Greene Homestead

Cooking with class: Utensils used during the 1800s are displayed on the kitchen table at the Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry.

ANTHONY — Most homes in Anthony are on lots smaller than an acre, and much of that land once belonged to General Nathanael Greene, whose home occupied more than 85 acres.

Greene built the two-and-a-half story Georgian Style home at 50 Taft St. in 1770. It took him nearly two years to complete the project, but when it was finished, the ending product proved to be a solid house that has withstood the test of time.

It served as a permanent residence for Nathanael Greene and his wife, Catherine Littlefield Greene, for many years before they moved out shortly after the Revolution. Nathanael's brother Jacob and his wife Margaret then purchased the homestead, allowing it to stay in the Greene family for two more generations until 1899.

Then, a gentleman by the name of Turcotte bought the house in a quit claim deed deal because of back taxes. Under Turcotte's ownership, the General's home was run as a boarding house until the Homestead purchased it in 1917 and restored it to its original character. Then, two years later, the house was opened to the public as the "General Nathanael Greene Homestead" museum.

To this day, General Nathanael Greene's home has maintained much of its original character, yet its surroundings have changed dramatically. The museum managed to hold on to 10 acres of the original Homestead, but the remaining 75 acres were sold off.

Because of the generosity of members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and other local historical groups, the interior of the house has been recreated to include many of the General's personal items and other pieces typical of that time period.

The house consists of two main floors with four rooms on each level — two rooms on either side of a dominant center hall. Each of the rooms, many still with the original wallpaper and wooden floors, have been decorated to resemble how it would have looked when Greene lived there.

The home's living area has a picture frame mounted on the wall protecting a hand cut ivory hand fan that Nathanael Greene had given to his wife Catherine. Also in that room there is an original painting of Nathanael Greene hanging on the wall over the fireplace done by one of Gilbert Stuart's number one apprentices.

In the den, Nathaniel Greene's wooden desk is propped up against one wall under the window overlooking the front yard. On the desk there is a laminated copy of one of his hand written letters with a feather pen and an ink well.

The winter kitchen has several antique yet still fully functional cooking items on display. In front of the brick fireplace there is a kick toaster and a kick rotisserie. Hanging from the mantel piece is a hand held sausage maker and several lanterns.

The upstairs bedroom, which at one time belonged to Elizabeth Margaret Greene, the general's grand-niece, had a sliding children's bed underneath her own elaborate wooden framed bed. This was common practice in those times, according to Gregg Mierka, the historian and current caretaker of the homestead, for fast response time in fear of fires.

In the other upstairs bedrooms, uniforms that had belonged to the general were laid out on his bed and Mierka explained how modern sayings like "don't let the bed bugs bite" evolved from years back.

"Beds in those days were stuffed with things like hay and grass so they would often times find bugs in the mattresses," Mierka said.

Over the years the house has endured several restoration projects. Years back, fire struck the house and much damage resulted. During the rehab, it was discovered that the house was insulated with newspapers many dating from the time of the Civil War.

Over the years though, the improvements have continued but, they have always, Mierka said, been completed in a manner to keep consistent with the rich history in the house.

Today, the Mierka's work tirelessly to maintain the landscape on the property at.50 Taft Street, as well as the furniture inside of the house and the structure of the homestead; all of which has a story to tell.

Each reveals something about the history of the house — those who occupied its rooms and worked in the fields.

To learn more about the General Nathanael Greene Homestead and the rich history of this "forgotten American hero" as Mierka refers to him as, drop by the homestead museum during their regular showing times, which are Wednesdays and Saturdays, April through October, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information on this series, please contact Jessica Carr at 821-7400 ext. 229.