iPuntyRod - May 2006

Club News

AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Dave Andrews

This is the first online newsletter update I've done in a year and a half. Sorry about that, folks, but sometimes fun stuff takes a back seat to the rigors of life. I am not going to guarantee I'll be able to update this every month but will do my best to give you your money's worth. Oh wait. This is a free site. Well, then.......

Thanks to all who emailed and asked if the site had been abandoned. If any of you had been visiting the site and paying attention, you might had noticed that the only portion I've consistantly updated has been the online bottle book. When I have the time, I watch eBay and elsewhere on the internet and add new RI bottle finds as they come to light. In my search I've been in contact with numerous collectors and dealers who have assisted me with the collection and verification of information on these new finds. My thanks to them and, yes, I will be adding your names to our List Of Contributors. I have not forgotten.

: There are also a number of new photos to add to the listings and I'll do that as time allows. I intend to update the New Finds pages as well as there have been some pretty neat previously unknown RI bottles show up over the past couple of years.

Now, what's that old saying about good intentions?

APRIL MEETING by Julie Narcovich

Donald Carpenter started off by telling us about the Sprague family that settled in Cranston around 1750 Donald Carpenter gave a good lecture on their wealth and there inventions ,and the mill. Below is two informational stories on the Sprague family. Most all of the information was given at the presentation by Mr. Carpenter. Then we had show and tell Bob brought in a nice collection of printed label milks Karsten brought in some nice sodas, and Bill Rose brought in a Sandwich Glass bottle in cobalt blue. He also brought in a stoneware jug from 1865 with a beautiful cobalt flower on it from NY. Mark Thatcher brought in a WM Radams micro killer jug.


JUNE'S PRESENTATION AND MEETING by Julie Narcovich

Matt King will be coming in June for a presentation on ‘Bits & Pieces’ of things found at a digging spot. He will inform us on the different ways to tell what a fragment was from and how old it is. Show and tell will be on fragments that you have found at a digging spot. As always there will be food and yummies.

WHY I ENJOY THE CLUB AND HOW I GOT BACK INTO BOTTLE COLLECTING by Karsten Kydland

It's been just over a year since I joined the Little Rhody club, and I must say I have been enjoying it very much. My drive from Taunton to Warwick every month takes a bit of gas but it's worth it. It's not so much the bottles themselves but the people that are interested in the bottles that keep me coming. Many of us have been digging and collecting for many years. It is great to tell our stories of how we searched and found the bottles we bring in or got for a good deal at a yard sale, flea market, or antique store. Hopefully, we will be able to go digging together somewhere in the near future, but if that doesn't work out, it's still enjoyable just getting together. I have learned much from the presentations, the extensive collection of books in the library, and of course from the January show and sale. Helping out at that show was a privilege. So I say to all the people who founded the club and have kept it going all these years, thank you.

As for myself, I found my first old bottle in New Jersey in 1967. Being ten years old at the time I didn't buy bottles but went digging with my father or friends. We rode bicycles to the farther away places and I had a particular knack for sniffing out the old dumps. I was pretty active in the hobby until the late 1980's when I moved on to other things. I'd always keep a few of my favorites around, however, and put them in a window to remind me that hard work pays off. Without a doubt the hardest work I've ever done has been digging out good dumps. On occasion I'd take a walk in the woods to see what I might find, but my experiences told me most of the dumps had been dug out already and I just didn't have time to get into it. But then in 2004, while living in Taunton, I stumbled upon three old untouched dumps and found about 200 bottles. It was hard to believe because two of them were in very obvious locations. Nobody had ever found them before! I began to think there could be more bottles still out there that I could find, so my interest was renewed. Also that year, I worked for a woman who had a bottle in her kitchen window holding dried flowers. It was an Old ridge's Balm of Columbia, For Restoring Hair, Philadelphia. This is one of the oldest pontiled medicines you can come across. She related how she found it wedged up in the attic beams of an old house she rented in Middleboro many years ago. I traded some work for it and it sits on my shelf in front of me as I write this.

I think when you have invested a lot of your life in a particular hobby, it's always nice to get together with other people who have done the same. That's why I enjoy being a part of the Little Rhody Bottle Club.

