Executive Director’s Message
The Bernat Mill Fire in Uxbridge demonstrated to all of us how quickly a tragedy can touch our community and our valley. We are fortunate that no lives were lost and that the brave men and women who skillfully put the blaze down also remained clear of harm’s way. The fire impacted 65 businesses and several hundred employees and left a void in the Blackstone Valley that will not easily be replaced. The Bernat Mill was an early model of a successful mill redevelopment project in the Valley which paved the way for so many recent projects that include both commercial and residential re-uses.   

The historic complex will be missed in many ways, but I know that the businesses and individuals who lost so much, the Town of Uxbridge and the Blackstone Valley will recover. I know it won’t be easy, but more than 20 years of vision, partnering and perseverance have demonstrated that the Valley will recover and be better and stronger in the end. This is the “Spirit of the Blackstone Valley”. It is a spirit of cooperation, partnership and collaboration that has been the hallmark of the Heritage Corridor. It was manifest the moment that first fire alarm sounded, when fire companies from both Massachusetts and Rhode Island were on site, and as hundreds of firefighters stood shoulder to shoulder to contain the massive fire.

The Heritage Corridor Commission stands ready to do our part in recovering and moving forward from this devastation in partnership with our federal, state, local, non-profit partners and citizens.     

See you around the valley,

Thomas E. Ross
Acting Executive Director

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Rep. James McGovern (right) receives Worcester Connections poster from state Senator Richard T. Moore

Worcester Connections Poster Presented to Representative James McGovern
A reauthorization celebration was held on June 9 2007 at Union Station in Worcester. Over 150 Heritage Corridor friends turned out to mix and mingle and more importantly to celebrate a five year extension of the Corridor. US Congressional Representative James McGovern was presented with a framed and signed copy of the Worcester Connections poster for all of his efforts to support reauthorization. Joining him were state senators Richard T. Moore and Edward Augustus. 

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Corridor Star awarded to CanalFest Committee
Members of the Blackstone CanalFest Committee were awarded the Corridor Star during the Reauthorization Celebration festivities at Union Station on June 9, 2007. The inaugural Blackstone CanalFest was held September 9, 2006, on the streets of Worcester where the Blackstone Canal once existed and operated. Members of the Blackstone Canal Task Force, local businesses and cultural advocates (with support from the Heritage Corridor) recognized the need to call attention to the concept that, like Providence, the City of Worcester could once again benefit from the Canal. Blackstone CanalFest illustrated just that. On a beautiful late summer day on Harding Street, tents, delicious food, live music, horse drawn wagons with National Park Service Rangers giving guided tours to passengers all accompanied a recreated portion of the Blackstone Canal.

The all-volunteer commitee (30+ people) envisioned this concept and brought it to reality under the organization of co-chairs John Rooney and Ned Liddel. The committee and sub-committees met faithfully, executed detailed plans, created a website, coordinated with city officials, collected thousands of dollars in donations, arranged for entertainment and food, publicized the event extensively and in the end over 3,000 people were in attendance for fantastic celebration that brought the Blackstone Canal to life. The festival reignited the concept that the City could invest in a Canal District and highlighted the benefits for all those involved. The festival also interpreted the story and legacy of the Blackstone Canal-showing that part of the city’s past can extraordinary for its future.

Allen Fletcher accepted the award on the committee’s behalf.

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Holy Cross Receives Funding for “Blackstone Collaboratory”
The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA has received $20,000 in seed money from the 3M Foundation to establish the Blackstone Collaboratory. Housed on the campus, it will bring together natural scientists, historians and economists from Holy Cross and the region to address key scientific questions related to the environmental health of the Blackstone River.

The grant application was supported by numerous organizations including the Heritage Corridor Commission which is working with the City of Worcester, Mass Audubon, Worcester Historical Museum, Canal Task Force, Worcester Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Worcester Land Trust, Holy Cross and community leaders to promote the implementation of the Quinsigamond Village Revitalization Plan. This important plan includes the development of a Northern Gateway Visitor Center, the Blackstone River Bikeway, river access sites, trail access and canal re-creation. Holy Cross currently provides office space to the Blackstone River Coalition and through the Collaboratory will provide laboratory space in support of their water quality testing that is key to achieving the Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone by 2015. For more information on Holy Cross visit www.holycross.edu.    

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Mark Jewell with NPS Director Mary Bomar along the Blackstone River Bikeway at the Kelly House

Mark Jewell, Outdoor Recreation Planner, to Leave the Heritage Corridor
After six years as an Outdoor Recreation Planner for the Heritage Corridor, Mark Jewell will be leaving the Staff in mid-August to pursue other career interests. Mark has been the driving force for developing the Blackstone River Bikeway, provided valuable technical advice and guidance in the creation of trails, river access, and the Heritage Corridor sign system, and assisted with several special events and community development projects. He leaves behind a solid planning foundation for recreational development in the Heritage Corridor and an extensive network of partners to continue developing recreational opportunities in the Valley. Staff and Commissioners wish Mark success on any trail he decides to take from the Blackstone River Valley and will remember him as the technical guru with a passion for excellence.

You are invited to stop by the Woonsocket Depot Corridor Offices on August 15 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for a reception and some fun to celebrate Mark’s accomplishments in the Blackstone River Valley and wish him well as he starts upon a new journey.

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