Hip, hip, hooray! Three cheers, high fives, and thank you to volunteers Rich Keene from the North Smithfield Heritage Association and Keith Hainley from the Blackstone River Watershed Council/ Friends of the Blackstone for the tremendous progress that has been made this year at the Mammoth Mill ruins site on Mill Street in North Smithfield. Several cleanup events have been held throughout the winter and into spring. Thanks also go out to the many volunteers who pitched in, as well as the North Smithfield DPW!
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Corridor News - April 13, 2023 |
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Cherry Blossoms Are in Bloom! |
Did you know that a three-quarter mile stretch of road in Pawtucket and Central Falls is lined with 180 cherry trees, a mix of six different kinds? According to a WJAR news article, they are literal offshoots grown from seeds of trees in Washington, D.C., that were a gift of friendship from the Japanese in 1912. Find the trees starting at Pawtucket City Hall (next to Old Slater Mill on Roosevelt Avenue) and follow them into Central Falls at Chocolate Mill Overlook Park. Photo by David Lawlor.
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Thanks go out to Steve & Skye Pechie for leading their first hike for our volunteer program at Steere Hill Farm in Chepachet, RI, back on April 2nd.
Watch for more hikes led by this dynamic husband and wife team!
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Looking for a rewarding way to spend some of your free time? Lauren Davis was, and she volunteered to help with administrative duties for the Volunteers-In-Parks program! Her time made a difference! |
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Thank you to Trail Ambassador volunteer Ernie Germani for leading a hike at the Cumberland Monastery on April 8th. See below for more hikes with Ernie this year.
Click here for the trail map to explore the Cumberland Monastery on your own.
Photo by Suzie DeJesus.
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April 16 to 22 is National Volunteer Week! |
Thank you to our many volunteers for all you do for the Blackstone River Valley!
This National Volunteer Week, we are excited to have received the Covid-19 Recovery Grant from Massachusetts Service Alliance! Our funding from MSA has allowed us to establish our Community Engagement Ambassador program, provide First Aid/CPR Training to Volunteers, purchase new uniform items, and more.
While we are thankful for our great volunteers every day, during National Volunteer Week, we get to highlight the great work our volunteers are doing in the Valley. Stay tuned to National Volunteer Week to learn more about what our volunteers are doing!
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Abigail's Volunteer Story |
Whenever I volunteer at Blackstone Heritage Corridor and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, I know I will learn something new at every opportunity. While assisting with its wide range of community events held all year round, I meet people who share my interest and teach others about the ecology and the history of the place I call home.
My favorite activities include maple sugaring in late winter, fishing in spring, World Ranger Day in summer, and star gazing in the fall. Plus, I can hike, bike, and kayak as an ambassador for the park at any time of year! Besides exploring the natural world, I discover the stories of industry throughout the Blackstone Valley, including those of my own ancestors. By volunteering with the National Park Service, I know I am helping to preserve a place that I love for generations to come.
Do you have a volunteer story to share? Post on social media with #NPSVolunteer #NVW #MyParkStory
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Volunteer Impact at Mammoth Mill Site |
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A "before" picture at the Mammoth Mill Ruins in North Smithfield. |
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Here is an "after" picture at the Mammoth Mill Ruins. |
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A "before" picture at the Mammoth Mill Ruins in North Smithfield. |
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Here is an "after" picture at the Mammoth Mill Ruins. |
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Thanks to tremendous volunteer effort, the site of the former Mammoth Mill on Mill Street in North Smithfield, RI, will soon be turned into a park for the public to enjoy. Several cleanups were held this year, led by the North Smithfield Heritage Association and the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone.
Thanks in advance to employees of Displays2Go who are volunteering on May 5th to help with further cleanup of this site!
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Volunteer Opportunities!
There are many volunteering opportunities coming up over the next several months. Volunteers should check their Inboxes. If you'd like to get involved with our Volunteers-In-Parks program, reach out to Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at mcardoza@BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.
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News From Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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Junior Ranger Program Premiere
Friday, April 14
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Blackstone River State Park
1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
Be among the first graduating class of the Kelly & Ashton Mill Junior Rangers!
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Two Guys Project
Saturday, April 15
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Old Slater Mill
67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI
Join the park for a Stories and Poems event celebrating national parks. Starring Christopher Johnson (left) and Mark Binder (right), two of Rhode Island's best-known wordsmiths, they explore the boundaries of friendship through stories and poems with a breath of fresh air.
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April 22 to 30 is National Park Week! |
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National Park Week is happening from April 22nd to April 30th this year. Entrance fees at National Park sites across the country will be waived on April 22, 2023, to kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national parks in person. Note: Old Slater Mill reopens on Saturday, May 11, with tours at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., and is always free of charge.
