East Providence Historical Society Flexible Endowment Fund

When Cheryl and Jeff Faria first came to visit the East Providence Historical Society, located in the beautifully restored 1750 John Hunt House, their intent was to learn more about Cheryl’s tenth great grandfather, Stephen Payne. When they discovered that Stephen had built the first dam on the property in 1643, ‘the rest is history’ explains Cheryl, as she and her husband, “two Massachusetts residents with their historic hearts in Rhode Island,” began their over twenty-year association of volunteerism and service to the Society.

Founded in 1967 and occupying 44 acres in the Hunt’s Mills section of Rumford, the Society is dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of the City of East Providence. “It’s our goal to enrich and educate the residents of East Providence and the surrounding communities about the City’s history through excellent museum experiences and quality educational programs that are relevant and accessible to everyone,” says Jeff, who now acts as Co-President of the organization, alongside Cheryl.

Located at the beginning of the Blackstone National Heritage Corridor, the Society maintains the John Hunt House Museum and Education Center, and provides free historic tours, monthly open houses, and educational programs for adults and children. Giving new life to the gardens surrounding the museum, the Society recently created the Hunt’s Mills Community Gardens, the first community garden in the City of East Providence, designed to provide garden plots to groups interested in planting their own food. Funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, the garden has 26 raised beds. Seeds, garden advice, and workshops are also available during the growing season.

Seeking to secure the financial future of the all-volunteer Society, Cheryl and Jeff looked to the Foundation. “We are a small organization that was hanging by our bootstraps, looking for a way to maintain a more regular income,” says Jeff. Working with the Foundation was “the visionary thing to do, and the annual draw will allow us to offset costs and hire our first paid employee.”

Additional goals for the endowment fund include restoration work for other historic structures, establishing a café in the original Pump House, and a Welcome Center for guests. Jeff, Cheryl, and a committed group of volunteers are also pursuing their dream of rebuilding the 1640’s mill that once stood on the property, grinding flour for local bakeries, and further connecting the East Providence community to its historic past.