Blackstone River Valley Footsteps in History Preserve America

Columbus Day Weekend  Highlights

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2005 Footsteps in History PDF Insert

COMING UP on Columbus Day Weekend! Watch for more details.

Worcester, MA. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor working together as the Blackstone River Valley Tourism Collaborative has assured that every one of the 24 Preserve America communities of Blackstone River Valley in Massachusetts and Rhode Island will have a site or program that is participating in this showcase of the architecture, culture and heritage known as the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution.

Over 130 sites and interpretive events have been collected under the Footsteps in History umbrella to offer visitors a chance to experience five centuries of America’s history in three days!

Here are some highlights from each Massachusetts Preserve America community:

Blackstone

Daniels Farmstead

286 Mendon Street

Tour of one of the most intact historic farmsteads remaining within the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

Saturday: 10-4pm

Sunday: 12-4pm

Monday: 12-4pm

508-726-2042

 

Douglas

Douglas Historical Society / E.N. Jenckes Store Museum

283 Main Street

Enjoy a typical small town country store of a hundred years ago restored by the Douglas Historical Society. This site was the lifeblood of the community, selling everything from ladders to lace, furniture to feather plumes.

Saturday: 12-4pm

Sunday: 12-4pm

508-476-3856

 

Grafton

Hassanamesit Indian Reservation

80 Brigham Hill Road (behind Town Hall)

Open house and guided tours of the Nipmuc Tribal National Reservation. Learn about the culture and traditions.

Sunday: 10am-2pm

508-865-9800

 

Hopedale

The Little Red Shop

12 Hopedale Street (north of Town Hall)

Guided tour of shop and other activities. Come learn about the Draper family and their manufacture of looms.

Saturday: 1-4pm

Sunday: 1-4pm

Monday: 1-3pm

508-473-2779

 

Leicester

Leicester Common & other buildings - Leicester Historical Commission

3 Washburn Square (Town Hall)

A 40 minutes guided walking tour of the common area. Tours will be every hour done every hour. Tour will include local history and will highlight the carding industry in the valley as well as the underground railroad in Leicester.

Saturday: 10am-4pm

Sunday: 12-4pm

Monday: 12-4pm

508-892-8014

 

Mendon

Southwick's Zoo

2 Southwick Street

Discover the history of the Southwick Homestead and learn about historical animal ecology. Presentations at the Earth Eco-Education Center at 1 pm and 2 pm.

Saturday: 10am-5pm

Sunday: 10am-5pm

Monday: 10am-5pm

800-258-9182

 

Millbury

The Asa Waters Mansion

123 Elm Street, Millbury (next to Town Hall).

Special Exhibit: An unprecedented display of over 40 antique pistols made during the 1800's at the Waters Armory (once located on the banks of the Blackstone River) will be on display for these four hours only – don’t miss it! There will also be black powder musket firing demonstrations on the grounds on the half-hour. Numerous rooms in the Mansion will also be accessible for self-touring.

Sunday: 12-4pm

508-865-0855

 

Millville

Chestnut Hill Meeting House & Cemetery

at the corner of Thayer & Chestnut Hill Road next to the cemetery, Millville

 

Saturday: 1-2pm: Open house with interpretation.

Saturday: 2 - 3 pm: Presentation "Yours for Humanity -- Abby", a 30 minute, one-woman play depicting the life of Abby Kelley Foster who spoke out against slavery and prejudice and for equal rights for women. Presenter: Lynne McKinley Lydich, of the Worcester Women's History Project. Offering Accepted.

Sunday: 1-2pm: Open house with interpretation.

Sunday: 2 - 3 pm: Presentation "A Woman of 1769" relates to the role the meeting house and the people of Mendon played in the American Revolution. Offering Accepted.

Monday: 1-2pm: A narrated, self guided tour of the Chestnut Hill Meeting House Cemetery (1769 to the present). Burial sites of early settlers and revolutionary soldiers are discussed in this 330-grave colonial cemetery tour.

508-883-7079

 

Northbridge

"A walk with the Whitins"

Saturday: 11am-3pm.

Guided walks begin at 11am and are held continuously beginning at the Historical Society Building at 1 Elm Place at the corner of Douglas Road. Whitinsville, MA 508-476-2893.

 

Sutton

Waters Farm

53 Waters Road

Open house. Discover a hilltop homestead built in 1757 by Stephen Waters, listed on the National Register of Historic Places overlooking beautiful Lake Manchaug. Stunning views of the lake, barns, outbuildings, and pristine farmland.

Saturday: 12-4pm

Sunday: 12-4pm

Monday: 12-4pm

508-865-4886 or 508-865-0101 farm answering service

 

Upton

Sweetwilliam Farm

153 North Street

Cider and butter making demonstrations: Local crafters & artisans, wool spinning demonstration, historic farm equipment display, historic clothing & home accessory display, holiday cards photo sessions & custom print ordering option, scrap booking, tattoos & face painting, hayrides, sandwiches, salads, drinks and novelty ice cream are available for lunch, and much more!!!

Saturday: 10am-4pm

Sunday: 12-4pm

Monday: 12-4pm

508-529-2000

 

Uxbridge

Quaker Meeting House of South Uxbridge

On the corner of Quaker Highway (MA-146A) and Aldrich Street. (MA-98)

Open house and on-going presentation and discussion on the early Quakers of South Uxbridge. Come experience this great example of an early meeting house.

Sunday: 12-4pm

508-278-2971

 

Worcester

Childhood Home of U.S. Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz

4 Woodford Street

Poet, editor, essayist, and translator who became America's 10th poet laureate at the age of 95! Kunitz's first collection of verse appeared in 1930. He has written in conversational tone of such complex themes as the work of a poet, loss, time, and the chaos of inner life. Poetry readings, talk, tour of our site including pear tree!!!

Saturday: 10am-4pm

508-797-4770

Footsteps in History is a project has also received support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, and Preserve America.

 

Known as the Birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution, the Blackstone River Valley’s 24 communities were designated by President and Mrs. Bush as Preserve America communities in 2004. To highlight this proud achievement, the region’s Blackstone River Valley Tourism Collaborative developed Footsteps in History to make all historical and cultural sites open and available to the public with open houses, artistic and interpretive programs, festivals and much more during this three-day fall weekend.

For more information and a complete listing of participating sites and organizations, visit www.footstepsinhistory.com or call Veronica Cadoppi, Program Coordinator at 401-724-2200.

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Footsteps in History is sponsored by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Collaborative an organization representing the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The Collaborative has also affiliated with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Preserve America Program.

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Collaborative encourages visitors to participate in the Footsteps in History Preserve America weekend by promoting a $1,000 Gas Give-a-Way contest through the over 130 sites participating in the weekend. For contest details, see www.footstepsinhistory.com.