2009-2010 Program

SEP • OCT • NOV • DEC • MAR • APR • MAY • JUN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 - 1:30 PM
Tour of Rose Island Lighthouse
Members and their guests are invited to visit Rose Island Lighthouse located in Newport harbor. We will leave Fort Adams in Newport at 1:30 PM from the ferry dock located across from the Fort Adams Visitors' Center. We will board the Jamestown Ferry for our trip to the island. There we will be taken on a tour of the historic lighthouse and grounds. We will have a meeting and refreshments under a tent. You might want to bring a lawn chair so that you can sit and enjoy the magnificent views of Newport and the harbor. We will return around 3:30 PM.
Directions: From Providence, take Rte. 95 South to Rte. 4. Right onto Rte. 138 East; cross over the Pell and Newport Bridges and exit to Newport. Take a right at the end of the exit ramp and proceed along Farewell St., then right onto America's Cup Ave. Continue through 5 stoplights, then right onto Thames St. Follow it all the way to a Shell gas station, then right onto Wellington Ave. Bear left and continue to a stop sign. Turn right onto Harrison Ave. and soon you will see a sign to Fort Adams. Continue to the end of the parking lot at Fort Adams and you will see the ferry dock. Parking is free. Cost of the trip is $20.00, which includes the ferry both ways and the landing fee onto the island.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009 - 10:00 AM
Founders' Day at First Baptist Church Followed by Lunch and Meeting
We will observe Founders' Day at First Baptist Church in America, which is located at 75 North Main St., Providence. We will meet promptly at 10:00 AM in the vestry of the Church, preceding the Church Service at 11:00 AM, to view a 45-minute DVD "Roger Williams--Freedom's Forgotten Hero," featuring four Roger Williams scholars, including Edwin S. Gausted, Prof. Emeritus, Univ. of California, Riverside, and J. Stanley Lemons, Retired Chairman of the History Dept., Rhode Island College, and Historian of First Baptist Church. Following a tour of the Church for anyone interested, we will have lunch and a meeting at Gregg's at 1303 North Main St., Providence.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2009 - 1:00 PM
Presentation by Elsie Williams & Tour of the Sprague Mansion
Members and guests are invited to the Sprague Mansion, home of the Cranston Historical Society, at 1351 Cranston St. in Cranston. Elsie Williams will give a presentation on her new book, "Descendants of Roger Williams Through His Son Joseph Williams." Books will be available for purchase and will be gladly signed by the author. A brief tour of the Sprague Mansion will follow. Light refreshments will be provided.
Directions: From Providence, take Rte. 95 South to Rte. 37 West. Follow to end, then right onto Phenix Ave. Follow Phenix Ave., which turns into Park Ave. (Rte. 12), then left onto Dyer Ave. Cross over Cranston St. and turn into mansion's parking lot on right.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009 - 2:00 PM
Holiday Celebration
Members and guests are cordially invited to meet at Marilyn & Clifford Brown's home at 180 Brown St., Providence for a festive seasonal occasion featuring a brief business meeting, a Christmas Season musical program, a Christmas carol sing-along, and a delicious array of refreshments arranged to evoke recollections of a Victorian tea.
Directions: From Rte. 95 North or South, take Rte. 195 East to the Gano St. exit. At end of exit, bear right onto Gano St.; after crossing Angell St., Gano St. changes to Taber Ave. Left onto Lloyd Ave. Right onto Brown St. and proceed one block. House is across Keene St. on your left. Parking is legal on the south side of Brown St. and on Keene St. For directions from other locations, please call (401) 331-1253.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010 - 10:30 AM
Tour of John Carter Brown Library
We will gather at Marilyn & Clifford Brown's house at 180 Brown St. in Providence at 10:30 AM. From there we will be shuttled to the John Carter Brown Library at 94 George St., where parking can be difficult. We will take a tour of this historic library and see books printed during colonial times in America. The library's holdings include books, maps and other materials printed before the year 1825. We will then travel back to the Browns' home for lunch and business meeting.
Directions: See December meeting.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010 - 11:00 AM
Presentation and Tour of the John Waterman Arnold House
Our meeting will be held at the John Waterman Arnold house, home of the Warwick Historical Society, at 25 Roger Williams Ave. in Warwick. Col. John Waterman Arnold, 4th great-grandson of Roger Williams, fought in the Revolutionary War, commanding the America militia in the skirmish against the English forces that burned down houses on Prudence Island, RI. This property was a working farm and dairy for many years. A presentation will be given by historian Henry Brown. A brief meeting will follow, after which we will proceed to Gregg's Restaurant at 1359 Post Rd.,Warwick at 1:00 PM. Contact Trish Woodard-Harmon at 401-737-3142 Before April 10th for reservations.
Directions to Arnold House: From Providence, take Rte. 95 South to Rte. 37 East toward Warwick. Follow to end, exiting to Post Rd. North. Right onto Atlantic Ave. just after WalMart, then right at traffic light onto Warwick Ave. Second left onto Harrison Ave., following for about 0.3 mi., then right onto Roger Williams Ave.
Directions to Gregg's: From Arnold House, head back towards Harrison Ave. and turn left. Right onto Warwick Ave., then left at traffic light onto Atlantic Ave. Left onto Post Rd.; Gregg's is on the right just before the entrance to Rte. 37.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010 - 10:00 AM
Tour of Governor Bradford House at Mount Hope Farm and Greenvale Vineyards
Mount Hope Farm was first owned by Nathaniel Byfield, one of the original founders of Bristol (then part of Massachusetts). We will enjoy a tour of The Governor Bradford House at Mount Hope Farm. William Bradford (1729-1808) was a physician, lawyer, and United States Senator from Rhode Island. He was the great-great-grandson of the William Bradford who was Governor of Plymouth Colony. After the house tour we will travel a short distance to Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth to enjoy our self-catered picnic lunches. Greenvale is a farm that has been in the same family since 1863. A brief business meeting will follow. Contact Mary Channing by April 30th at 203-834-0545 or mchanning@snet.net if you plan on attending.
Directions to Mount Hope Farm, 250 Metacom Ave., Bristol, RI: From I-95 take Exit to I-195 East toward Cape Cod. Take Exit 2 to Mass. Route 136 South. Continue to RI 136 South (Metacom Ave.) for 8 miles, and Mount Hope Farm will be on your left. Use main entrance (red mail box).
Directions from Mount Hope Farm to Greenvale Vineyards, 582 Wapping Rd., Portsmouth, RI: Turn left at end of drive on Rt. 136 South. Continue over Mount Hope Bridge and take Route 138 South. Pass the State Police Barracks and take a left onto Sandy Point Ave. at the traffic light. Take the first right on Wapping Rd. The vineyard driveway is 0.9 miles on the left. Parking is in the circular drive at the end of the lane.

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 - 11:00 AM
Presentation by Ranger John McNiff at Roger Williams Memorial
Our meeting will begin with an informative presentation given by Park Ranger and Honorary Lifetime Member John McNiff. He will do a talk on local history and the founder of Providence, Roger Williams. After Ranger McNiff's presentation, we will hold a short business meeting followed by our annual meeting as we enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds of the park.
Directions: From Route 95 North, take the State Office exit. Go straight across Orms Street at end of exit. Turn left onto Smith Street. Turn right at bottom of hill onto Canal Street, then immediate left into Memorial's parking lot.