The Spragues at East Avenue Farm
The man responsible for developing the farm along present day East
Avenue was William Sprague, the seventh of that family to bear the
name. He and his brother, Amasa, had inherited a number of mills from
their father and organized the A & W Sprague Manufacturing Company.
During the 1830s, the company prospered and Amasa Sprague concentrated
his attention on the business. He lived at the beautiful family mansion
in Cranston, while his brother William devoted much of his time to
politics.
The first Governor Sprague
The early 1800s was the period before the days of the secret ballot and
the Spragues dictated to the workers when it came time for voting.
William Sprague became Governor (1838 39) and U.S. Senator (1842 44).
He made Warwick his country seat, added to the property, and developed
a suitable "governor's residence" on what is known today as East
Avenue. Sprague's home was a large and handsome 12-room structure with
seven fireplaces. The original building, circa 1835, has been altered
and expanded over the years.
A time of transition
Styles of architecture were changing rapidly during that period, as
were ideas and means of transportation. The first train between Boston
and Providence made its initial trip in 1835, canals and railroads were
being built throughout R.I., and great fortunes were being made in the
textile industry. The house, owned by William Sprague, who was involved
in much of the activity of the State, reflected the changes of the
period.
The mansion has been described as a federal type building with a
central hall plan and a symmetrical 5 bay style. It combines this with
a Greek Revival front with Ionic columns. Later alterations included
the addition of porches, a dining room, and a master bedroom. These
changes have been skillfully blended and the result is a very
attractive structure.
The Murder of Amasa Sprague
If William Sprague had hoped to lead a quiet life on his estate and
enjoy the prestige of a political life, he was seriously mistaken. His
venture into politics was cut short when his brother, Amasa, was
murdered in 1843. As might be imagined, this murder of one of Rhode
Island's leading industrialists caused a great upheaval in the State.
William Sprague retired from politics to devote all his time and energy
to the family business, determined to find and punish his brother's
murderers. Emotions ran high, and as it was a time of rampant prejudice
against the large waves of Irish-Catholic immigrants who had come to
work in the mills, suspicion fell upon an Irishman named John Gordon.
Earlier in 1843, the Gordons had been involved in a vicious quarrel
with Amasa Sprague who was responsible for their failure to obtain a
liquor license. Although the case against the Gordons was weak and the
evidence circumstantial, the combination of anti Irish sentiment and
the Temperance Movement worked to convict and execute John Gordon.
Violence was feared as over 200 Irishmen marched in protest at Gordon's
funeral. Later evidence indicated that Gordon was not guilty and,
partially in atonement for the injustice against Gordon, the state of
Rhode Island abolished the death penalty in 1852.
A new Era in Textiles
The surviving Sprague brother, William, now resigned from politics,
resumed control of the family business and under his very capable
supervision the company expanded. Upon his death in 1856, his son Byron
and his nephews William and Amasa inherited a very prosperous financial
empire. Byron was more interested in other developments and sold his
interests to his cousins. Under the leadership of young William and
Amasa Sprague, the A & W Sprague Mfg. Co. reached unprecedented
heights.
The story of the Spragues and the property on East Avenue will be continued.
The A & W Sprague Label showing the Arctic Mill which was built by
William Sprague, who once lived in the house now a part of the CCRI
property.
From the Mildred Longo Collection