NORTH SMITHFIELD – The North Smithfield Heritage Association recently received both a $5,000 THRIVE grant from the Rhode Island Humanities and a $3,000 legislative grant through Sen. Mellissa Murray, funds that will be used on continued improvements to the organization’s historic town properties.
NSHA Grant Coordinator Beth Faricy laid out a list of funding achievements from 2025, also noting the organization has applied for additional grants in 2026.
From small contributions dedicated to specific projects, to larger allocations still in use, the preservation group did well last year starting in the month of May, when North Smithfield Fire & Rescue Service awarded them $2,500 to install a radio call box connecting Heritage Hall to the fire station. In the organization’s monthly newsletter, Faricy noted that the project is now nearly complete, and that NSHA also received $7,000 that month from the Preserve RI Foundation that was used to help put a new coat of exterior paint on the Green Street building.
In June, the NSHA received a Champlin Foundation grant of $38,874, which was used to purchase and install eight new energy efficient windows on the second floor of the Memorial Town Building. Funds still remaining will be added to the recently received state Senate grant to continue that window replacement project at the former town hall.
The organization received a smaller grant of $495 from the Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund in August, which enabled archivist Al Menard to purchase supplies for the preservation and restoration of newly acquired additions to their Dr. Metcalf Marsh collection, to be displayed in the Memorial Town Building, home of the NSHA archives.
“Dr. Marsh was a staunch supporter of the Dorr rebellion,” Faricy noted.
Faricy said that the THRIVE funding will be used for organizational expenses through September 1, including the purchase of two storm window inserts for the Forestdale Schoolhouse. Other expenses it may cover include programming supplies and materials, utilities, technology equipment and minor facilities repairs and/or improvements.
“Our estimated revenues for this past year were down in two major categories, so this will help us keep up with what is needed to continue caring for our facilities, providing the historical programs the townspeople have come to expect from NSHA, and continuing our preservation efforts with the Forestdale Schoolhouse, Heritage Hall and Memorial Town Building,” said Faricy.
And the organization, it seems, is gearing up for another big year as they spearhead the town’s efforts to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. At the request of NSHA President Richard Keene, members of the Town Council appointed the group to take the lead on North Smithfield’s festivities last month.
In January, the NSHA applied for $10,000 in funding from the RI250 Grant Program to produce a 15-20 minute film depicting the role of prominent early settlers of Union Village in the revolutionary time period. The group also hopes to develop lesson plans and walking tours of the area. A second application for a $5,000 grant from RI250 would be used to create and install two wayfinding signs that would describe early history in the Union Village and Primrose areas.
Faricy thanked all who helped with securing the funding to date.
“It is a team effort to coordinate the necessary information and then to act upon the successful award of funds,” she said.