THE SPRAGUE FAMILY by Donald Carpenter and the Cranston Historical Society

The Governor Sprague Mansion: The Sprague Mansion was built in two parts, each representing in its own way, the prosperity of the Sprague Family which came to Cranston as early as 1712. The small family homestead was constructed in the late 18th century. Featuring a central chimney, low ceilings, simple woodwork, it was a spacious type of home of the well-to-do farmer and merchant of the post-Revolutionary era.

Over the years there have been many changes to the Mansion but the most dominate changes were made in the 1864 by Col. Amasa Sprague when he upgraded the house from the simple homestead to an elegant home where he entertained his social contacts. The new addition included a wide hall lighted by a fan-shaped window above the entrance door. Instead of the plain straight steep stairs of the old part of the house, the staircase in the 1860's part of the mansion is wide and winding. The woodwork of the balusters and railings is carved and decorative. The mantles of the fireplaces in the new section of the house are also representative of the times, Italian marble graces the fireplace in the grand ball room on the first floor where the Sprague's would have entertained many visitors from the financial, political and sporting circles. Two large bedrooms on the second and third floors replaced the more numerous small bedrooms of the old part of the homestead. The rooms on the third floor on the old side of the mansion were small and many and used by William Sprague II to house many of the men who worked in nearby "Sprague's Woods" and at the Sprague Print Works during the 1830's.

The most striking feature of the mansion at first glance is the cupola high atop the new section of the mansion. From here the Sprague's viewed their panorama of Cranston holdings, the orchards; vineyards; woodlands; reservoir; a railroad; a horse car company; the Cranston Print Works Manufacturing Company and its two villages of mill houses, complete with a school, community store; boarding houses, meeting house, post office, and counting house, sometimes called the Cranston Bank and a horse racing track. They were Masters of all they surveyed.


by Gladys M. Brayton 1966 with updating by Lydia Rapoza 2000

The Mansion was well maintained in its original condition down through the years, although some changes were made to the interior following the Civil War. Modern facilities have since been tastefully added making the building suitable for the use of large groups when required. Now restored to much of its elegance and splendor the Mansion is once again used for cultural and civic activities. Furnished throughout by gifts and items on loan, the Mansion holds items that belonged to the Sprague family.

The lovely carriage house was built in 1864 and retains much of the charm and character it would have had when it housed the mill teams of the A. & W. Sprague Company.

SPRAGUE FAMILY HISTORY by Susan W. Pieroth

SPRAGUE FAMILY The Cranston-Johnston branch of the
Sprague’s formed one of the mast notable and historically
prominent of Rhode Island families since the beginning of the
seventeenth century. Members of this family have been
leaders in practically every department of the life of the State
throughout two centuries. Three generations of the Cranston
Sprague’s, William Sprague, his sons, Governor William and
Amasa, and the latter’s sons, Amasa, Governor William (2),
and Byron, together and in turn founded and developed one of
the greatest, if not the greatest, of the cotton cloth
manufacturing industries of the day in the world. William
Sprague, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, during the
Rebellion, a gallant soldier and citizen whose name occupies
a brilliant page in the history of the State, was of this branch.
Closely allied by bonds of kinship to this illustrious branch
of the family are the Johnston Sprague’s, and it is with this
family, in the line of the late William Anson Sprague, that
this article is to deal. The Sprague coat-of-arms is as follows:

Arms Gules, a fesse chequy or and azure between three
Fleurs-de-lis of the second.
Crest A Talbot passant argent resting the foot on a fleur-
de-lies gules.

