Table set with Thanksgiving desserts in front of the newly restored dining room fireplace at Waters Farm in Sutton, MA. See below for more photos.
Photo by Mary Newth, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador
|
|
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor |
|
"Here's to the great American bird,
Who has fettered our hearts with his cable,
'Till no Thanksgiving can seem complete
Without the turkey on the table.”
Anonymous – early 20th century
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. May you be surrounded by the colors of autumn as you celebrate with friends and family.
Photo from the Collections at the Worcester Historical Museum.
|
|
A wood and tin footwarmer in front of the North Fireplace. Footwarmers would have been filled with warm coals and used to keep you feet warm at church or in a carriage. |
|
The North Fireplace and Beehive Oven in the North Kitchen in Water Farm's historic house. |
|
Historical cookware and bakeware line the shelves in the North Kitchen. |
|
Hearth cooking returned to Waters Farm Days this past October with the newly restored fireplaces in the Dining Room and the North Kitchen. In addition, the North Kitchen's beehive oven was restored to operating status. This restoration work was undertaken by Richard Irons of Irons Restoration Masonry and Jeremy Brown of Wachusett Chimney. The scope of work included fireplace and hearth restoration, reparging of flues and repairing the chimney.
We thank Waters Farm for hosting us for a Thanksgiving photo shoot last week!
Photos by Mary Newth, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador
|
|
Explore Blackstone Valley's Mills Through Photography and Video |
|
Blackstone Valley Mill Explorations
Photography by James Hunt and David Lawlor
Artists' Reception & Video Screenings
Friday, December 2, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery & Lexi Singh Performance Center
Alternatives' Whitin Mill, 50-60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA
Tour Blackstone Valley's Mills Through Photography and Video
James Hunt explores the interdependent and often conflicted relationship between human activity and the natural environment. He is currently engaged in a long-term, multi-media exploration of the Industrial Revolution in the Blackstone Valley. The Draper Factory Demolition is the focus of his work in this exhibit. James has also created a video of the demolition that will premiere here in conjunction with this exhibit.
David Lawlor uses long exposure and drone photography in his urban exploration of old mill buildings to preserve their historical significance and capture their decaying beauty. He travels throughout the Blackstone Valley and beyond to explore and document these abandoned, destroyed, and repurposed structures. Preserving these mills through photography and video is his life’s mission. David will also be sharing a video of his work in conjunction with this exhibit.
|
|
Celebrate the Holidays Blackstone Valley Style! |
|
From tree lightings to holiday strolls, we curated a list of events to help you get in the spirit this holiday season!
Photo of the Sutton Gazebo by Linda Nelson.
|
|
"All Aboard!" For Holiday Train Rides & More! |
|
Blackstone Valley
Polar Express Train Ride
Woonsocket, RI
Weekends: Through December 23
The magic is back this holiday season for a three-hour experience at the Blackstone Valley Polar Express! Enjoy a 90-minute train ride to view the North Pole filled with singing, games, a reading of the classic children’s story “The Polar Express,” and a visit from Santa! The Conductor will be there to punch your special golden ticket, and you’ll all enjoy hot chocolate and a cookie during your trip. Plus, every child will receive a silver bell – the first gift of Christmas!
The Polar Express experience is expanded outside the depot, so the fun starts before you even get on the train with a stage show, photo opportunities with the characters, children’s activities, and more to fill you with the spirit of Christmas!
|
|
Winter Wonderland and the Festival of Illumination
at Southwick's Zoo
Mendon, MA -
Through December 31
Winter Wonderland and the Festival of Illumination have come together, creating an extraordinary and memorable holiday experience for guests of all ages!
Be immersed in the breathtaking world of over a million dazzling holiday lights and enchanting festival lanterns, showcasing fairytales, legends, and myths through the incredible handcrafted displays. Take a train ride through the Magical Holiday Forest, where you may spot a fallow deer or the Grinch himself! Enjoy live entertainment, including acrobat shows at the Cirque de Lumination tent. Visit Artisans Lane and warm up by the firepits while enjoying s’mores, hot toddies, and more from our special menu at the Kringle Cafe and Bakery. Visit with Santa beginning November 25th through to December 24th.
|
|
Get Your Events on Our Calendar! |
|
|
|
Share your events with us by listing them on the Blackstone Heritage Corridor's events page.
|
|
Let's Hit the Hiking Trails! |
|
Save the date for a post-Thanksgiving hike
with BHC Trail Ambassador Ernie Germani!
