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Check out this quarter's recap of successful Park events and learn what there is to look forward to this winter.
Shorter Days but No Shortage of Fun at Your Parks
After a busy summer, things are not slowing down at Blackstone River Valley NHP and Roger Williams National Memorial. With the leaves changing and the air becoming crisp, visitors are still flocking to our sites to enjoy the beautiful foliage and a range of new seasonal programs. As you make your plans for cooler days, be sure to stay up-to-date on all of our offerings, from chess at the Memorial to winter hikes in the Blackstone Valley.
At Blackstone River Valley NHP, Fall Walks are in full swing, and our newest exhibit “Laboring for Freedom: African Americans in the Blackstone River Valley” is on display in Old Slater Mill. The staff at Roger Williams National Memorial also have exciting news to share about a newly funded project from the National Park Foundation. In partnership with the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, this grant will fund research, exhibits, and programs on the Hahn family (a prominent 20th-century Jewish family from Providence).
The facilities and cultural resources staff have been hard at work inside and out. The most recent projects have included applying Natural Hydraulic Lime render to the interior walls of the Wilkinson Mill attic to help stop leaks during heavy rainstorms and reglazing the window sashes of the first-floor windows of Wilkinson Mill. Maintenance crews have been hard at work cleaning up the majestic falling leaves at the Memorial.
Lastly, our team has also welcomed several new faces and is saying farewell to a few of our seasonal team members. We are grateful for the contributions of each of these individuals to our parks.
National Park Foundation “Inclusive Storytelling” Grant
The National Park Foundation has awarded $72,500 to the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association (RIJHA), in partnership with the Roger Williams National Memorial. This funding will support research and educational programs about a prominent 20th-century Jewish family from Providence. The project, “A Memorial Legacy: The Hahns of Providence,” began this summer and will be completed over the next year and a half.
Isaac Hahn was the first Jew elected to public office in Rhode Island, and his son, Joseph Jerome Hahn, was a state Supreme Court judge who generously donated land that became the core of the Roger Williams National Memorial on North Main Street. The grant will support the creation of educational resources, including lesson plans for students in grades fourth through sixth, a traveling exhibit, and a series of public programs hosted by National Park Service rangers. A rededication of the Hahn Memorial will take place in the fall of 2025 as part of the Roger Williams National Memorial’s 60th anniversary.
Founded in 1951, the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association is the oldest continuously operated state Jewish historical society in the United States.
Courtesy of Alexander Gim-Fain, Stages of Freedom
Laboring for Freedom Exhibit Debut at Old Slater Mill
On Friday, October 18, 2024, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park debuted a new special exhibit: “Laboring for Freedom: African Americans in the Blackstone River Valley.”
This collaborative exhibit created by Stages of Freedom staff and the National Park Service highlights the contributions of Black laborers from Providence, RI to Worcester, MA. The panels focus on the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals in the early decades of industry up to the American Civil War. From the workers who cut the roads that led to Old Slater Mill, to the self-emancipated fugitives who came to reside in small towns and growing cities, this exhibit tells stories of resilience from across the Valley.
Kevin Klyberg, Director of Interpretation and Education at Blackstone River Valley NHP, explains that “this new exhibit provides a window into an often overlooked and undervalued group of laborers in the United States: enslaved and free Black people living in and around the Blackstone Valley.”
The new exhibit can be viewed by the public during the normal operating hours of Old Slater Mill, Thursdays to Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM through December 14, 2024.
Special thanks to our partners, Stages of Freedom, and Slater Industrial Archives, whose objects are on display with the panels.
Cultural Resources Team Welcomes Archivist
Meet Delaney Sieber, a new member of the team!
Delaney is the Archivist for Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Roger Williams National Memorial, and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. She hails from Anoka, Minnesota and enjoys visiting new National Parks.
Previously, Delaney spent five years working on the Freedom Trail in Boston at the Old State House and Old South Meeting House, the Old North Church, and the USS Constitution Museum.
Most recently, Delaney worked for the Northeast Museum Services Center processing records.
Preservation at Work
The facilities team has worked with our cultural resources division to help preserve important historic features of the Wilkinson Mill. The team have used their preservation skills to reglaze wood window sashes on the first floor of the mill. The team also applied a Natural Hydraulic Lime render to the inside attic wall of the mill, which will help stop leaks that occur through the stone wall during heavy rainstorms.
Our archivist has begun working with the Slater Industrial Archives (Old Slater Mill Association) to help organize their collection of historical documents and photographs. We are happy to work on this project with the Old Slater Mill Association and to help preserve their collection.
Facilities Team Welcomes New Staff
Our Facilities and Maintenance Team has welcomed two new team members:
Francis Carraway has joined the staff as a seasonal member of the Maintenance Division. Originally from Mississippi, he has family in Massachusetts. Francis has previously served two seasons with AmeriCorps Conservation programs, most recently on a chainsaw crew with Arizona Conservation Corps. Francis traveled as far as California and New Mexico, and before that, he was on a trail crew with Southeast Conservation Corps, which worked in Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. Francis has a BA in English.
McKinzie Schultz, another member of the seasonal team, is new to the National Park Service. She graduated from The University of Rhode Island after completing a degree in Anthropology. For the last three years, McKinzie has been serving in various AmeriCorps programs. Most recently, she learned carpentry and other preservation skills with the Student Conservation Association Historic Preservation Corps. She is happy to be using her new skills for the maintenance of our parks.
