Sunset near Uxbridge Center at the Bernat Mill last week. Join the Uxbridge Historical Society on Sunday, January 15, to learn about the history of the Uxbridge Common. Find the details at https://fb.me/e/2sHZetYBX. Photo by Bonnie Combs.
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Corridor News - January 4, 2023 |
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A Holiday Present for the Blackstone Valley |
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Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Extended for Another 15 Years!
With the full support of the Congressional delegations from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Senate Bill 1942, known as the National Heritage Area Act, was approved by Congress and sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. The bill passed the House on December 22, 2022, by a bipartisan vote of 326 yes and 95 no. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Jim McGovern, House Rules Committee Chair, no Democrat voted against the measure, and a majority of Republican House members supported the bill.
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From hiking to biking, cleanups to cemetery conservation, and so much more, we've made new friends, volunteered, and made a difference in 2022! Join us for our year in review and learn more about what we do in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. |
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DCR to Commence Blackstone Section of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail in Spring 2023
The Baker-Polito Administration announced that the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will break ground on the Blackstone section of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) in Spring 2023, which is estimated to take approximately three years to complete. The $11.3 million project runs from the Saint Paul Street Bridge in the Town of Blackstone to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state border and is the final half-mile of an approximately 4.2-mile section of DCR’s Blackstone River Greenway. Additionally, this section of the greenway is critical for the connection to Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Bikeway and also provides a regional connection to Douglas, MA, and the State of Connecticut through the SNETT.
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Blackstone River Valley - Things to see and do in...
After moving to Massachusetts from Florida for college in the 1970s, I ended up living quite near the Blackstone River Valley, which stretches from Worcester, Massachusetts in the north, to Pawtucket, Rhode Island (next to Providence) in the south.
Read more
www.travelmassive.com
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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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MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 16
MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
We have reached out to our partners, and so far, we have volunteer opportunities in Blackstone, Lincoln, Millbury, North Smithfield, and Woonsocket on MLK Day. More may be coming in soon. To learn more about these opportunities, reach out to Molly Cardoza at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
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"The time is always right to do what is right."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Devon Kurtz
This is a wonderfully written book by the one of the founders and first directors of NPS, detailing a lot of the behind the scenes work about the establishment of the Park. It’s a fascinating story – especially relevant with the recent passage of the National Heritage Areas bill and, of course, it being the recent 100 anniversary of NPS (1916).*
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Bonnie Combs
Have you noticed that your car windshield is not covered in bugs anymore? Are you seeing fewer insects by your porch light? This book explores their disappearance the the consequence it has on our food supply, and also that for birds, fish, and other wildlife. The book is a wake-up for us all and is a great tie in to the Great Backyard Bird Count next month. It is also a timely read with our Operation Pollination initiative. If you'd like to learn more and become a partner, please reach out to me!
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Molly Cardoza
This book is the novelization of a thirteenth century French poem that was rediscovered in early 1900s. It follows the life of Silence, who, when she was born, was hidden away as a boy to protect the land holdings of Cornwall. Silence fights to become a Knight and define themselves in the medieval world. When picking fiction books, I am often looking for LGBTQ+ storylines and have been loving this book from page one!
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*On a side note..... being that it is now 2023 – there is a lot of interest in the 1920s and, with the help of a few of our Park Service friends, I’ve put together the 1920s uniform of the early Rangers and have given several tours and walks for 1920s reenactment organizations. - Devon Kurtz
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Hike Gummere Woods in Grafton with Phil |
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Winter Hike at Gummere Woods
Saturday, January 7
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
5 Wheeler Rd,
North Grafton, MA 01536
BHC Trail Ambassador Volunteer Phil Johansen will lead a winter hike at Gummere Woods and Marsters Preserve in Grafton. Join us as we explore these Grafton Land Trust trails. This recreational hike will be a 2.5-mile loop on an easy trail. We will be meeting at the parking area at 5 Wheeler Rd, North Grafton. Additional parking is available at Ekblaw Landing, 111 Worcester St., North Grafton.
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Monthly Heritage Walks With NSHA |
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Attendees will learn about local geography, early settlers, their houses, roads, mills, and road network. They will visit building ruins, the Malavery House; Durrans Farm, Primrose Grange; Blackmar-Wing Farm ruins, as well as some of the oldest cemeteries in town. Meet at North Smithfield High School tennis courts on Grange Road.
