Kelly House Restoration

Though it lasted only 20 years, the Blackstone Canal played an essential part in the evolution of the Blackstone River Valley. Portions of the historic canal tow path are still visible today and serve as the focus of some important historic revitalization projects along the Blackstone River. In Lincoln, RI, a partnership between town, state, and federal government has led to the creation of the Kelly House Transportation Museum and the Blackstone River Bikeway State Park.

Underneath the Interstate 295 highway bridge that connects Cumberland and Lincoln, a portion of the Blackstone Canal branches off of the Blackstone River and provides a glimpse into the region’s past. Following the Canal along the historic canal tow path, brings visitors to the Kelly House. Wilbur Kelly, first owner of the house, was a well-known financier of the Blackstone Canal, and this property, located in the tiny village of Quinnville, is living evidence of early 19th century life. This historic property has recently been transformed into a museum on transportation in the Blackstone Valley.

Paralleling the Canal and tow path along the River is the newly completed Blackstone River Bike Path. Using funds from the Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA-21), the Town of Lincoln worked with planners from the RI Department of Transportation to convert this site into a premiere intermodal open space link on the Blackstone River.

In addition to the house structure, the site’s landscaping will undergo a historic restoration and is expected to play a key role in the museum’s interpretive plan. Just across the river, large mill buildings of Ashton are visible, as are the railroad tracks that enabled a revolution in American industrialization.

Contacts:

Town Planner
Town of Lincoln
401.333.8433

Nancy Brittain, Community Planner
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
401.762.0250

[ top, right photograph by R.Christopher Noonan, Preservation Services, Inc.]