Po’rm 10-10 UNITED STATUS DEPARTMENT OF THE Ni ERIOR Dec. l9oU NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ithor ::l.ic
CO UN TV NATIONAL gEGISTER O EISVCUC ?LACES ProvicThnce R-VENTORY - NOMLNAIION FO2W. P01< NPS USE GLY
EN TRY NUMUER _I TE Type oil en:ries - complete opplicubie secUons
- ICOMtoN: Blackstone Canal
‘PD OR HIUTONI C;
* *:. . .
ST Lincoln . Providence . STATE I 0r,IJous TV; cone Rhode Island Providence pOOT ‘‘‘I CLA5SiFICATION . ... .*.* H - CATEGORY ACCESSII3LE In OWNERSHIP STATUS Check One . TO THE PUSLIC roccupied I 2.fl tart Distiict C Bui ding Ci Public C Public Acquisition: C Yes: 0 Si ‘e Q’ Structuro Pr; vote In P races s C Unoccupied Restricted C Both Be ing Cons idorod C Praorvoti on work Un rustricted [ Os.I ‘C] I in erorusS C1No: an oart / U T USE Chcck Opt,’ ur ,7nrt, as Appropri:ite . A Uricuiturol C Government C Park C Transportation C Camn;enta C Comn:rrc iol C Industrsal C Privne Nes idence C 0: icr SpaciIy cotiongi Military F El fl Nclieiuus . C flL2t -______in Mti;;eu;:i . Sc:ent:i’:c tin L [] - . "I-- *.-.‘* - LU r,T.’ECT 4N0 NUMUR: Lu cITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE I -4 > -4 LOCAVION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION ...... :*** *.. couHoL..I:.T4o.’tSts.ctc:l, Clerk City Roll * 5Th CL T A,’.,: NuMt,L:R: ICo, Old River Road Dorrance and Uashington Stroets OilY OR TQV.N: . {ATE COOL’ j n Providence R’nodo Island ‘..*ncOln.. . Ifl . j j IiXI’.if 1 AC1L AOl A NAMPJA-rpc I OVLI 1Y - I rh r.ISENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS : . 0’ uNVCY: I :Gt 50 represented . v:o,. :.-: 5uRvcY: Federal fl State C County r: Local Oi;PUSPTONY P014 SLJF4VCY F4ECOROS: . - ‘a ± STNEICT AN0.NUMOER: . . . : ‘ l,y . . . . I Li C CITY OR TOWN: . . - I5TAT . . , --- rn . r m ‘< -* .f7R’T1eN ‘ ‘ - ‘ Check One -‘ : cONOITlON - EecrIIop I Good "3 Foir C Duter,crutod C Ruins C Uno%posed C C/itch Oat’ Chock Coo ‘N, L’flt I Y L Al tried * Uttol tnrcu’ fl Moved fl Original Site i LIL:.CeI’tL Tap’ p ,;i:,;Nr AND oII:OINAL lila-an P.IVL.PcAL APOLAIIANCE The LiacRn tone Canal n-as desirpcd to connect Providenco, Rhode laland , and’i’iorccstcr, :asbachucotts--forty-five miles apart--for the transport of commercial good, nrtiiarily, and -also of passengers. I’-as cetistructed durinf: tho years l52i--l823. In northern Rhode Island it rctrtly pctrollels and partly cci Inc with the Blacks Lone River anCi in Pro- vidence becomes a part of the Nochassucic River. ‘Th:enty or more feet wide througnout, it was where neccssary stone-walled, both to contain the .car.al streaai ana to support tne patn required for horses towing the canal-boats. Theause of a drop of LSi feet in altitude frcnl Worcester to Providence, granite-walled locks had to bo constnacted at numerous, points, but little visibly remains of these locks--now, only outside Providence--and nothing. of tIeir mechanisms. From the intact Lincoln, Rhode Island, portion of the canal Cal- - ready a separate nomination to the National Register, it flows under the Front Street Bridre in that to--rn, through Scott Pond and--ncw--’ceneath ri the Sayles Finishing Plant, rerb combining with the Noshassucic River channel. Thence it continued southrard for four and one-hall’ miles under- new streets ane past nnl complexes to Interstate Route 95, witnn tne - - Proncence area. In this section toere are no remains ot walls or tow-. -- Datits. Soutn of Route 95, however, the canas rotans its original granite walls--at least on the eastern tow-path side and often on both- :or asnost the cntre remainder of ts course Into tno city of Providence. T This is now about one and one-hail miles, terminating at the intersoction of Steo’ele and Promenade Streets. In its time of use