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Earth Day Open House at
the Museum of Work & Culture
42 S. Main Street, Woonsocket, RI
Saturday, April 22
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join the Museum of Work & Culture and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park for a special Earth Day event. Find all the details here.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park is also hosting an Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 22nd, at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket starting at 9 a.m. Learn more at https://fb.me/e/ZMhSd5jQ.
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Old Slater Mill Reopens Thursday, May 11! |
Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark reopens for the season on Thursday, May 11, and will be open Thursdays through Sundays with free tours at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
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First Strike Festival Returns!
The (second) First Strike Festival is happening at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark (67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI) on Saturday, May 13, from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Nearly 200 years ago, more than one hundred women weavers launched the first wage workers’ strike in the United States. To remember this important act of solidarity, the National Park Service will host a free festival each May at Old Slater Mill. Learn a new dance, participate in a community songwriting workshop, play an old-fashioned game, or enjoy live music. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=F791A728-0DA5-EFF3-EB8C271EDCDA1C63.
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To the Moon and Back: A Revolution in Transportation |
Photo courtesy RIDOT. Ashton Viaduct in 1934.
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The Park Now Has Its Own Newsletter! |
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March in a Parade in Support of Fish Ladders |
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All are welcome to join in a community parade featuring drumming, dancing, crafts, music, and more. Rain or shine!
Sunday, May 21st | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Old Slater Mill, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI
Led by the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc, this community event will bring diverse partners together to learn about and show their support for the need to create fish passage over the lower four dams in Rhode Island and bring back migratory fish such as the herring.
- Screenprint a t-shirt as a take-home reminder of the Blackstone/Kittacuck. Bring your own t-shirt, or we'll have some provided.
- Color a paper fish and join the march to symbolically carry these paper herring over the lower two dams.
- Join the Narragansett Indian Tribe, Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc, and other tribes to learn about the migratory fish's important history to tribal culture for millennia.
- Learn why getting fish around the dams in Pawtucket and Central Falls is beneficial for community well-being, tourism, recreation, the economy, & more.
--> Please remember to bring your reusable water bottle! Water filling available.
--> In the event of inclement weather, this event will be held inside the Visitor Center across the street (175 Main St., Pawtucket, RI 02860).
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Take a Hike With Our Trail Ambassadors |
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Hike with Phil:
Save these dates to hike with Ernie:
Ernie also leads hikes at the Hunts Mills trail on the second Sunday of each month (March through November) at 1:30 p.m. during the East Providence Historical Society's Open House at 65 Hunts Mills Road, East Providence, RI.
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Celebrate Trails Day April 22 |
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Rails-To-Trails Conservancy Presents "Celebrate Trails Day"
Saturday, April 22
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Here are some ways you can celebrate:
Use our interactive map to find parking areas to access the Blackstone River Bikeway:
Share your photos and tag them with #CelebrateTrails.
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Join Us on a Ride of Discovery! |
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Join our Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors on guided bike rides this spring to explore different sections of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Bring your own bike, helmet, and water. Rides depart at 6:30 p.m. and return by 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, May 10: Blackstone to Uxbridge, MA
- Wednesday, May 24: Woonsocket to Lincoln, RI
- Wednesday, June 21: Pollinator Bike Ride - Lincoln, RI
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Sanctuary Stream Walks & Water Quality Monitoring |
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Sanctuary Stream Walks at
April 16: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Aril 27: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
April 29: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Get to know your local waterway on this family-friendly walk along Broad Meadow Brook's Troiano Trail. Learn about the natural history of the stream, how it helps people and wildlife, and what we can all do to improve water health. This is a flat, gentle walk on packed stone dust, suitable for all ages and abilities. Free event.
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Become a Volunteer Water Quality Monitor! |
The Blackstone River Coalition is seeking volunteers for a long-running citizen science program to gather information about the status of, and long-term changes in, the health of the Blackstone River Watershed. Over 90 volunteers work with the BRC’s member organizations to sample 75 sites throughout the watershed from Worcester to Pawtucket.
Click on the flyer to learn more.
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Night Sky Program at
River Bend Farm
287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA
Friday, April 21
7:30 p.m.
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Would you like to learn the constellations visible right now? Astronomers from Skyscrapers will be able to guide your way around the sky. Telescopes will be available for close-up looks of the moon and stars. Free event.
Photo by Jim Hendrickson.
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The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) and the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries (RIACHC) present
RI Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation Weeks in April - May 2023.
The 2023 Events Calendar features tours, clean-ups, gravestone conservation demonstrations, talks and additional free programs that raise awareness about
Rhode Island's historic cemeteries and promote their preservation.
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Cumberlandite and Elder Ballou Cemetery Tours
Saturday, April 29
One tour left at 2 p.m.
