New whats

Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, North Kingstown, R.I. Some events require registration in advance. Please phone the business office, 401-294-3521, for details.

Sunday 5, 2012
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Volunteer Appreciation Day
At the Castle

Saturday 18, 2012
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Lecture: Documenting Slavery at Cocumscussoc
This presentation forms the basis for a grant proposal to find additional information to provide a more informed picture of the lives of enslaved and indentured laborers at Cocumscussoc, as well as of the Smith/Updike family's roles in the institution of slavery.
At the North Kingston Free Library
100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI

Saturday & Sunday, May 5 - 6, 2012
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Opening Weekend - Bridge to the Past

The 17th century era of the Cocumscussoc trading posts of Richard Smith and Roger Williams is recalled. Re-enactors and sutlers from around the region lend an air of authenticity to the festivities. Presented in collaboration with the Roger Williams National Memorial.

Saturday 16, 2012
(rain date June 17)
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Strawberry Festival

Savor Smith’s Castle’s celebrated strawberry shortcake and pay homage to the humble wild strawberry—a favorite of the early colonists and the native Narragansett. Enjoy a day filled with fun family entertainment.

Second Annual Smith's Castle Open Golf Tournament
Saturday 17, 2012
Registration 7:00 a.m.
Shortgun Start 8:00 a.m.

At the North Kingston Golf Course

Saturday 13, 2012
(rain date October 14)
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Colonial Harvest Festival

Experience the days of the 18th century corn husking festivals when the Updike family of Smith’s Castle presided over one of the largest of the Narragansett Plantations. Enjoy live entertainment and savor homemade seasonal treats. (Apple Crisp)

Saturday 1 & Sunday 2, 2012
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Christmas at the Castle

This year's theme: History of Santa
The halls of Smith's Castle are decked in period fashion for a celebration of Christmas past.
Enjoy live music from an earlier era.
Nibble on home baked treats, sip hot mulled cider.
Baked Sale table
Adults $4 - Children 6 to 12 $2 - Children under 6 free - Members free

PAST EVENTS

Saturday 28, 2012
9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Cocumscussoc Association Annual Meeting
At the North Kingston Free Library
100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI

Tuesday, April 12
6:30-7:30 pm
URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 1
“Correcting Winter Damage to Trees & Shrubs & Other Pruning Problems.”
After a winter full of snow, ice and wind our trees and shrubs have suffered. Jeff Rossi will present the proper way to prune the damaged branches.

Saturday, April 16
9:00 am
Outdoor Spring Clean-Up
Join your friends and our local community as we spruce up the grounds of Smith’s Castle to get ready for opening day. Coffee and doughnuts will be set out to welcome our helpers. Tasks will include general yard work, picking up fallen branches, and raking leaves for example, as well as some small handyman chores if that is your more to your liking! If you have a rake or other favorite tools, bring them along, as well as your gloves. Trucks also welcome!

Tuesday, April 19
6:30-7:30 pm
URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 2
“Black Gold: Compost and Worms are Worth Their Weight in Gold.”
Claire Chenevert & Earle Perkins team up to present the “how to” on backyard composting. Talk will include types of compost bins, what to compost, and a show and tell on using red-wiggler worm castings for fertilizer.

Saturday, April 23
8:30am/10:00 am
Indoor Spring Clean-Up
Help get the interior of the Castle ready for visitors. The work will start at 8:30am as we change out storm windows for screens and wash the windows. Starting at 10:00, another group of volunteers will start cleaning the rooms, including dusting and vacuuming all surfaces. The Castle will supply all tools and cleaning supplies … as well as coffee and donuts to jump start the morning.

Tuesday, April 26
6:30-7:30 pm
URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 3
“Opening Up the Garden for Spring.”
The URI Master Gardeners’ team of volunteers at Smith’s Castle will offer a to-do list of early spring tasks in the garden and helpful tips for keeping your garden growing well all season.

