Photo above Northbridge by BHC Photography Ambassador, Bob Evans. |
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Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor |
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In This Edition - November 10, 2021
- BHC Celebrates 35 Years
- Blackstone River Valley Volunteers-In-Parks Fiscal Year 2021 Results
- News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
- Invest in the Corridor's Future
- New GearHeads Junior Ranger Workstations
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A Message from BHC's Executive Director, Devon Kurtz |
Celebrating Invention. Innovation. And Industry in the Blackstone River Valley!
For 35 years, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor has protected, preserved, and celebrated the region as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. But more than that, BHC has worked with partners, created an award-winning volunteer program, boosted public awareness about the Blackstone River and its watershed, helped create a new National Park, and so there is so much more for us to do!
Join us throughout the year as we celebrate 35 years in the Blackstone River Valley! We’ll be asking you to join us to visit our favorite 35 places, help us to choose our favorite 35 people, recognize our 35 favorite inventions, and help us decide on 35 more projects to do!
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So Happy Anniversary, BHC, a special place of Invention, Innovation, and Industry…and wait… we’re also iconic!
Photo of Harvey Ball’s Smiley Face from the Collections of the Worcester Historical Museum
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A Message from BHC's Board Chair, Dick Moore |
This year, the Blackstone Heritage Corridor – officially, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor – celebrates its 35th Anniversary!
The National Heritage Corridor, authorized by Congress in 1986 (P.L. 99-647) forged a relationship between Massachusetts and Rhode Island and among the twenty-five municipalities connected by the Blackstone River Watershed that served as the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution. It was a sort of marriage to form a collective bond for the preservation of the Valley’s many historic assets and the protection of the region’s natural beauty.
The traditional symbol for 35 years of marriage is coral. A substance that takes years to build and that symbolizes longevity and strength, two traits that are certainly present in a heritage area that has lasted this long.
The Valley was a favorite hunting and fishing area for three Native American tribes – Narragansett, Nipmuc, and Wampanoag, when Reverend William Blackstone, the first European settler of Boston, moved to the banks of the river that now bears his name some 400 years ago. Countless other immigrants settled in the Valley over the following four centuries, and the Corridor recognizes that long and proud history.
Since the designation of the National Heritage Corridor – only the second such federal designation at the time – more than 55 national heritage areas now work to preserve different stories in the life of our nation that weave a tapestry of many cultures and achievements of our great nation. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor has promoted the development of state parks on both sides of the border and, even, a National Historical Park that preserves important historic sites from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Hopedale and Whitinsville in Massachusetts.
The Corridor has helped to preserve the region and withstood political forces in Boston who considered paving much of the heart of the Valley for a second major international airport in the nineteen nineties. We have worked to encourage local historical museums and societies as well as watershed associations and environmental groups throughout our existence. Even before the Corridor was designated, thousands of people concerned about environmental degradation, organized a massive river cleanup known as ZAP the Blackstone in 1972, and we are planning for another cleanup on ZAP’s 50th anniversary next year.
Despite reductions in federal financial support in recent years, and the need to seek other sources of financial help to achieve our mission, the volunteer spirit that ZAP inspired and that the Corridor maintains, continues to attract Valley residents. This year, the National Park Service recognized the Corridor’s Volunteers-In-Parks, VIP program with a most prestigious award. The volunteer spirit of Valley residents and visitors continues the legacy of one of the Corridor’s benefactors, the late-US Senator John Chafee who, together with the late-Ted Kennedy and others in our Congressional delegation – past and present, represent the best of historic preservation and environmental stewardship.
Much has been accomplished in the Corridor over 35 years, but there are still other accomplishments – like a completed Valley Bikeway, restored Canal segments, vibrant local parks and museums, and a fishable, swimmable Blackstone River – that remain to be completed. Let’s celebrate what’s been achieved, and cooperate in building an even better future for everyone in the Valley!
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A Message from Eric Breitkreutz, Superintendent, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
Congratulations on thirty-five years of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor! What a wonderful anniversary worthy of praise and celebration. As the National Park Service, we are proud to have been with the people and organizations of the Blackstone River Valley every day and every step of the way, from the inception of the Heritage Corridor to this auspicious milestone.