(I) William Sprague, immigrant ancestor and progenitor,
was a son of Edward Sprague, of Upway, Dorsetshire,
England. Edward Sprague lived at Fordington, Dorsetshire, in
early life, and was a fuller by trade. He married Christina,
and died in 1614. His will was proved June 6, 1614, in the
prerogative court at Canterbury, and copies of the document
made at this time are still in possession of the family. Three
of his sons, Ralph, Richard, and William, came to America.
In Prince’s "Chronology" we find the following mention of
the brothers:

Among those who arrived at Naumkeag are Ralph Sprague,
with his brothers Richard and William, who, with three or
four more, were employed by Governor Endicott to e×plore
and take possession of the country westward. They traveled
through the woods to Charlestown, on a neck of land
called Michawum, between Mystic and Charles rivers,. full
of Indians named Aborginians, with whom they made peace."
Ralph Sprague was about twenty-five years of age when he
came to New England In 1631. Captain Richard Sprague
commanded a company of the train band. On February 10,
1634, the order creating a Board of Selectmen was passed,
and Richard and William Sprague signed it. Richard Sprague
left no posterity. His sword, which is named in his brother
William's will, was e×tant in 1828.

William Sprague settled first in Charlestown, Mass.,
where he lived until 1636. He then removed to Hingham,
landing on the side of the cove, on a tract of land afterward
granted him by the town, and he was one of the first planters
there. His house lot is said to have been the best situated in
the town. Many grants were made him from time to time. He
was active in public affairs, and was constable, fence-viewer,
etc. William Sprague died October 6, 1675; his will
bequeaths to his wife, Millicent, and children, Anthony,
Samuel, William, Joan, Jonathan, Persis, Johanna, and Mary.
He married, in Charlestown, in 1635, Millicent Eames,
daughter of Anthony Eames, who died February 8, 1695-96.

(II) John Sprague, son of William and Millicent (Eames)
Sprague, was born in Hingham, Mass., and baptized there in
April, 1638. He married, December 13, 1666, Elizabeth
Holbrook, and settled in the town of Mendon, Mass., where
he died.

(III) Ebenezer Sprague, son of John and Elizabeth
(Holbrook) Sprague, was born about 1672. He was a resident
of Rehoboth, Mass., for a short time, and from there removed
to Providence, where four of his children are recorded. On
January 12, 1706, he married, in Providence, Mary Mann,
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wheaton) Mann, of
Rehoboth.

(IV) Daniel Sprague, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Mann)
Sprague, was born in Providence, R. I., March 28, 1712-13.
He was a prominent resident and leading citizen of Johnston,
R. I., and for many years held the office of justice of the
peace. Daniel Sprague married (first) about 1730, Sarah
Ballou, and (second) about 1736, Hannah Brown.

(V) Rufus Sprague, son of Daniel and Sarah (Ballou)
Sprague, was born in Johnston, June 7, 1735. Like his father
he was active in public affairs during the greater part of his
life, He was deputy sheriff and later high sheriff of
Providence county. He was a farmer on a large scale in
Johnston, where he died. Rufus Sprague is buried in a private
yard on his own farm.

(VI) Welcome Sprague, son of Rufus Sprague, was a
resident at different times of Warwick, Cranston, and
Johnston, and followed the trade of carpenter successfully
until his death. He married (first) ---- Peck, and they were
the parents of one son, Jenckes Sprague, who removed to the
eastern part of Pennsylvania, where his descendants still
reside. Welcome Sprague married (second) Ruth Collins,
member of a prominent old Rhode Island family. Their
children were: Colinda, Sylvia, and Rufus, mentioned below.
He died at his home in Johnston. His widow, who survived
him many years, died at the home of her son, Rufus, in
Providence.

(VII) Rufus (2) Sprague, son of Welcome and Ruth
(Collins) Sprague, was born during the residence of the
family in Cranston, and removed during boyhood to Johnston,
where he grew up on his father’s farm. He learned the trade
of carpenter under his father, and plied his trade in Johnston
until 1852. In the latter year he removed to Providence,
established himself in the building and contracting business
on a large scale, and engaged successfully in the building and
selling of houses and the development of real estate until his
death. Mr. Sprague was a well known figure in the business
circles of Providence in the si×ties, and was eminently
respected. He was a member of the Si× Principle Baptist
Church.