In other maintenance news, several colleagues will be attending a training at Acadia National Park and Grand Canyon National Park this fall.
Farewell to a True VIP
Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer & Community Engagement at Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, will be leaving for her next big adventure. After three years of dedicated service to the Corridor and Park, Molly will be taking a new role in Worcester, MA. Molly played an integral role in the Park’s recent development, with a focus on volunteer recruitment, retention, and diversity within the program. She also provided tremendous support to winter programs and special events at the Park.
Please join us in thanking Molly for her tireless dedication to the Volunteers-In-Parks Program.
Special Thanks!
As we look ahead to winter, we must say goodbye and thank you to our seasonal staff in Interpretation and Education.
Bob Wakeling, Owen Marshall, and Alyssa Houlis have offered guided tours, Roger Talks, and education programs throughout the season. They will be missed!
Hendrickson
Fall Walks in the Blackstone Valley
The fall walk series is underway. Join a ranger in Blackstone River State Park, Hopedale, or Slatersville to get your fill of industrial history. In addition to walks in Valley nodes, our partners at the Slater Industrial Archives will be presenting walking tours of Pawtucket.
Saturday, October 26, 2024: Blackstone River State Park Walking Tour
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Meeting Location: 1075 Lower River Road, Lincoln, RI
Enjoy a guided walk around Blackstone River State Park during Archaeology Month. Learn how archaeologists have uncovered the history of this site. This walk will cover some uneven terrain.
Saturday, October 26, 2024: Jenks Walking Tour
Start Time: 11:30 AM
Meeting Location: 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
Join interpreter Joshua Choiniere of the Old Slater Mill Association for a walking tour of the original settlement of Pawtucket Village by Joseph Jenks Jr. This tour will extend all the way up to Bayley Street. This program will cover approximately one mile on paved surface, with some small hills and steps. Meet in front of Sylvanus Brown House on the Old Slater Mill campus.
Saturday, November 2, 2024: Hopedale Community Walking Tour
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Meeting Location: 2 Peace Street, Hopedale, MA
How does a commune become a company town? Explore Hopedale, MA, with us and learn how a radical enterprise made a few in this community quite rich.
Saturday, November 9, 2024: Service Stories in Slatersville
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Meeting Location: 101 Greene Street, Slatersville, RI
Explore Slatersville Cemetery with a park ranger this Memorial Day Weekend. Learn the stories of local veterans who served in the Civil War. Presented in partnership with North Smithfield Heritage Association. Meet in front of Heritage Hall, located at 101 Green Street, North Smithfield, RI.
Winter Hikes
Take a hike with us this winter!
During the months of December, January, and February, rangers will lead outdoor hikes throughout the Blackstone Valley. Enjoy the crisp air and explore new or familiar territory during the colder months.
Please wear sturdy footwear and comfortable gear suitable for the weather. Many hikes will cover uneven terrain (expect exposed roots, rocks, and mud). Bring your own water and wear orange, particularly during January hikes. Hikes will proceed in the case of light rain, but staff will cancel events if harsh or dangerous conditions are expected. Upon arrival at the starting point, look for signs to indicate parking locations.
All of these walks are hosted on Saturday mornings at 10 AM.
Hike Schedule:
12/21/2024 - Rice City Pond to Overlook
12/28/2024 - Mercy Woods Preserve
1/4/2025 - West Hill Dam
1/11/2025 - Moshassuck River Preserve
1/18/2025 - Booth Pond
1/25/2025 - Peppercorn Hill
2/1/2025 - Castle Hill Farm
2/8/2025 - Wolf Hill
2/15/25 - Hopedale Parklands
2/22/2025 - Blackall Family and Ballou Farm Preserve
For more information, check out our Winter Hikes Things to Do page.
New Chess Table at the Memorial
Exclamations of “checkmate!” are echoing throughout Roger Williams National Memorial because of the new chess table that is now a feature in the park. Located on the pathway across from the parking lot and next to the Hahn Memorial, the table is open for all to enjoy. The visitor center has chess pieces available for visitor use, so bring along your chess-loving friends, or perhaps a ranger would like to go head-to-head in a match!
End of the Summer Season at the National Memorial
Over the course of the season, there have been many reasons to visit the park. Free yoga sessions brought over 1,000 visitors. Overall, more than 4,000 general visitors came to the Memorial just this summer.
Youth outreach events were very successful as rangers met with children at local libraries to learn about Roger Williams. Even B.A.R.K Rangers had a fantastic summer, enjoying the park (always on a leash of course!) with collar tags showcasing their own stewardship.
As the season comes to an end and the colder months find their way to the parks, Roger Talks will be coming to a close for the season on October 27th.
The visitor center will be open Thursday-Sunday through December 14, 2024. Stop by to connect with rangers and volunteers, visit exhibits, or peruse the bookstore. The park will remain open through the winter for more opportunities to experience everything that it has to offer.
America250
Winning a war of independence was only the beginning. Mere months after the Constitution of the United States went into effect, a second revolution began. This one did not start with a declaration. It was launched with the opening of a mill.
The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked and where they lived. People across the United States and around the world continue to grapple with the consequences of some of those choices to this day.
Over the past two years, park staff have completed a series of articles that take a deeper look at the core legacies of American Independence through the lens of the American Industrial Revolution. Check out our latest article on Colonel Timothy Bigelow, and access all 8 articles by visiting our America250 webpage.
You can also learn more about the additional initiatives across the Blackstone Valley on the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor website.
Hendrickson
Last updated: October 23, 2024