Coventry Landmark Holds Community Cleanup

The public can assist in cleaning the overgrown and trash-covered fields on this historical property this month.

The General Nathanael Greene Homestead, located at 50 Taft St., was built in 1770 and was the home of General Nathanael Greene, George Washington’s second-in-command in the Revolutionary War and his most trusted general.

“People have not treated the landmark so well,” said David Procaccini, president of Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead Association.

Over the past three years, members of the community have worked with the nonprofit, General Nathanael Greene Homestead Association, to restore the building and clean up the 10-acre fields that surround the homestead.

The nonprofit is holding an end of season yard cleanup of the area on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon.

The cleanups usually get 10 to 20 volunteers. “We’ll take as many as we can get,” Procaccini said.

This community event will work on cleaning up the fields, cutting brush along the walls, pulling weeds, leaf raking and yard cleaning.

“The more we clean it, the less people will dump their trash on this national historic landmark,” Procaccini said.

Participants can bring chainsaws, rakes, clippers, tractors, backhoes, chippers and trucks to help cleanup the area. The event is looking for donations of a chipper and a tractor with a bucket loader for the day of cleanup.

The fields around the homestead that were once completely overgrown are almost fully cleared due to the cleanup efforts in the past three years.

The last cleanup in March filled an entire pickup truck with trash and workers found items including a refrigerator, air conditioner, car parts and bags of trash in the fields.

Clean land on the homestead will allow for a bigger and better Revolutionary War Reenactment held on the fields in May. The event will act out a representation of a major Revolutionary War battle that took place in Rhode Island.

Procaccini expects the entire cleanup to take about two more years. Once the fields are clear, ­­­­­­the organization will rebuild a large barn that burnt down about 100 years ago. The barn will be used as a classroom and meeting area.

For more information on the end of season fall cleanup, visit the Nathanael Greene Homestead website.

Photo Credit: General Nathanael Greene Homestead Facebook page