Rufus Sprague married Lavina V. Lovell, of Scituate. Their
children were: 1. George W., a farmer, of Johnston and
Providence. 2. A child, who died in infancy. 3. William A.,
mentioned below. 4. John L. 5. Sheldon P., who was engaged
in the grocery business in East Providence. 6. Arnold P., a
mechanic, resided in Pawtucket. 7. Abby, widow of Henry A.
Barnes, of Providence. 8. Celinda, who became the wife of
Frank Barrows. 9. Mary E., who married Professor James K.
Allen, of Providence. 10. Lavina, first wife of Frank Barrows.
11. Albert, of Johnston. 12 Rufus, of Providence.

(VIII) William Anson Sprague, son of Ruins and Lavina
V. (Lovell) Sprague, was born in Johnston, R. I., June 9,
1832. He was educated in the public schools of Johnston, and
completed his studies in the Smithfield Seminary of North
Scituate, under Principals Quimby and Coburn. After
completing his education, he taught school for nine sessions
in Coventry and Cranston, but gave up this profession to
engage in business as a carpenter. Having gained a
satisfactory working knowledge of the business, he
established himself independently as a builder and contractor.

Mr. Sprague was very successful in business, confining his
operations largely to building houses and disposing of them
or renting them. From time to time, however, he accepted
contracts for other work. He was widely known in business
circles in Providence and eminently respected. He was also a
prominent figure in Masonic and fraternal circles. He was a
member of Crescent Lodge, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and held all the offices in that body. In religious
faith he was a Baptist and a member of the Auburn Free
Baptist Church, of which he was a deacon for many years.

Mr. Sprague married (first) Katharine A. Wood, daughter
of Jonathan Wood, and member of a prominent old Rhode
Island family. Mrs. Sprague died in Providence, the mother of
one son, Walter E., who married Julia Upham, of Boston; he
had the care of his father’s estate until his death, in
December, 1914; he was a member of. Harmony Lodge,
Pawtucket, attaining the thirty-second degree in Scottish Rite
Masonry. Mr. Sprague married (second) Bessie A. Wood,
sister of his first wife, and they were the parents of a
daughter, M. Alice. Miss Sprague resides at No. 472
Cranston street, in the Sprague home, which was built by her
father, in 1872. William Anson Sprague died at his home in
Providence, May 19, 1912, in his eightieth year. The Wood
coat-of-arms is as follows:

Arms Argent, an oak tree vert, fructed or.
Crest A demi-wild man, on the shoulder a club proper
holding in the de×ter hand an oak branch of the last,
wreathed about the middle vert.

Upcoming Events

APRIL 22 - PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA: The Emerald Coast Bottle Club, Inc 9th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the Panama City Beach Recreational Complex on highway 98, Panama City Beach, FL. Info: ALAN McCARTHY, PH: (850) 769-3984, email: kajacanal@knology.net or BOBBY VAUGHN, PH: (850) 415-5521, email: deanne_vaughn@ yahoo.com

APRIL 23 - ROCHESTER, NEW YORK: The Genessee Valley Bottle Collectors Assoc. 37th Annual Bottle Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the ESL Sports Centre, 2700 Brighton Henrietta Town Line Rd, on the Monroe Community College Campus, Rochester, NY. Info: LARRY FOX, PH: (585) 394-8958, email: brerfox@frontiernet.net or AAREN & PAM WEBER, PH: (585) 226-6345, email: dealerchair@gvbca.org

APRIL 23 - HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA: The Historical Bottle-Diggers of Virginia 35th Annual Antique Bottle and Collectible Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, (US Rt. 11 South, Exit 243 off I-81) Info: SONNY SMILEY, PH: (540) 434-1129 or email: lithiaman1@yahoo.com

MAY 6 - ALLENTOWN, PA: The 6th Pennsylvania Antique Bottle, Breweriana and Advertising Show, (Open to Public 9:30 am-2:30 pm) at Merchant's Square Mall S. 12th & Vultee St. Allentown, PA. Info: MARK ZEPPENFELT, 4881 Cypress Street, Wescosville, PA 18106 PH: (610-391-0271 E-mail - UUUBUY@RCN.COM

MAY 7 - UTICA, NEW YORK: Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club's 12th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2:30 PM), at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds, Route 5S and Cemetery Road, 5 miles East of Utica in Frankfort, N.Y. Info: PETER BLEIBERG, 7 White Pine Road, New Hartford, N.Y. 13413, PH: (315) 735-5430, email: pmbleiberg@aol.com

