Event
Ranger Walkabout: Ambition and Accidents at Ashton
Fee:
Free.Location:
50 Front Street, Cumberland, RIDates & Times
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of Event
Description
Join a Park Ranger and explore the Blackstone River Valley.
During the months of June, July, and August, park staff offer specialty tours at varying locations across the Blackstone River Watershed. These programs begin at 6:30 PM and are 60-minutes long.
Please wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Most tours are outside and often include walking on uneven surfaces on varying types of terrain with no access to bathroom facilities. Bug spray and sunscreen are also highly suggested.
This Week's Program: Ambition and Accidents at Ashton
Location: 50 Front St., Cumberland, RI
What do you imagine when you think of a mill accident? Join a ranger for a walk around Ashton mill village and learn about the history of work and workplace hazards at the site. Then, follow the ranger to the Kelly barn, for a group activity. See for yourself how people recorded mill accidents and consider how these incidents may be similar to issues in modern workplaces.
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Future Programs:
August 1: In Pursuit of Providence
Location: 282 N. Main St., Providence, RI
Follow the journey of a Providence family, who for two generations, enjoyed a level of wealth, influence, and power that would have been denied them except for the profound legacy of Roger Williams. Learn more about the Hahns, their memorial, and their local legacy during this 1.5-mile walk led by a ranger. Program will begin and end at Roger Williams National Memorial and cover mostly flat terrain. There will be multiple street crossings at busy locations.
August 8: The Best and the Worsted - Harrisville
Location: 26 East Ave., Burrillville, RI
What did workers make inside the textile mills of Rhode Island? This walkabout will focus on the different products made in villages such as Harrisville in the 19th and 20th centuries. For some, it was the best of times, and for others, it was just another day at the Stillwater Worsted Company.
August 15: At Home in Hopedale
Location: 12 Hopedale St., Hopedale, MA
How do employers retain talented workers? In some company towns, housing served as an incentive and anchor. Explore the historic homes of Hopedale, MA, and chart the rise and fall of the Draper Company, which was once the largest producer of power looms in the United States.
August 22: Lonsdale Marsh – A Rehabilitation Story
Location: 121 John St., Lincoln, RI
During the 19th century, some workers moved from farms into factories. Others relocated to company towns to run factory farms. Learn about the evolution of Lonsdale, a place that has been home to both farmers and factory workers. See how the land in this mill village has undergone tremendous environmental changes and healed from some of the destructive forces of industry.
August 29: Labor Day Weekend Preview
Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI
Kick off your Labor Day Weekend at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI! Tour a historic mill building (1793) to see how an industrial revolution began on the banks of the Blackstone River.
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