North Smithfield Heritage Association Fund

Formed in 1970, the volunteer, nonprofit organization is headquartered at the Memorial Town Building. Initially, it focused on acquiring artifacts and restoring two of the town’s historic buildings; the Forestdale School and a Grange building now called Heritage Hall, which the group rents for family events. With more than 150 dues-paying members, the group has expanded its scope of work. “So, arts and culture, artifacts, historic cemeteries, native stone features, history, natural resources; we consider all of that part of our mission now,” says President Rich Keene.

The association sponsors numerous events and preservation activities. Events include a Heritage Fair, Spooky Spirits Night with free hayrides, and a Gala. Other activities include a new website, a Facebook page, monthly newsletters, monthly Heritage Nights, and weekend tours. Besides maintaining the three buildings, volunteers restore and maintain many of the 65 historic cemeteries in town. Some also locate and document native ceremonial stone features. Others maintain the growing collection of artifacts in the archives or apply for grants.

The town partnered with the organization from the very beginning. In addition to leasing Forestdale School and the Memorial Town Building to the NSHA, it maintains the grounds and provides grants to restore and maintain its buildings as well as fund some preservation activities. “We do what we can for the community. We try to be value-added. People see us do good things, and they support us,” Rich explains.

Next up is a joint project with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council to create a greenway running from Providence to the river headwaters in North Smithfield. The trail would give the public access to the historic Nipsachuck battlefields where natives and colonial militias fought two battles during King Phillip’s War in 1675 and 1676. The organization conducts battlefield tours for North Smithfield High School students as well as the public.

“I think most people support historic preservation when given the opportunity. We’ve lost a tremendous amount of our heritage over the years," says Rich. "Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. You can never get that back."

Rich first came to the Rhode Island Foundation after he became president of the organization. He wanted to learn more about managing nonprofits and began taking the Foundation’s capacity-building workshops. The more he learned, the more he felt creating an endowment was the way to go.