The NSHA offers the Walks as a means to promote the town’s amazing multi-faced heritage.
Admission is free.
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Join Us for a Corridor Chats Coffee Hour! |
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Corridor Chats Coffee Hour
Tuesday, January 24
10 a.m.
Blackstone Heritage Corridor Office
670 Linwood Ave., Whitinsville, MA
Join us for coffee and learn what is new with the Corridor, including programs, volunteer opportunities, fundraising, and more.
Share your ideas with us before we head to the Alliance for National Heritage Areas Annual Meeting and our meetings with our Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., in February.
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Excuse Me....Can You Please Put Some Bird Seed Out? |
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February 17 to 20
“Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other”
Get your binoculars ready! Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park invite you to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. This backyard birding event starts Friday, February 17, and ends on Monday, February 20, 2023.
There are multiple ways to share your bird sightings with us:
Learn more about this worldwide initiative and how to participate at BirdCount.org.
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Did you know that January is National Puzzle Month? Not only that, January 5 is National Bird Day and BHC volunteer Chris and BHC Marketing Director Bonnie Combs just completed this bird puzzle! What will you do to celebrate?
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Nature Exploration Walks are coming! |
Save the dates of Saturday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 22, for Nature Exploration Walks with Ranger Allison of Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and our own Molly Cardoza! Watch for info on social media, our events calendar, and in our next newsletter! |
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Maple Sugar Days Return February 25 and 26 |
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Maple Sugar Days
Saturday, February 25
Sunday, February 26
River Bend Farm
287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA
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Save the dates and stay tuned for more info! |
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Bark, Branches, and Buds - Winter Tree and Shrub ID Walk |
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Bark, Branches, and Buds - Winter Tree and Shrub ID Walk
Saturday, March 25
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Blackstone River State Park
1075 Lower River Rd., Lincoln, RI
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Have you ever wondered how to identify a tree in the winter? Come join us as Brian Maynard, URI Professor of Botany, shows us how to identify trees and shrubs without their leaves. During this program you will learn the basics of identification using what is visible in late winter.
This program will be approximately 1 mile of walking on a flat even path. No public restrooms will be available at this program.
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Historical Society & Museum Events |
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Sunday, January 8
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
On Zoom
(Follow the link for other dates including January 22, February 5 and 19, and March 5)
Sunday, January 15
Uxbridge Historical Society Hosts "Stories of the Uxbridge Common"
2:00 p.m.
North Main Street Church, Route 122, Uxbridge, MA
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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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If you're on LinkedIn, be sure to follow us there!
You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
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Be a Voice for the Earth - Call for Poetry |
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News From Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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Internships at BLRVNHP are Posted! |
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Mark your calendars! On Sunday, February 5, Slater Mill will be featured on "Treasures Inside the Museum," a production of Rhode Island PBS. Tune in at 7 p.m. eastern.
From Rhode Island PBS: "Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI, is recognized as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. In this episode, learn more about the people who made the area what it was and how the machines changed the face of manufacturing everywhere. Plus, discover what makes some of the machines on exhibit so rare, and examine some of the artifacts from the 1890 Cotton Centennial." Learn more about Season 3 below.
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'Treasures Inside the Museum' Season 3
'Treasures Inside the Museum' Season 3 by Treasures Inside the Museum returns to WSBE Rhode Island PBS for its third season. Take private tours with exhibit curators and delve into the diverse collections of southern New England's museums with...
Read more
www.ripbs.org
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New Lifetime Pass!
Other free passes, including the Access Pass, are already available onsite.
Learn more here:
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Self-Guided Tours on the NPS Mobile App |
Do you plan on visiting Slater Mill or Slatersville? If so, check out Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park's new self-guided tours.
These audio tours are available on the NPS Mobile App. The Mobile App can be downloaded for Apple or Google phones. Once on the app, choose Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, then select self-guided tours.
More self-guided tours will soon be available for the Blackstone River State Park and Ashton, Whitinsville, and Hopedale.
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Do you enjoy learning about the history of the Blackstone River Valley? Subscribe to the park's YouTube page to see recordings of past programs, episodes of Along the Blackstone, and more.
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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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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!
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We Added a New Museum to the Interactive Map |
Did you hear that the Massachusetts State Police Museum and Learning Center opened at the former Whitinsville Savings Bank building in Whitinsville last year? They are open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5, and children under 16 are free. The museum is located at 1 Memorial Square, Whitinsville, MA.
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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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