The Cranston Historical Society celebrated its 75th anniversary in style Friday with an evening gala that drew more than 150 people, including past and present state leaders and dignitaries.

Guests gathered under scalloped white tents on the lawn of the Sprague Mansion to enjoy a light supper and to applaud special award recipients who were being honored for their contributions to the community. They included U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, former House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Comprehensive Community Action President Joanne McGunagle, Warwick Beacon Editor John Howell, and 109-year-old World War II veteran Henry Polichetti.

The event was intended to be a major fundraiser for the Society, which is looking to continue its preservation work in the city.

“The support of the community is essential to the work that we do,” Historical Society President Sandra Moyer said in a prior interview.

Formed in 1949 by residents who wanted to help the public learn about Cranston’s rich history, the Historical Society owns the 18th century Joy Homestead on Scituate Avenue and the stately Governor Sprague Mansion on Cranston Street.

The sprawling white clapboard mansion was the birthplace of Governor William Sprague III and his nephew, Governor William Sprague IV. Both properties are available to the public as museums and event venues.

Former Cranston Mayor John O’Leary, a member of the Historical Society and chairman of the committee that organized Friday’s gala, noted that it was fitting that the mansion serve as the backdrop for the festive evening.  There were lots of hugs and laughter as guests greeted each other — many of whom knew each other from their roles in public office or community service leadership.

Members of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) were on hand to present colors and were also joined in leading the Pledge of Allegiance by members of Troop 66 (Garden City) of the Boy Scouts of America.

Award recipients received special citations of appreciation from Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins as well as commendations from the General Assembly and personalized plaques from the Historical Society.

Dignitaries in attendance included current and past members of the General Assembly, municipal leaders, and former mayors from both Cranston and Warwick. O’Leary noted that there were too many notable guests to recognize by name, but that the crowd represented years of dedication to public service and support for the Historical Society.

The evening’s honorees (in alphabetical order) were retired R.I. National Guard Lt. Gen. Reginald A. Centracchio; John Howell, editor of the Warwick Beacon (and former publisher of the Cranston Herald); State Sen. Frank S. Lombardi; Nicholas Mattiello, former speaker of the R.I. House of Representatives; Joanne McGunagle, president & CEO of Comprehensive Community Action Programs (CCAP);  U.S. Navy World War II Veteran Henry Polichetti who is 109 years young;  U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; the White Family Foundation; and the Honorable Frank J. Williams, retired Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

There were moments when the evening was a bit of a bipartisan time machine. At one point, O’Leary, a Democrat who served as Cranston’s mayor from 1999 to 2003, was busy chatting with current Mayor Hopkins who is a Republican. Nearby, former GOP Cranston Mayor Michael A. Traficante, 85, was getting hugs from just about everybody. A former teacher and football coach, Traficante was elected mayor in 1985 and served 14 years.  He is currently chairman of the Cranston School Committee and is running for the Cranston City Council, where he got his political start in the late 1970s.

Two past Warwick mayors — Republican Scott Avedisian and Democrat Joe Walsh — mixed easily in the crowd, reflecting on how Cranston and Warwick have a long history of working together to support worthwhile community causes such as the Historical Society.

Some of the loudest applause of the evening went to Cranston resident Henry Polichetti who, at age 109, is the second oldest World War II veteran in the country. Leaning only slightly on a cane, he walked to his seat under his own steam and was visibly moved by the reception he received.

Polichetti appeared most surprised when Centracchio took the podium (after receiving his own award) to jokingly announce that while it may take the military a long time to get certain things accomplished, it always gets the job done.

Having said that, he “promoted” Mr. Polichetti, a Navy veteran, to the honorary title of Brigadier General in the Rhode Island National Guard.

Reed, who visited Mr. Polichetti on his 109th birthday in July, pinned a special silver star to his lapel while the audience stood and applauded.

In starting the evening’s program, O’Leary thanked the Cranston Historical Society for the organization’s long history of volunteerism and for choosing to mark its own anniversary by honoring other contributors to the community.

“Your work inspires us to cherish our past while (continuing) to strive for our future,” he said.

Editor’s Note: Barbara Polichetti, a Cranston resident, is a regular contributor to the Cranston Herald. She’s also Henry Polichetti’s daughter.