The National Park Service Rangers from the Heritage Corridor Commission are once again offering a series of Thursday Night Walkabouts this summer. Each Thursday this summer the rangers, or one of our volunteer partners, will offer a free program somewhere in the Blackstone Valley – a chance for you to explore part of the history or natural beauty of the Valley we call home. 

This year, the programs kick off with a tour of Whitinsville, home of the Whitin Machine Works, once on of the largest producers of textile making machinery in the world. The Rangers will also highlight the Blackstone River Bikeway this year, with a number of bike programs that will demonstrate that the Bikeway is not just great for recreation, but also a wonderful way to explore many of the stories of the Blackstone Valley.

All of the programs are free.  Walking tours will begin at 6:30 and bike programs will begin at 6:00.  For more information about these programs, please contact the Heritage Corridor at (401) 762-0440

June 4 Whitinsville
While most of the Blackstone Valley was home to textile mills, Whitinsville produced the textile machines that kept the other towns working. From its beginnings at Fletcher’s iron forge through the cotton mill and on to the massive Whitin Machine Works, Whitinsville has been one of the key industrial centers of the Blackstone Valley. This free program will begin at the Whitin Social Library, Church Street, Whitinsville at 6;30 pm.

Directions: Take the Whitinsville/ Main Street Exit from Rt. 146. Follow Main Street about two miles into Whitinsville. At light, slight left onto Church Street, library is on left.

June 11 Guided Bike tour: How The Bikeway was built.
In this program, Bill DeSantis, civil engineer, will give us an "insiders view" of how the bikeway was built. DeSantis specializes in the design of paths and greenways including the Blackstone River Bikeway. DeSantis is a member of League of American Bicyclists and League Cycling Instructor teaching safe cycling to adults and children.

Meet at the field adjacent to Kelly House near Mile Marker 11 at 6:00 pm. Park at 295N Visitor’s Center, or Route 116 Parking or Ashton Village Parking.

See the Blackstone River Bikeway Patrol website for directions to parking lots here

June 18 Hopedale
From religious commune to factory town, Hopedale has a long and vibrant history. Beginning with a small group of religious idealist seeking to create a perfect community, Hopedale evolved into the home of the largest manufacturer of looms in America at the Draper Corporation. Please meet the ranger at Hopedale Unitarian Church, 65 Hopedale Street, Hopedale at 6:30 pm.

Directions: Take Rt. 146 to Rt 16. Follow Rt 16 East for about 8.5 miles to light at intersection of Church Street. Turn left, Unitarian Church on right in about .25 mile.

June 25 Slatersville
Learn how John Slater came to this site along the Branch River to expand the Textile Empire that his brother Samuel had begun in Pawtucket in 1790. Slatersville is not only the first planned mill village in America, it is one of the best preserved. Almost all of the elements of the original village, from the mill, to the worker housing, the church and the company stores still remain. Meet in the North Smithfield Public Library parking lot on Main Street, Slatersville at 6:30 pm.

Directions: Take Rt. 146 to Slatersvile exit. Follow detour north on Rt. 146A to light at intersection with North Main Street by shopping plaza. Turn left, and follow to end of North Main, next to North Smithfield Town Hall. Turn right onto Main Street, library on left.

July 2 Ranger Campfire
What better way to spend the evening than a traditional park ranger campfire? Along with stories, you will have a chance to view the site of the upcoming Worcester/Blackstone Visitor Center, which will also be home to the Worcester Historical Museum. Program will be held at the Washburn and Moen Wireworks building at McKeon Road and Blackstone River Road in Worcester, beginning at 6:30

Directions: From 146 North, take Rt. 122A/ Millbury St. Exit.  Turn left onto McKeon Road Extension, Visitor Center site on right.  From Rt 146 South, take McKeon Road Exit, Visitor Center site on right.

July 9 Guided Bike Tour: Valley Falls
Explore the southern end of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Along the way, you will visit the Valley Falls Heritage Park, and see the Valley Falls marsh, the largest freshwater marsh in Rhode Island. His bike tour leaves from the shopping plaza parking lot, at the intersection of Mendon Road, and Ann & Hope Way, Cumberland. Tour begins at 6:00 pm.

