Happy Holidays Blackstone Valley!

Pictured above is the gazebo at the Hearthside House Museum all decked out for the holidays. Want to visit? The Hearthside House is hosting its Old-Fashioned Christmas event this year with self-guided tours on Sunday, December 27. Find details below.

Photo captured by Sarah Keates, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador.
In This Issue
  • GearHeads Junior Ranger Event with Providence Children's Museum - January 9, 2021
  • Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Winter Lecture Series - January - April, 2021
  • Volunteer Milestone Awards
  • Open by Appointment: BHC Office and Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center at Worcester
  • Corridor Chats: A Reading of The Night Before Christmas with Devon Kurtz
THE TRADITION CONTINUES!
Old-Fashioned Christmas at the Hearthside House

Sunday, December 27
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Hearthside House Museum
677 Great Road
Lincoln, RI


Photo by Debra Boucher, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador
Experience the magic and wonder of the holiday at the Hearthside House Museum with self-guided tours featuring stunning decorations, a cozy fire, and twinkling trees throughout two floors of this beautiful home where over 200 years, several different families gathered to celebrate the holidays.
 



Photo by Carol Dandrade, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador
Calling all kids! Get creative by making masterpieces out of found materials!
Join Bonnie Combs of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and the Providence Children's Museum on Saturday, January 9th for an art making activity using found objects. Bonnie will share her passion for conservation and art making. Choose an 11 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. session.
 
You’ll find inspiration to make something beautiful out of what you find on the Heritage Corridor trails, your backyard or your toy chest! 

Each month, Providence Children's Museum presents Cultural Connections, a chance for visitors to meet an actor, musician, dancer, maker or painter.  

This free event will be held via Zoom. Registration is required.

REVOLUTION IN THE AIR - WINTER LECTURE SERIES
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor present our Winter Lecture Series - "Revolution in the Air." This six-part series investigates how the Blackstone River Valley has served as an incubator of revolutionary thought and change. Scholars and park staff will lead presentations on a variety of topics including labor reform, ethnic religion and politics, the cotton economy, and architecture.

Presentations are every other Saturday, beginning January 23rd, at 2:00 p.m. and will be followed by a Question and Answer session. The program is free and open to all.

Please register below for as many lectures as you would like to attend. You will receive an email providing the link to access the meeting.
VOLUNTEER MILESTONE AWARDS
Check out our group screenshot from the December volunteer gathering on Zoom, with volunteers sporting festive ugly sweaters! We had a tie in the contest. Congrats to Jim Crowley and Rob Dandrade! And special thanks to Devon Kurtz playing the role of Father Christmas and reading "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.
Reflecting on milestones to close out this year to remember! We certainly have had many milestones for 2020. The one we’re so proud of is celebrating the VIP’s of the Volunteers-In-Parks program. Take a look at the amazing contributions volunteers have made over the years, from five to 30 years of volunteer service reached in 2020. We couldn’t let it go by without another milestone - celebrating through a virtual holiday gathering. Heroes can be found in all walks of life. Yes, volunteers are heroes throughout the Blackstone River Valley!

Cheers and best wishes for a bright and happy year ahead!

Imagine the possibilities!

Warmly,
Suzanne
VISITING THE VALLEY UPDATE
While many heritage centers and historic sites remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is still much to explore within the Blackstone River Valley. Our network of outdoor areas, bikeways and greenways, and nature trails are open and ready to welcome you. Be sure to visit our website and view the Get Lost Guide to for some great ideas. And don’t miss our GearHeads Junior Ranger page for the kids in your family! When visiting the Valley, be sure to wear your facemask and practice social distancing.

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor office in Whitinsville, MA and the Heritage Center in Worcester are open by appointment only. We can provide you with maps for the Corridor and the Blackstone River Bikeway and suggest places for outdoor recreation, direct you to any historic sites and events that may have limited access, and you can stamp your National Park passport!

To make an appointment, call 508-341-0741 or send an email to mail@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
COMING SOON!
Virtual Field Trip to
Daniels Farmstead
Coming in 2021

Thank you to Justine Brewer of Daniels Farmstead Foundation for meeting with us recently to discuss a "Field Trip Fridays" virtual field trip video.

Find our Field Trip Fridays videos on YouTube.


Photo on left by Cynthia Vogan, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador.
Behind the Scenes

Pictured here are (left to right): Austin Alexander of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor; Mary Bulso, Blackstone Heritage Corridor volunteer and board member at Daniels Farmstead Foundation; and Justine Brewer, 11th generation Southwick-Daniels and founder of Daniels Farmstead Foundation, Inc. Justine is holding a picture of her great grandmother, Elizabeth Thayer Daniels.
CORRIDOR CHATS
In this special holiday edition of Corridor Chats, join BHC's Devon Kurtz for a festive reading of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.
YEAR-END GIVING
There Is Still Time to Make a Difference with a Year-End Donation
Thank you to all the generous individuals who made our #GivingTuesday a success!

From all of us here at the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, I want to extend our deepest thanks.

We simply can't do the work we do without the support of caring people like you. We hope that you are able to take some time to get out and enjoy the Valley you and I care so much about!


If you are still making charitable gifts this holiday season, we hope you'll consider donating to the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. You can donate through our website, or mail a check payable to Blackstone Heritage Corridor and mail it to 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588.

Thanks once again for making a difference in the Blackstone River Valley!

Devon Kurtz,
Executive Director, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor


Photo of the Blackstone Gorge by Dave Dean.
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Become a GearHead Junior Ranger
Explore, Discover, Protect, and GO!
Junior Rangers in the Blackstone River Valley are called GearHeads.

GearHead (n.): a kid, powered by the Gears in their brain; who explores nature, discovers history, protects the environment, and goes on adventures through 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!
From all of us at BHC, we wish you well and look forward to seeing you soon!