We are also grateful to the many Heritage Corridor founders, volunteers, municipal leaders, Corridor board and staff members, partnering nonprofit organizations, community associations, and allied state agencies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island who cared enough then and worked tirelessly from the beginning until now to preserve, enhance, interpret, promote and celebrate the incredible history, cultures, natural resources, cultural treasures and recreational opportunities of the Blackstone River Valley.
The Corridor’s accomplishments are too numerous to list in the space I have available here, but I would be remiss if I did not at least note and thank the many who worked so hard under the banner of the Heritage Corridor to create the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. As we look towards the National Historical Park’s seventh anniversary next month, we do so as a close and appreciative partner with the National Heritage Corridor, looking forward to advancing our missions together in the years and decades to come.
Happy anniversary, with very best wishes for many happy returns!
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Thank You, Volunteers, For an Incredible Year! |
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A Message from Suzanne Buchanan, BHC's Volunteer Coordinator |
Imagine how our volunteer hours added up this year as we introduced new volunteer software to record volunteer hours by category and activity. A sincere thank you to our Volunteers-In-Parks volunteers and partners for supporting this change in the way we record volunteer hours. The report is so impressive, and the best is that it all came from your valuable volunteer time. It truly represents the core values of our VIP program: leading, teaching, giving, and making a difference!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words! Enjoy our year in review with the stars of the show - our VIPs!
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News from Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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Apply Now for Seasonal Ranger Jobs! |
These positions are open to the public.
This posting will close on November 14, OR when 1,125 applications have been received.
Note: You can only apply to these positions at the link below. Please do not send any applications to the Park.
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Rebekah Kreiger Joins Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Staff as Cultural Resource Specialist |
Rebekah joins the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park team as an experienced architectural conservator, preservationist, and instructor. Since joining the NPS in 2013, she has worked in the Northeast Regional Office helping dozens of parks identify, research, document, and care for their cultural resources. Her most recent park project was at Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY, where she wrote a historic structure report on the church where Tubman's funeral was held in 1913.
She also teaches a class on architectural conservation at the Boston Architectural College. Prior to joining the NPS, she worked in the private sector as a mural and wall paintings conservator, a job that took her all over the country to Art Deco skyscrapers and Spanish colonial missions. When Rebekah's not working on cultural resources, she can be found working on her pollinator-friendly ornamental and vegetable gardens. Rebekah is very excited to begin her new role with the Blackstone River Valley NHP and to work in the Heritage Corridor!
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The National Park Service relies on many thousands of skilled volunteers to protect and honor American heritage. If you have an interest in volunteering at a local treasure, please reach out to the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
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Together, with the support of friends like you, our communities established the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in 1986. During that time, we have led the efforts to preserve this amazing, living landscape and created a national park to interpret the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Today, we ask you to help us continue this important work.
Thank you for your support!
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Shop with AmazonSmile to Support BHC! |
Did you know that if you shop on Amazon that you can support the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor with your purchases? By switching your browser to Smile.Amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
You can use this unique link provided by AmazonSmile to get started and have your percentage donated to BHC:
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Become a GearHead Junior Ranger |
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"Explore, Discover, Protect, and GO!"
The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country, each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. Here in the Blackstone River Valley, Junior Rangers are called GearHeads. What's a GearHead, you might ask?
GearHead (n.): a kid, powered by the gears in their brain, who explores nature, discovers history, protects the environment, and goes on adventures throughout the Blackstone River Valley.
Click through the GearHeads website and claim your Junior Ranger status today! Submit a completed activity, and we'll send you a Junior Ranger badge!
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New GearHeads Workstations! |
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Thanks to donors from our 2020 Giving Tuesday campaign, we were able to produce two GearHeads Junior Ranger workstations to inspire young minds in creativity and learning! |
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This workstation is at the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester (3 Paul Clancy Way), open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
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This workstation is currently at the Blackstone Heritage Corridor office located 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA, open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
with our Interactive Map!
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670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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