RSVP required. Register here:
This event is hosted in partnership with Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. If you can't make it, we recorded the tour we hosted in January. Check it out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wO9r-237qMc.
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Historical Society & Museum Events |
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Saturday, April 22
Earth Day Open House at the Museum of Work & Culture
42 S. Main Street, Woonsocket, RI
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 23
Great Road Heritage Campus Tours
Hearthside House Museum, 677 Great Road, Lincoln, RI
Saturday, April 29
Grafton Historical Society Hosts Vintage Jewelry Lesson
2:00 p.m.
71 Main Street, South Grafton, MA
Tuesday, May 9
Sutton Historical Society Hosts "Vintage Tweets: A Book of Suffrage Era Postcards"
7:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 307 Boston Road, Sutton
Saturday, May 13
Northbridge Trolley Tours
9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m.
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Monthly Heritage Walks With NSHA |
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The North Smithfield Heritage Association (NSHA) offers its next Heritage Hike on Saturday, May 13th, at Crookfall Brook, Woonsocket Reservoir #1 and Pump House at 9:30 a.m. Learn more at https://fb.me/e/46aEXBDFW.
The NSHA offers the Heritage Walks as a means to promote the town’s amazing multi-faced heritage. Admission is free.
NSHA is also offering Nature Walks with the following schedule:
1st Saturday - High Rocks Gorge 3-mile Loop meets at Martha Road.
3rd Saturday - Booth Pond Preserve Trail 2.4-mile loop meets in Aldi Parking Lot.
4th Saturday - Fort Wildlife Refuge 3.3-mile loop on Providence Pike.
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Spring Cleanups Around the Valley |
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Scouts from Troop 25 in Ubridge cleaned up along West River Road during the Uxbridge Town Cleanup on April 1st. The event was presented by Premeer Real Estate, the Ubridge Board of Health, DPW, and Conservation Commission, and supported by Tom Berkowitz Trucking, Inc. |
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Find a cleanup volunteer opportunity near you and help us keep Blackstone Valley clean and green! |
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8th Annual Family Fun Fishing Day
Saturday, May 6
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rain date: Sunday, May 7
River Bend Farm
287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA
Enjoy a FREE fun-filled day of fishing, family, and friends! All ages and abilities! Prizes will be awarded! Rods, bait, and instruction are available with pre-registration.
Sweet Wise Ice Cream truck, food for purchase, face painting, and more.
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Saturday, May 6
1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Szerlag Farm Preserve
547 Roosevelt Drive
Northbridge, MA
Join the Metacomet Land Trust in cleanup, trail maintenance, and removing garlic mustard in a Northbridge preserve.
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A group of volunteers with an interest in canoeing and kayaking formed the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club in 2000 in conjunction with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor and Rhode Island Canoe & Kayak Association (RICKA). The Paddle Club meets weekly from May through August on Tuesday evenings at different sites within and just outside of the Valley.
Volunteers act as members of the land crew, paddle club guides, and sweep person on the weekly paddles. They provide an important link to the exploration of the natural resources within the Heritage Corridor.
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To participate in the Blackstone Paddler's events, a RI Canoe and Kayak Association membership fee of $15.00 is required, as is a $10.00 membership fee for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club. These fees provide a family membership and are good for the entire season. If you are a current RICKA member, you may join for the additional $10.00 membership fee. If you are not yet a RICKA member, you may join and pay your dues for both RICKA and Blackstone Valley Paddle Club by going to the membership page for payment options. Please pay your dues in advance. Inflatable boats and PFD's are not allowed on Blackstone Valley Paddle Club Trips.
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Kayak & Canoe Rentals
Central Falls Landing
15 Madeira Ave., Central Falls, RI
Prices
Single kayak: $20 (1.5 hours) / $30 (3 hours)
Tandem kayak: $30 (1.5 hours) / $50 (3 hours)
Canoe: $30 (1.5 hours) / $50 (3 hours)
Rentals available Monday through Friday in April and May.
Weekend rentals return on May 27.
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Get Your Events on Our Calendar! |
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Share your events with us by listing them on the Blackstone Heritage Corridor's events page.
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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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April 29 is National Junior Ranger Day |
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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!
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What Should Be On the Blackstone Bucket List? |
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Share Your Favorite Things to See and Do in the Blackstone Valley |
Help us update our Blackstone Bucket List by sharing your favorite experiences in the Blackstone River Valley. Click to take our survey! Your feedback is most appreciated!
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Blackstone Heritage Corridor, working with community partners, provides strong leadership to preserve, promote, and celebrate the Valley’s historic, natural and recreational resources for current and future generations. |
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Stay Connected With Us On Social Media! |
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670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242
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