Directions: From Rt. 146, take the Breakneck Hill Road Exit.  Head east on Rt. 123 for 2.5 miles to light at intersection with Lonsdale Avenue (Rt. 122).  Turn left, and parking lot on left.

July 16 Elder Ballou Cemetery
This site on Elder Ballou Meeting House Road is rich in history. The Ballou family descends from Marturin Ballou who was an earlier settler in Roger William's Providence Plantations. The family, may of whom are buried in the cemetery, had many distinguished descendants including two well-known American religious figures and a U. S. President. We will also take a short walk from the cemetery to the site of a rare deposit of Rhode Island's state mineral. Tour begins at 6:30 pm.

Directions: From Rt. 122/ Mendon Road Cumberland, turn at light onto West Wrentham Road.  Follow about 2.5 miles to left turn onto Elder Ballou Meeting House Road. 

July 23 Recycling on and for the Blackstone
Bill’s Auto Parts has recently completed construction on a new, state-of-the-art recycling center, located 50 yards from their old facility in Cumberland, RI. Located adjacent to the Blackstone River Bikeway this tour will give visitors a behind the scenes tour of modern day auto recycling.  Learn how they are using modern management tools to  deliver a quality product all while being sensitive to the environmental health of the Blackstone River Watershed. 70 Macondray Street Cumberland.  Program begins at 6:30 pm.

Directions: Take Route 146 to Breakneck Hill Road/ Rt. 123 Exit.  Follow Rt. 123 East for 3.5 miles to intersection with Broad Street.  Turn right, go 1/4 mile and turn right onto Elm Street.  Turn right onto Macondray.

July 30 River Bend Farm
The Blackstone Canal, which opened in 1828, played a crucial role in the development of the Blackstone River Valley as an Industrial powerhouse. Join a National Park Service Ranger to walk along the canal’s towpath and learn some of the rich heritage of this key transportation link of the Blackstone River Valley. Meet at River Bend Farm, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge at 6:30.

Directions: Take Rt. 146 to Rt. 16 Exit.  Follow signs to Visitor Center.

Aug 6 Rural Cemetery, Worcester
In the 1830s, a new idea came along to take burials out of the cramped church-yard and begin to design the more park-like cemeteries that we are more familiar with today. This was known as the rural cemetery movement, and one of the finest examples in the Blackstone Valley is the Worcester Rural Cemetery, established in 1838. Explore the Rural Cemetery, find out more about this movement, and learn about some of the famous residents of Worcester who are now interred there. Rural Cemetery, 180 Grove Street, Worcester. This program begins at 6:30 pm.

Directions: Take 146 North to Rt. 290. Take Exit 17 for Rt. 9 and turn left off ramp. Turn right onto MA-122A/Salisbury Street. Follow 1/10 of a mile then straight onto Grove Street. Turn right onto North Street, cemetery on right.

Aug 13 Guided Bike Tour: Historical sites along the Bikeway
Ever wonder what you are looking at while you ride along the Blackstone River Bikeway? Join a National Park Service Ranger for a bike-tour of the Bikeway to learn about the manmade artifacts that can be seen along the ride. The tour begins at the Kelly House in the Blackstone River State Park, at the end of Lower River Road in Lincoln. Parking is also available at Bikeway lots off Rt. 116 in Lincoln, and at Front Street in Ashton Village, Cumberland. This program begins at 6:00 pm.

See the Blackstone River Bikeway Patrol website for directions to parking lots here

Aug 20 Pawtucket
Learn about the role that the Blackstone River and the Pawtucket falls played in the development of the City of Pawtucket, RI as an industrial center. This free tour begins at the Slater Mill, 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket. Program begins at 6:30 pm.

Directions: 95 North to Exit 28 (School St.). Left at bottom of ramp. Go through light, down hill, bear right across the river and turn right on Roosevelt Ave. Slater Mill is on the right.

95 South to Exit 29 (Downtown Pawtucket) onto Broadway, follow Broadway to merge with Main St. Take right at light. Slater Mill is on your right

Aug 27 Woonsocket
Learn how the 30-foot Woonsocket Falls was harnessed to power the mills of the city and check out the continuing evolution of Main Street. This free tour begins at Market Square – intersection of South Main Street and River Street, Woonsocket. Program begins at 6:30 pm.

Directions: Take Rt. 146 to rt. 104 Exit. Follow signs to Visitor Center.