th at 7:30

Evelyn Wheeler, Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Commission will be our guest speaker.

Please join us at the Sprague Mansion. Free to the public. Ample off street parking in the lot behind the mansion. First right from the Cranston and Dyer Avenue light.

Friends of Historic Cranston Cemeteries

Earth Day, April 19th. Friends of Historic Cranston Cemeteries reclaiming the Knightsville Meeting House Cemetery

The Sprague Mansion is proud to announce the Rhode Island Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial has officially endorsed our Lincoln birthday events.

July 20, 2008 -

Lincoln's War Governor

Takes Command

To commemorate the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, a Civil War Military living history - drill - hardtack & coffee is scheduled on the grounds of the Governor Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston Street, Cranston, Rhode Island. Families -- parents & children -- are encouraged to attend and stroll the grounds; brief demonstrations, lectures and camp life will transform the grounds into an afternoon of Rhode Island Civil War History honoring Abraham Lincoln and Governor Sprague. Featured speakers to be announced. A flag raising ceremony will take place at 1 pm.

Septermber 13, 2008

Celebrating Lincoln's Visit to Rhode Island and Governor Sprague's birthday at the Sprague Mansion.

A highlight of the day will be our special guest Mackenzie Melemed. He will honor the Governor by playing the "Governor Sprague March" on the Sprague Mansion's Grand Centennial Piano.

email spraguemansion@verizon.net

_{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}

_EVENTS

_{Announcing the return of}

_{RORY RAVEN
August 6th at 7 PM}

_{Tickets are $12.00}

October 4th Craft Show

at the

Sprague Mansion

Sprague Mansion Circa 1790 1864

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 murder 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 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 cigar smoke and politics and murder at the mansion some say the house is haunted. It could be.

More information about the Sprague Mansion link here

Sprague Mansion is handicapped accessible.

To rent the mansion for your wedding reception, shower or party call 401-944-9226.

Joy Brook Farm

156 Scituate Ave

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.

The Cranston Historical Society is grateful to our friends and neighbors the Cranston Print Works for their friendship and support. The Cranston Print Works and the Sprague Mansion are forever linked in history.

Cranston Village

The Cranston Print Works is an employee owned company and the oldest operating fabric finisher in the United States. We support our friends at the Cranston Print Works and urge our crafting friends to buy Cranston Village, VIP fabric for their projects.

We are also grateful to the staff and our at the

Cranston Herald

In an effort to expand our membership and raise funds for the operating expenses of the Sprague Mansion and Joy Homestead, we starting new member associations for businesses and organizations. This membership, available in five levels, will provide valuable benefits to organizations. The clubs are named for five prominent industrialists who once lived in our properties.

Governor William Sprague Club

$3000 and up

Entitles members to 3 rentals of the Sprague Mansion

Amasa Sprague Club

$2000 - $2999

Entitles members to 2 rentals of the Sprague Mansion

Col. Byron Sprague Club

$1000 - $1999

Entitles members to 1 rental of the Sprague Mansion

Samuel Joy Club

$500- $999

Entitles members to 25% discount on rental of Sprague Mansion

Job Joy Club

$100 - $499

Entitles members to 10% discount on rental of the Sprague Mansion

All business members, regardless of the level, will be listed in our monthly newsletter which is distributed to all members as well as the public libraries and other historical societies.

If you own your business business or are an employee of a civic minded company that you think would like to join and support the Cranston Historical Society and the historic Sprague Mansion, please contact our resident manager at 401-944-9226 for more details and an application.