Friday, November 25: Wolf Hill, Smithfield, RI
|
|
Second Saturday Hikes With the North Smithfield Heritage Association |
Join the North Smithfield Heritage Association for its History and Nature Walks series on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m.
|
|
Nominations Open for John H. Chafee Heritage Awards |
|
The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) is seeking nominations for John H. Chafee Heritage Awards. This award honors individuals or groups who have worked on projects, programs, and institutions that promote the cultural heritage and the preservation of natural areas and strive to enrich the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.
BHC established the award to honor the late Senator John H. Chafee and recognize citizens and organizations whose work in the Blackstone Valley embodies Chafee’s vision and ideas. Recipients have included community leaders, preservation heroes, business partners, environmental advocates, or students whose achievements resulted in public benefit.
|
|
The Season of Giving Is Upon Us! |
|
|
|
Please save the date of Tuesday, November 29, to join the global generosity movement!
Thank you for your support!
|
|
Shop Online and Support the Corridor
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:
|
|
Another generous way to donate: volunteer your time! |
People support non-profit organizations in a number of ways, including financially, by donating goods and services, and also by volunteering.
While the community and we benefit greatly from the volunteer outcome, it also has a dollar value that is considered an in-kind donation. The current value of a volunteer (national average) is $29.95 per hour. When volunteers report and log their hours, we are able to use them as an in-kind match when applying for grants.
Want to learn more about the Blackstone River Valley Volunteers-In-Parks program? Reach out to Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer & Community Engagement, at mcardoza@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org, or call
508-234-4242.
|
|
News From Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
|
A Thanksgiving Message from Blackstone River Valley
National Historical Park
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and humble reflection. This Thanksgiving, we look to history, as we so often do, for lessons.
In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln put forth a proclamation in order to speak to an "afflicted people"---the men, women, and children of this nation.
Lincon's 1863 proclamation reads, in part: "I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, …to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving..."
Lincoln's Proclamation started the process of making Thanksgiving into a national holiday. His message of hope and healing came about during a time of great national turmoil. For all that has changed since 1863, there is still value in his words for us today. May we continue his urging to have "enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."
On behalf of all of us at Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park: Happy Thanksgiving.
Photo by Jim Hendrickson
|
|
Visit Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark
Through December 3, 2022*
Thursday - Sunday
10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM
Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30-minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill and what valuable lessons the building is still teachings us. For more info, visit nps.gov/blrv. Free admission. The visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*The last day for guided tours of Slater Mill will be on Saturday, December 3, 2022. The mill is closed in observance of Thanksgiving (November 24th) but will reopen on Friday, November 25th. Thank you to everyone who paid us a visit and made this a successful year!
|
|
Slater Mill Welcome Video |
|
New Lifetime Pass!
There is a new lifetime pass for military veterans and Gold Star families. These passes will be available at Roger Williams National Memorial, Providence, RI, starting in mid-December 2022.
Other free passes, including the Access Pass, are already available onsite. Please note that Roger Williams National Memorial will be open Wednesday through Saturday starting on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Learn more here:
|
|
 |
On October 30, 2022, an intertribal gathering was held at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark.
Congratulations to the hosts, the Narragansett Tribe and the Friends of the Blackstone, for the fantastic program, "Be the Voice of Kittacuck."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Past, Present, and Future
Did you know? The National Register of Historic Places was authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Act was signed into law on October 15, 1966. Less than one month later, Old Slater Mill was added to the National Register in November 1966. By this point, the Old Slater Mill Association had been caring for the property for nearly half a century. As we reflect on the long tradition of preservation at the site, we thank all of the stewards who have left their mark on the landscape.
|
|
This past month, we have said goodbye to two excellent members of the seasonal staff: Timothy Bone (pictured on the left) and Tyler Shepard (shown on the right). We appreciate their service and wish them the best in the future. |
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
"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!
|
|
Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!
|
|
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. |
|
670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