Saturdays, April 30 through June 4, 2011
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Exhibit: PIRATES! Against All Flags

PIRATES! Against All Flags, an exhibit by Neal Kirk and Free Men Of the Sea, will focus its emphasis on the pirates of the Red Sea trade that were common in New England from about 1690 to 1720. Come get a glimpse into the fact and folklore of the pirates of long ago. View a variety of period weapons, an array of pirate flags, period coins, examples of what treasure pirates really sought, pirate books and movie costumes, types of punishments, and other piratical paraphernalia. If you love things piratical, you’ll enjoy this exhibit.

Thursday, May 12, 2011 6:30 p.m.
Learn about Nipsachuck Battlefield in King Philip’s War
At the North Kingston Free Library
100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI
Doug Harris and Paul Robinson will provide a presentation and discuss their research into Nipsachuck, a place in northern Rhode Island of enduring ceremonial importance to Indian people, where two major conflicts took place during the King Philip’s War, 1675-1676. Their research is assisted by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program at the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior. Doug Harris is Preservationist for Ceremonial Landscapes in the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Paul Robinson is the Principal Archaeologist at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission and an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Rhode Island College.

Saturday, October 1, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Yard Sale, Castle Tours and Blood Drive
Smith's Castle Association members and the North Kingston Animal Shelter will have various used treasures available for re-use at "can't resist" prices.
Castle Tours are scheduled for 12, 1, 2 and 3 PM.
The Rhode Island Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at the Castle from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Saturday 5, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
What's It Worth? returns to Smith's Castle

Coming November 5th to Smith's Castle: Daniel Buck - a well known appraiser and estate auctioneer and an independent appraiser for the PBS Antiques Road Show, for over eleven years. Bring your item (s)) to be appraised: $10 each, three for $25 (there is a three item maximum per person). We are booking fifteen minute slots from 10 am to 2 pm. Take this opportunity to find out more about the history and value of the family item you have cherished for years.
Contact Smith's Castle for information and to book a time slot.
(401) 294-3521 or e-mail us at: smithscastle@earthlink.net

		Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, North Kingstown, R.I. Some events require registration in advance. Please phone the business office, 401-294-3521, for details.
		Sunday 5, 2012 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Volunteer Appreciation Day At the Castle

		Saturday 18, 2012 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Lecture: Documenting Slavery at Cocumscussoc This presentation forms the basis for a grant proposal to find additional information to provide a more informed picture of the lives of enslaved and indentured laborers at Cocumscussoc, as well as of the Smith/Updike family's roles in the institution of slavery. At the North Kingston Free Library 100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI

		Saturday & Sunday, May 5 - 6, 2012 Noon-4:00 p.m. Opening Weekend - Bridge to the Past The 17th century era of the Cocumscussoc trading posts of Richard Smith and Roger Williams is recalled. Re-enactors and sutlers from around the region lend an air of authenticity to the festivities. Presented in collaboration with the Roger Williams National Memorial.

		Saturday 16, 2012 (rain date June 17) Noon-4:00 p.m. Strawberry Festival Savor Smith’s Castle’s celebrated strawberry shortcake and pay homage to the humble wild strawberry—a favorite of the early colonists and the native Narragansett. Enjoy a day filled with fun family entertainment.

		Second Annual Smith's Castle Open Golf Tournament Saturday 17, 2012 Registration 7:00 a.m. Shortgun Start 8:00 a.m. At the North Kingston Golf Course

		Saturday 13, 2012 (rain date October 14) Noon-4:00 p.m. Colonial Harvest Festival Experience the days of the 18th century corn husking festivals when the Updike family of Smith’s Castle presided over one of the largest of the Narragansett Plantations. Enjoy live entertainment and savor homemade seasonal treats. (Apple Crisp)

