From the Charlestown Historical Society

	THE CHARLESTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
	WINTER 2017 The year 2017 is winding down and it's been full of new acquisitions, events and ongoing projects for CHS.  As we look forward to 2018, we will be preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the society!  Join us at our Annual Meeting to learn about our plans for 2018.  Thank you to all who have come by to chat, share and contribute. Sincerely, Charlestown Historical Society
ANNUAL MEETING - JANUARY 20, 2018 Annual Meeting - January 20, 2018 2:00 PM Cross' Mills Public Library Please mark your calendars and join us for our annual meeting.  Our guest speaker will be Kelly Sullivan, a journalist and author, who will share some fascinating and little-known tales of life gone by in South County. We will also have a brief business meeting. Light refreshments will be served. CHAMPLIN FOUNDATION GRANT We are very pleased to announce a grant from the Champlin Foundation to support the restoration of the 1732 Card House murals, donated to CHS by Tom and Patty Ready.  The project will be carried out by three conservators from the American Institute of Conservation (AIC) and their final resting place will be within the Charlestown Town Hall Council Chambers for our community and visiting public to enjoy.  We are most grateful to the Champlin Foundation for this grant which allows us to share and display some of Charlestown's early history. Photos of the artwork and discussion of the project will be included at the annual meeting. ENCAMPMENT AT AMOS GREENE FARM Our 2017 Revolutionary War Encampment took place on October 14 at the historic Amos Greene Farm.  The drive down the country, stone-walled path to the farm was a step back in time.  Despite the lack of cooperation from Mother Nature, visitors enjoyed the militia units scattered around the grounds, skirmishes with the Patriots and French staving off the British, daily camp activities and period demonstrations.       Thank you to the Ricci Family who have lovingly restored this original 100-acre farm allowing CHS to bring its history back to life. Cross' Mills Common Burying Ground Under the direction of Cemetery Chair, Curtis Smith, CHS has been restoring this old burying ground at Cross' Mills over the past seven years.  This site is one of Charlestown's oldest cemeteries, though no longer in use.  Great strides have been made in reviving over 70 headstones.  Public signage is being planned with a brief description of its history. CHS is also networking with Dr. Jon Marcoux of Salve Regina University (utilizing his ground-penetrating radar) and Charee Jackson Surveying for direction in locating a suitable site for the new signage and future charting of the entire grounds. An information booklet is also planned so that we may bring greater awareness to this special site and final resting place of many of Charlestown's oldest families.
About Us  Charlestown Historical Society P.O. Box 100 Charlestown, RI  02813 401-364-1838 Email:  info@charlestownhistorical.org  Website:  www.charlestownhistorical.org The Charlestown Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.