General Nathanael Greene Homestead facts for kids
|
General Nathanael Greene Homestead
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Greene Homestead, 2009
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | 50 Taft St., Coventry, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Built | 1770 |
| Architect | Nathanael Greene |
| Part of | Anthony Village Historic District (ID10000770) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000014 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated CP | September 20, 2010 |
The General Nathanael Greene Homestead, also called Spell Hall, is a very old house in Coventry, Rhode Island. It was the home of Nathanael Greene, a famous general during the American Revolutionary War. He lived here from 1770 to 1776. After he moved, his brother Jacob Greene and his wife Margaret owned the house. Today, a group called the General Nathanael Greene Homestead Association takes care of it. They opened it as a museum in 1924, so people can visit and learn about its history.
Contents
What Does the House Look Like?
The Greene Homestead is a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a pointed roof and two chimneys inside. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the house has five windows or doors across, and it is two rooms deep.
The Front Door and Inside Rooms
The main entrance is in the middle of the house. It has tall, thin columns on each side. Above the door, there is a small window and a triangle-shaped decoration. This design is typical of houses built in the late Georgian style.
Inside, the house has a central hallway. There are four rooms on each floor, two on either side of the hall. On the first floor, the room on the front right was Nathanael Greene's library. He had over 300 books there! The room behind it was the kitchen. On the left side of the house, there was a parlor (a living room) and a dining room. Upstairs, on the second floor, there are four bedrooms. The attic space was also later turned into more bedrooms.
History of the Greene Homestead
Nathanael Greene built this house in 1770. It was part of a huge property that was about 2,000 acres (809 hectares) big. This house was his family's home during the entire American Revolutionary War.
Greene Family Ownership
In 1783, after the war, Greene moved his family to Newport, Rhode Island. Later, they moved to Georgia, where he passed away in 1786. He sold this house to his brother, Jacob Greene. The house stayed in the Greene family until 1899. However, over time, it became quite old and was used as a rental house in its later years.
Becoming a Museum
In 1919, a group called the Nathanael Greene Homestead Association was created. Their goal was to fix up the house and take care of it. Today, it is a house museum that is open to the public. Members of the Greene family have also helped keep the home historic throughout the years.
National Recognition
The General Nathanael Greene Homestead was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1972. This means it is a very important place in American history. In 2010, it was also included in the Anthony Village Historic District.
Images for kids
-
1930s Postcard depicting the house
-
Front and side elevations, 1937
-
Dining Room and Fireplace Wall
,_R.I_(68994).jpg)
