Greene Academy Lottery Ticket

Smithfield, February, 1812, Signed by Nathan B. Sprague

In 1812, several prominent figures in the town of Smithfield organized the Greene Academy. They were: Duty Winsor, Daniel Winsor, Anson Mowry, Elijah Day, Emor Olney, Nathan B. Sprague, Augustus Winsor, Jr., Ziba Smith, Abraham Smith and Asa Winsor.

At the February session of the Rhode Island General Assembly that year, the incorporators were granted the right to hold a lottery to raise $2,200 for the construction of a school building. Elijah Day was contracted to build a structure, “36 feet long and 26 feet wide, two stories high and 19 feet from bottom of sill to top of plate with good substantial Geometry work roof and a portico in front 10 feet square with a steeple, or Bellcony on the top sufficient for a bell and each end to be built of brick with a chimney at each end and one fireplace at each chimney in each story or room.” The building was finished in 1814 at a cost of $1,357.

In 1819, the school did not elect officers and its charter was briefly forfeited. The charter was lost again and regranted in 1836, for the failure of its trustees to hold annual meetings.

On September 23, 1843, the trustees of the school agreed to transfer ownership to the town and it became a District 14 schoolhouse.