		Saturday 1 & Sunday 2, 2012 Noon-4:00 p.m. Christmas at the Castle This year's theme: History of Santa The halls of Smith's Castle are decked in period fashion for a celebration of Christmas past. Enjoy live music from an earlier era. Nibble on home baked treats, sip hot mulled cider. Baked Sale table Adults $4 - Children 6 to 12 $2 - Children under 6 free - Members free
		PAST EVENTS
		Saturday 28, 2012 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Cocumscussoc Association Annual Meeting At the North Kingston Free Library 100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI
		Tuesday, April 12 6:30-7:30 pm URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 1 “Correcting Winter Damage to Trees & Shrubs & Other Pruning Problems.” After a winter full of snow, ice and wind our trees and shrubs have suffered. Jeff Rossi will present the proper way to prune the damaged branches. Saturday, April 16 9:00 am Outdoor Spring Clean-Up Join your friends and our local community as we spruce up the grounds of Smith’s Castle to get ready for opening day. Coffee and doughnuts will be set out to welcome our helpers. Tasks will include general yard work, picking up fallen branches, and raking leaves for example, as well as some small handyman chores if that is your more to your liking! If you have a rake or other favorite tools, bring them along, as well as your gloves. Trucks also welcome! Tuesday, April 19 6:30-7:30 pm URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 2 “Black Gold: Compost and Worms are Worth Their Weight in Gold.” Claire Chenevert & Earle Perkins team up to present the “how to” on backyard composting. Talk will include types of compost bins, what to compost, and a show and tell on using red-wiggler worm castings for fertilizer. Saturday, April 23 8:30am/10:00 am Indoor Spring Clean-Up Help get the interior of the Castle ready for visitors. The work will start at 8:30am as we change out storm windows for screens and wash the windows. Starting at 10:00, another group of volunteers will start cleaning the rooms, including dusting and vacuuming all surfaces. The Castle will supply all tools and cleaning supplies … as well as coffee and donuts to jump start the morning. Tuesday, April 26 6:30-7:30 pm URI Master Gardeners Lecture Series 3 “Opening Up the Garden for Spring.” The URI Master Gardeners’ team of volunteers at Smith’s Castle will offer a to-do list of early spring tasks in the garden and helpful tips for keeping your garden growing well all season.

		Saturdays, April 30 through June 4, 2011 Noon-4:00 p.m. Exhibit: PIRATES! Against All Flags PIRATES! Against All Flags, an exhibit by Neal Kirk and Free Men Of the Sea, will focus its emphasis on the pirates of the Red Sea trade that were common in New England from about 1690 to 1720. Come get a glimpse into the fact and folklore of the pirates of long ago. View a variety of period weapons, an array of pirate flags, period coins, examples of what treasure pirates really sought, pirate books and movie costumes, types of punishments, and other piratical paraphernalia. If you love things piratical, you’ll enjoy this exhibit.

		Thursday, May 12, 2011 6:30 p.m. Learn about Nipsachuck Battlefield in King Philip’s War At the North Kingston Free Library 100 Boone Street, North Kingston, RI Doug Harris and Paul Robinson will provide a presentation and discuss their research into Nipsachuck, a place in northern Rhode Island of enduring ceremonial importance to Indian people, where two major conflicts took place during the King Philip’s War, 1675-1676. Their research is assisted by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program at the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior. Doug Harris is Preservationist for Ceremonial Landscapes in the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Paul Robinson is the Principal Archaeologist at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission and an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Rhode Island College.

		Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Yard Sale, Castle Tours and Blood Drive Smith's Castle Association members and the North Kingston Animal Shelter will have various used treasures available for re-use at "can't resist" prices. Castle Tours are scheduled for 12, 1, 2 and 3 PM. The Rhode Island Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at the Castle from 11 AM to 2 PM.

		Saturday 5, 2011 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. What's It Worth? returns to Smith's Castle Coming November 5th to Smith's Castle: Daniel Buck - a well known appraiser and estate auctioneer and an independent appraiser for the PBS Antiques Road Show, for over eleven years. Bring your item (s)) to be appraised: $10 each, three for $25 (there is a three item maximum per person). We are booking fifteen minute slots from 10 am to 2 pm. Take this opportunity to find out more about the history and value of the family item you have cherished for years. Contact Smith's Castle for information and to book a time slot. (401) 294-3521 or e-mail us at: smithscastle@earthlink.net