A view of the Blackstone Canal from the footbridge at Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge, MA. The historic towpath is on the right. Trails in the park that follow the towpath lead to the Stanley Woolen Mill to the south and to Goat Hill Lock and Plummer's Landing to the north. Learn about the highlights along the way in our self-guided walking tour of the Blackstone Canal. The park also includes the Blackstone River Greenway and Blackstone Gorge Bi-State Park in Blackstone, MA. Take a virtual tour of the park in a video produced by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation featuring Molly Cardoza.
In This Issue
  • National Hat Day - January 15
  • Revolution in the Air - Winter Lecture Series:
  • STRIKE! Hopedale 1913 kicks off the series on January 23
  • Volunteers-In-Parks Skills Workshop Series: The Geologic History of the Blackstone River Valley - February 1
  • New Volunteer Software Kicks Off 2021
  • Corridor Chats: A Guided Hike at the Hunt's Mills Trail with Keith Gonsalves
NATIONAL HAT DAY - JANUARY 15
In celebration of National Hat Day on January 15 we hope you don your favorite hat and celebrate some Blackstone River Valley history while you're at it.

Did you know that Upton, MA was once home to the largest women's hat factory in the world? According to information in our Upton Walking Tour brochure, it was shoes and boots that gave Upton a foothold in the Industrial Revolution, but it was hats that would take it to the top.

William Knowlton founded what was to become the world's largest women's hat factory. He was a benefactor to the town and a founder of the University of Massachusetts Agricultural School.

Photos by Carol Dandrade, Blackstone Heritage Corridor Photography Ambassador, taken at the Upton Historical Society during a special exhibit in 2019.
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.
Lecture #1: STRIKE! 1913 Hopedale

Saturday, January 23
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
On Zoom

In 1913, workers at the Draper Corporation in Hopedale, MA went on strike. Many in the local community were shocked that such a bold demonstration could happen in their backyard.

Decades earlier, the Drapers had started their manufacturing empire in Hopedale, a communal experiment founded by idealistic Practical Christians. Although much of the commune's idealism faded after the community dissolved in 1856, the Drapers were long heralded for their investment in Hopedale. Some saw the Drapers' housing, parks, and other projects as proof that Hopedale was a shining example of paternalism. But underneath this veneer, a conflict was brewing between management and workers. Particularly as more immigrants were recruited to work in Hopedale (and live in Milford) there was also a widening gulf between the highest and lowest paid at Draper Corporation.

Join Rangers Allison Horrocks and Mark Mello to discuss the strike that changed the town of Hopedale. Together, we'll explore an era filled with tensions relevant to our world today.
VIP SKILLS WORKSHOP SERIES
The Geologic History of the Blackstone River Valley

Monday, February 1
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
On Zoom

Every rock has a story and together they create a song of ice and fire. Join VIP Mark Dennen as he takes the virtual stage to lead you on a journey throughout the Blackstone River Valley to learn about the role that earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers played in creating the valley's stunning rocky terrain.

Mark will introduce you to the magnetic Cumberlandite, the "Blackstone Group," Greenstone, plant fossils, and more. Learn about rifting, metamorphism, moraines, and glacial erratics. Take this newfound knowledge with you on your next hike in the woods, your bike ride down the Blackstone River Bikeway, or your paddle down the Blackstone River and share it with others!

This Skills Workshop is open to the public. RSVP HERE.
NEW VOLUNTEER SOFTWARE KICKS OFF 2021
Volunteer Coordinator Suzanne Buchanan has been working behind the scenes to kick off a new volunteer hours recording software. This new volunteer software program through Better Impact has made it possible for the BHC VIP volunteers to record hours directly, read about up-to-date information, training workshops, volunteer opportunities, and so much more. Each volunteer has their own personal volunteer page.  

“This new program is amazing for the volunteers and me to see ongoing volunteer contributions in real time,” Suzanne notes.

Reach out to Suzanne at sbuchanan@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org if you have not already begun to use this powerful program.

"Imagine the possibilities!"
CORRIDOR CHATS
In this edition of Corridor Chats, join us for a lively, guided tour of the Hunt’s Mills Trail in East Providence, RI, led by Keith Gonsalves, founder and president of the Ten Mile River Watershed Council.


Find the trail at the Hunt’s Mills property at 65 Hunt’s Mills Road, East Providence, RI. For detailed hike information provided by Blackstone Heritage Corridor Trail Ambassador Ernie Germani, visit: https://trailsandwalksri.wordpress.com/2014/06/08/hunts-mills-east-providence/.

Thank you to VIP Abigail Epplett for editing the video and thanks to BHC's Volunteer Coordinator Suzanne Buchanan for filming!
VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
Volunteers aim to tackle litter in the New Year

Less than a week into 2021, residents of local towns have already gotten the year off to a clean start, literally. Over the weekend, several spontaneous cleanups took place along the Blackstone River.

Read more
www.valleybreeze.com
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  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 face mask 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. We can also 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.
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Please share ideas for content that you wish to see. Send them to bcombs@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org.
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!