Happy birthday to the General
Nathanael Greene homestead will honor the Revolutionary War hero on his 275th birthday
COVENTRY — Gen. Nathanael Greene was one of Rhode Island’s greatest military heroes. A self-made soldier who rose through the ranks to eventually become George Washington’s most trusted officer, he planted his roots right here in Coventry in 1770 when he built a small, two and a half story homestead on the hillside by the Pawtuxet River.
Today, visitors and some of Greene’s own descendants will celebrate the General’s 275th birthday with free tours of Spell Hall and a ceremony involving a cannon salute to one of Rhode Island’s most legendary figures.
“I think he can be considered a Founding Father,” said Dave Procaccini, a cousin of Greene’s who manages his Coventry homestead. “He was [George] Washington’s second in command and most trusted adviser in the American Revolution.”
At 2 p.m. there will be a birthday ceremony with a guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Richard Valente, a Rhode Island native and retired commander of the 103rd Field Artillery who will provide the keynote address. The ceremony will be followed by cake and refreshments as well as a cannon salute performed by the Rhode Island Militia. Living historians and period actors will also be on the property, interacting with visitors to give a true 18th-century experience.
“His campaign in the South led to the defeat of [General Charles] Cornwallis which led to the end of the war. He caused [Cornwallis] to retire to Yorktown where he was ultimately defeated by Washington.”
The Homestead will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for free tours, but Procaccini noted the museum, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, will gladly accept any donations as the property is always in need of updates and repairs.
He also touted the importance of remembering Greene’s contributions to the founding of the country.
“He’s a great American patriot and military hero and deserves the recognition he hasn’t necessarily gotten over the years,” Procaccini said. “What better day to recog- nize him than on his birthday.”
Greene was actually born July 27, 1742 in the Old Style calendar, but with the current calendar it is recognized as August 7.
“People used to change their birthdays to the New Style calendar to stay with the times and be progressive,” Procaccini said.
On Sunday, August 6 there will be a 'lecture on the lawn' at the Homestead in celebration of Greene’s birthday on the New Style calendar. The event will feature adiscussion by former Providence Journal Reporter Gerald Carbone who has written a biography on Greene. In October the Homestead will be hosting a Civil War reenactment.
Procaccini said he hopes to also see Thomas Casey Greene this weekend, another living descendent who today still resides at the General’s birthplace in Potowomut, Warwick, in a home that was built in 1680 by James Greene. He noted that for birthday’s past Thomas Casey Greene, now 87-yearsold, has brought with him a sword belonging to the General that is used to cut the cake.
The Nathanael Greene Homestead is located at 50 Taft Street in Coventry.