Charles Whipple Greene Museum

The Museum was first established as the "Antiquarian Room" at the January 8, 1889 dedication of the building. It was set aside to house a collection of historic artifacts, antiques, and curiosities. According to a January 22, 1899 article from the Providence Sunday Telegram, the idea of an antiquarian room is due to the efforts of Judge Benjamin M. Bosworth and Theo Warren.  Mr. Warren became the chairman of the newly established Antiquarian committee, which consisted of the chair and two other members.

 

The collection can be divided into domestic artifacts, military, maritime, and Warren items from the schools and fire department. Documents and manuscripts are also included: two journals of Luther Cole, who participated in the California Gold Rush, a section of a whaling log of the ship Chariot, a George Washington signature and the papers of L. E. Simmonds, a naval officer and Warren resident who was also the son-in-law of James Maxwell.

Local Warren authors are also a part of the collection. Hezekiah Butterworth wrote books for young people as well as poetry. The museum houses many of his works, particularly the ZigZag travel series.  Books by other notable Warren authors such as Walter Stanley and George H. Coomer are also collected.

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We are working to improve access to the museum collection. We would like to be open more hours and could use volunteers to help staff the museum. If you are interested, especially if you have experience in museums, local history or a related area, contact the library director at 401-245-7686 or via email at director@georgehail.org.

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• Domestic Artifacts: foot warmers, candle molds, cradles, textiles, irons, tools, pictorial china

• Military Collection: bullet molds, cartridge belts, muskets, haversacks, swords, uniform parts, volunteer lists

• Maritime Items: astrolabes, half hulls, scrimshaw, sextants, ships' documents, whaling log

• Warren History: journals, photographs, currency, school and fire department memorabilia