SPRAGUE
MANSION
Cranston, Rhode Island
THE SPRAGUE FAMILY HOME
The house was built around 1790. It was expanded significantly in 1864 by Col. Amasa Sprague, who added a wide hall and winding staircase for entertaining his financial, political and social contacts. Three generations of the Sprague family lived in the house.
The Spragues founded the Sprague Print Works in 1808, which later became the Cranston Print Works. At the time of the Civil War, the A. & W. Sprague Company was the richest textile company in the United States, and William Sprague IV was the Governor of Rhode Island. William IV fought in the First Battle of Bull Run while serving as governor.
THE REPORTED ACTIVITY
Sprague Mansion has long been viewed as one of Rhode Island’s most haunted locations. Its dark history is anchored by the 1843 murder of textile mill owner Amasa Sprague. Visitors and paranormal investigators have reported unexplained footsteps on the main staircase, sudden cold spots and a figure near the landing.
The name “Charlie,” once spelled out on Ouija boards, is believed to refer to a former 19th-century butler. His spirit is said to still roam the halls. Investigators frequently report activity in the old wine cellar and the former Doll Room. Legends also connect the house to other Sprague family members, including Lucy Chase Sprague and William Sprague IV’s son, who died by suicide in the mansion in 1890.
RISEUP was invited by the Cranston Historical Society to conduct our own investigations. We approached the mansion without relying on legends or prior encounters, yet the results were remarkable.
