The Cocumscussoc Association is
the corporate entity that owns, maintains, and interprets the
history of Smith's Castle and Cocumscussoc in behalf of the people
of Rhode Island.
The Association was incorporated on August 9, 1948 with Norman
B. Smith, Arthur B. Lisle, Joseph W. Greene, Jr., William Green
Roelker, John H. Cady, Mary S. Whitford, and Adelaide B. Viall
elected Trustees. Elected as the first officers of the corporation
were:
President: Norman B. Smith
Vice-Presibent: Arthur B.
Lisle
Treasurer: Joseph Warren
Greene, Jr.
Secretary: Mary S. Whitford
Within a month of its creation,
the Association was able to secure an option to purchase Smith's
Castle from John Lawson, then-owner of the house and the remaining
land surrounding it.
After several months of securing
new members and raising funds, the Association closed on the Castle
and two acres of land. The purchase price was $13,000. The house
as it appeared when the Association took possession is shown in
Figs. 1-...
The Association bylaws adopted
in 1948 still guide the group's mission today:
"[The Cocumcussoc Association]
is constituted exclusively for the following charitable and educational
purposes:
"To acquire by purchase
or otherwise the property in the town of North Kingstown commonly
known as Richard Smith Blockhouse; to restore, maintain and preserve
it as a historical monument; to open it to public inspection and
use at suitable times and otherwise to establish and maintain
it for the public education, benefit and use, and as an example
of early Rhode Island architecture; to accept gifts and contributions
for its purchase, restoration and maintenance; and to charge such
fees for its inspection and use as may be necessary from time
to time to accomplish the above purposes and to be devoted solely
to such purposes."
In 1999 the Association supplemented the mission with the following
vision statement:
"Smith's Castle will focus
on teaching people the history of Rhode Island's development through
three eras: Native American days, early colonial days, and the
plantation era. Our teaching will be supported by physical evidence
of Rhode Island history that is concted to Smith's Castle."