MAY 20 - COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT: Musuem of Connecticut Glass, 2nd Annual Bottle & Glass Show & Sale, (9 AM to 1 PM), at the the historic Coventry Museum grounds, Route 44 & North River Road, Coventry CT. Info: JAN A. RATUSHNY, PO Box 242, Eastford, CT 06242, PH: (860) 428-4585 email: janratushny@aol.com

MAY 21 - BRICK, NEW JERSEY: Jersey Shore Bottle Club presents 34th Show. Antique bottles, post cards and local memorabilia. (9 AM to 2 PM), at the Brick Elks, 2491 Hooper Ave., Brick, NJ. 08723. Sunday May 21, 2006, 9 AM to 2PM. Info: RICHARD PEAL, 720 Eastern Lane, Brick, NJ 08723, PH: (732) 267-2528, email: manodirt@msn.com or our website http://www.geocities.com/dtripet2000/jsbc/jsbc.html

MAY 21 - WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA: Washington County Antique Bottle Club 32nd Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the Alpine Star Lodge, 735 Jefferson Ave, (exit 17, off I-70), Washington, PA, Info: NIGEL DUNMORE, 121 Highland Ave., Avella, PA 15312, PH: (724) 587-5217, email: legin1247@msn.com

JUNE 2 & 3 - LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA: The Robeson Antique Bottle Club Annual Show & Sale, (Fri. 3 to 9 PM and Sat. 9 AM to 3 PM), at the Farmers Market, Exit 14 off I-95, Lumberton, NC. Info: PAUL VALENTI, 456 Boone Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360, PH: (910) 738-3074, or MITCHELL McCORMICK, PH: (910) 628-6245, email BRET LEE at dex@intrestar.net

JULY 15 & 16 - ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA: The 5th Annual Shupp's Grove Bottle Festival, Sat. & Sun. 6 AM to dark, Early Buyers Fri. 5 PM), at Shupp's Grove in Adamstown, PA. Info: STEVE GUION, PH: (717) 560-9480 email: affinityinsurance@dejazzd.com or JERE HAMBLETON, (717) 393-5175, emial: jshdetector@webtv.net

AUGUST 18 & 19 - NORCROSS, GEORGIA: The Atlanta Antique Bottle Show, formerly Southeastern Antique Bottle Club Show presents its 36th Annual Antique Bottle Show and Sale, (Friday 12 PM to 5 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM, Admission $5.00) at the North Antlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Ct., Norcross, GA. Info: JACK HEWITT, 1765 Potomac Ct., Lawrenceville, GA 30043. PH: (770) 963-0220 or JOHN JOINER, PH: (770) 502-9565 email: propjj@numail.org

SEPTEMBER 23 - JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: Antique Bottle Collectors of North Florida 39th Annual Show & Sale, (8 AM to 3 PM, early buyers Fri. 6 to 9 PM), at the Fraternal Order of Police Building, 5530 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL. Info: WAYNE HARDEN, 3867 Winter Betty Road, Jacksonville, FL 32210, PH: (904) 781-2620, email: abcnf@juno.com

SEPTEMBER 24 - LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS: The Lowell Antique Bottle & Post Card Show. Early buyers 8am $15. $3 donation from 9am – 2 pm. Lowell Elks Club, 40 Old Ferry Rd., Lowell, Ma. Exit 32 off US Rt 3 then follow the signs. For more info contact John Gallo @978-256-2738 or Gary Koltookian @ 978-2569561

OCTOBER 7 - HAMBURG, NEW YORK: Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Exposition Hall, Hamburg, NY. Info: ED POTTER, PH: (716) 674-8890, email: ecp103130@worldnet.att.net or PETER JABLONSKI, PH: (716) 440-7985, email: psjablon102@cs.com

JANUARY 14, 2007 - SOUTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS: The Little Rhody Bottle Club's Annual Show & Sale; 10 AM to 2 PM; K of C Hall, 304 Highland Avenue, Rte. 123; Info: Julie Camara, email: narcovich@aol.com

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