the canal ended C finall:, at Narket Square, some blocks south, where there was landing, a . stair and a shelter for the transfer of passengers ‘and cargo. These last stretenes ano the basn one oa the canal are now covered by a networ’.c of - medern pavements and squares. The remaining Rhode Island sections of this canal disalay various = ty’es of stone wail ‘construction, both with and without mortar. In most places they have maintained themselves sturdily; in others they ha’t sOmetLmes been repaired or rebuilt. Their general condition anocars good. * As one oxception in Providence, there are remains of what once right ha-ic ‘coon a sot of locks above Nill Street, for such were shown in and early survey. The canal remains a long finger through a good part of Providence, and it still flows. ______ PC RICO C/tct’< C ttc ort/ore tic Appropriate Pre-Co!unbian 0 16th Century C 19th Century 1 20th Century I 5th Century 7th Century 19th Contury ‘j 1 flJ EX sr-cd Ft OATL’IS/ Ct C ‘I pet!it-a/it,- anti Rooter, - AnCAS OF stCNtrtcANcC Chock One or A:ora as Appropriate - - Abor çinal E duca El - Pal itic0 - Urban P1 anni ng - - Prehistoric Engincerin C fJ Roliciort/Phi- Other Spociy C Historic ‘ lndus try losaphy El A9ri culture Invent ion Sc is nco Q 0 Art Lands cape Sculpture 0 Commerce Architecture 0 Social/Human- - - Communicotions Literature i tarian El 0 0 - Cons ervat ion Mi itory Theater C Music Transportation fj - S TA TCMCU V OF St CMI Ft CAN CC include Personage.. Dittos, Es-nts, Etc. - The Blacketone Canal was at its’beginnings thought oin 1623, onened for use in 1328 another with many canals being stretched through out tne eastern Unite-a States. *in the first tuiro of the .c.,s Cc-n.i-; occurred what might be called frenzy 2: a of canal-building, induced by si-rift industrial and or ercial development and the consequent need for 0 a transportation network. All are familiar with the ;rie Canal; there were also the Chesapeake and Delaware, the Philadel-nhia State, the I- Chesapeake and Ohio, the Louisville and Portland, the Norris--Delaware U and Raritan, the Georgetown etc. The Dlackstone Canal justifiably takes a place among them in national his ten’, and in Rhode Island it certainly takes a notable place 0:: in local history. - - I- , Here, its functions -rore to assIst in commerce between Providence and Worcester and to. stimulate the industrial development of intervonin’ 2: towns and villages along the Noshassuck and’ Biaokstone Rivers. These it did during its useful life of about twenty years, ended by the intro-- - duotion- of a Providene--Worcestor railroad. It had -- Lu forty-nina locks, as well as tttow_paths, basins, dams, wharves, e:nbanlmients, toll houses, Lu ens ctncr necessary apoenhiacros" demonstrative oC tho engineering and building skills of thetimes. ‘Its ‘Rhoie Island management was in the * hnds of a corporation which had -been £or.ted by such -prominent citizená - as Edward Carrington, Stephen H. Smith and Moses-B. Ives. Another cor- poration finanoed and li-anagad the: construction and operation. of the canaits’Nassaehuetts portibns. - - -- -, ‘- Ir: Rhode. Island there’ ore still many tarts of the canal ‘visibly -. I intact t-rhilô In Massae’hupetts there remain only a ‘few vague and ziavsy ecoc of ns o istence a all In these scctio’s e rtc flls On- cal-l valur.bie stri-als of the engineering and transportation ambitions and technology of ‘the i82O’. We can see the mascnrr retainin walls,. - Vciousybuiit some tow-paths tin wharfage areas ‘ and ‘the ‘path 0: tne canal into the centre of Provioence In many northern parts of tne - ,:,--‘ ------: ‘See,continuation Sheet :, -- - - - -. - --I - - - ______ Poric .Cjo UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF PIE INTERIOR STATU - - CC.c. 9o5 NATIONAL PAbK SERVICE Rnao isiand NAiJONAL RGIS 1R Or iS iJRIC COuNTY PLACES Providence t,-t. NVN ORY - NOMNA ON FORM F SGmL V, / CNTRY NUMBER DATE Continuation Sheet Xunibe, all entries 3. bignsicance. ‘cIty_ta seot:on not iately noted :or its beauty but scheduled br improve- rent--segments of tne canal with water stfl flowing, railed and sometimes overhung by trens, provide almost the only, alive, picturesque thing to be seen and watched. In many cities ttpoc]cet parks of groen have lately been created. In the remains of the Plackstonn Crnal, Providence has pocket streams of run ning wnter between ruggedly handsome old masonry. They are interesting now to discover; in future, freed of débris, they can form even more. pUoasur- able accents in developed areas. Above l, they shOuld he kept as visible and tangible partsof the city!s and’ the state’s history of growth, plan ning, commercial ambition and prosperity. - / / H r9AJiR - Cady, Jehn ijutchins: The Civic a:vi Arch:Ltectural Development, of Prey- denon. lJ3S-l950. Providence, R. I., 1951. Yap o: the Biackstcne Canal based on the orivinal suneyj 1328-1630 at hoda Island Historical Society, Providence. Greer.e, -elcene Arnod: The PronQence Planta-tons for Two i-tunered ar:a Piftr Years Providence, 1UB6. , GEOGRAPHICAL DATA -*- ‘- V LATITUDE AND LONnTUDE COORDINATES LATITUOC AND LONGITUDE’COOROINATc DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF APROPCHTY DEFINING A RECTANG LE LOcATINr. THE PROPERTY R OE LESS THAN ONE ACRE - CORNERjLATITUDC LONGITUDE - LATITUDE - LONGITUDE IDcgrros Minules Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds 710 °‘ - NW 221 26- LiD Sit’ 22" 9 -* - - fl0 ‘2b’ 0O Li0 Sb 22 - 710 2L 22" 211° b9’ 6 - 211’591JJ tt2±_ -_- I-fl ALL STATUS ANO COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES rn I conEl COUNTY * * CODE ri-i ‘ ‘HH ODIi COUNTY: CODE ‘ ‘ / - - -- - CODU COUNTY: - COOC - - CODE COUNTY: ‘ - CODU 1 ‘*- - * - - Fe!-. P-REPARgt 3’f - -"‘:, -:-:‘ *,:/ 1" NAME AND TITLE: - Richaro B. r.rrington, Consurcant ORGANIZA TION * - ‘ - * DATE Rhode island Historical Presenratihn Commission * July 23, 1970 STREET AND NUNAER: - State-aouse,-90, Smith Streetl -- - - CITY OR TOWN: STATE - ‘*- - - Providence Rhcde Island; 02903 P2-1 -* 12. IO’,:’,*Y/:/ STATE UAjSON’QFFjCE CEcTIFiCA1 ‘NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION ‘ ‘ ‘- ‘ - As the ;cs i:nu d State Liaison dfficcr icr the Ns- - - - I - ‘ - 1 herebV certify that this prorty is included in the Hon.iI Historic I’resetv:stioP Act’oi I96tO’ubIic lIw ions I Re is tc. - - ‘ -- 89-665 1 hereby n cm in: Ic-ti: s property ‘or in cI U:; jots Not in the N.’-iiolcll Nctisler intl certify t6:Ir’it has been ‘ :- eVzEtiaI ccl acCnrsi Inj tU the criteria and procedures EL’ t - ‘ - torth by tie National Park Service. The rccon,mcnded -‘ - Ch:f OUsco of Archeology arid historic PrLst.tVatlers LVL UI -i IIIIC.. nCL of this nonltnatson is tionn1 btott Local C ‘ , ‘ -‘ , ‘: , Date ,* ‘‘ - ‘ , - Name , -*---- * -** -‘ - AIIL.5T I ..‘***‘ *‘ ----**‘--**-- ‘ *- *- * ---- *- - ‘ScIU ‘ ** ‘‘ ‘*‘ ** - ‘* - - - - hoLpLr of The Nar:onoi hr I Ii U Li IlL __ /cLjf z’o - * cM&, 4cvfdc&eQ_. , STATE: Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Dec. 1968 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE I - Rhode Island - COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - Providence - ‘ INVENTORY- NOMINATION FORM FORNPS USE ONLY - -* - - - - ENTRY NUMBER DATE -- - - Type all entries - complete applicable sections - LNAME - COMMON: Paul Ronci Memorial Park - -- *:- AND/OR HISTORIC: . * - - I Blackstone Canal - jLOCATION STREET AN NUMBER: - frctn Front Street north to the Ashton Darn - - CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln - - STATE -K CODE COUNTY: I CODE’ - Rhode Island Providence * Lo07 I’S CATEGORY - - ACCESSIBLE t/-I OWNERSHIP STATUS check One - ‘ TO THE PUBLIC z I I Public Public AcquisItion, Yes: District C Building C I Occupied C - Ft1 : o 0 Site Structure Private In Process l Unoccupied R.strlcted C - C r I Both Being Considered - C Preservation work Unrestricted Olject C I X3 / C In progress I- C No: C : * U * PRESENT USE check One or More ee Appropriate ‘ Agricultural Government Park C C Transportation C- Comments C Commercial Industrial Private Other -C C Residence C Specify ‘C Educatlonol Military Religious , I- C - C Entertainment C Museum C Scientific - C - tA 15: z jj3WNEROFPROPERT’Y--T. OWNERS NAME: Frank Ronci Company, Inc. Ui STREET AND NUMBER: 1! U-i 2, Atlantic Boulevard CITY OR TOWN: * STATE: - CODE I North Providence / Rhode Island IA R LOATION_OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC: - Lincoln Town Hall - STREET AND NUMBER: Old River Road * - 1 CITY OR TOWN: I STATE CODE n 0 Lincoln C Rhode Iland LA z APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 3j acres :REPPEsENTATIoN IN EXI5TING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: * ‘ - Not known to be represented in arr survey - DATE OF SURVEY: , Federal State - *Conty fl 0 0 Local C - DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS; - -1 - --- -‘ -n - :, : * O Ish - * : STREET AND NUMBER: -- * - : * -- * ‘ tfl tlk - * I ‘ -- - ‘ - - - ,: * - - piC N: CITY OR TOWN: - , -- - : STATE: ------CODE _L:L rn - -:*4u m - ,.-_ I IJI5 I44t1 I I I,IInIJ I : -, rcl --- 4 l’&J / - - - -- -- _Q1F11JTL tJL,ajIIJL1t L L.J.L1ISi -; ‘ check One Q-: CONDITION ‘I -: Good Fair Deteriorated RuIns Unexposed Excellent 0 0- 0 o 0 ‘- ** *- check One Check One INTEGRITY Altered Unaltered Moved 0 C Original Site OESCRIOE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL II known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE * , - - * ------7’ - fl * - - - -- *- - - - -* * The stretch of the Blactone Canal beginning at Front Street in - -- Lincoln and extending four miles nth to the Ashton Dam somprises the - ‘ * * - : Paul Ronci Memorial Park. It is the longest segment of the original forty-five mile canal still intact. Both the canal and the tow-path * I -- exist In good condition. There are no locks or engineering structures -‘- * :I along this stretch of the canal. The width of the canal varies be- -- -- - tween thirty-two and forty-five feet at the top. The bottom width is ‘ - eighteen feet. Present -water level averages between, three and four feet in depth. - : - The land for use as a park includes the canal, tow-path, and * - ‘- - ffften feet on either side of: the canal. The canal banks have a - - ground cover Of brush and.smafl-to-medium-size trees. The walls of - :* the canal for -the last two thousand feet at the northern end are lined with cut-stone blocks. The physical appearance to-day is, in short, - rn -- - much the same as it was du±ing the years 1828 to18h8 when the canal! was in use, transporting -goode between Providence, Rhode Island, aM - - -: - -‘ - - Worcester, Massachusetts. - - / - ‘1 I It 4 It- / 24 *1 a .- - - I ,r_It.:: - ‘‘jh!4 , - - ‘.j?--Y -‘ N-4 :J’ :- -- - I/I I L- /k * I - I C I_ jt 1 ,_4 - l --- - ‘- -- - fl; - - - - -: - :yT :1-7:-1:1:, ./‘l IJT:T - I .-I }Ii - ‘----‘ -. --- - -Y--: I - : I - I " T- 0 I I I t4 I :": - I r 4 %- lWI 44 * .‘ * 1 ‘ - - -‘*_"?I - :i--’ :--t’:. - ‘I.: - - -- II I I kIll r1 III - __ ? ‘--- *-4l r;,4;--: ,-:., _,* - Icr I H S - - - ‘ I -.‘‘:l ‘ ‘ ,‘ *‘* :‘--I:c--s’. ‘ -- ,/lL C I C:t-’IC - - - ; I -_ ‘ :S-.I-j...I?¶.I’:t-; S_H’--;’ - - : - - :- t.4:t: I - I*: -_ S- c- :.. - - H -‘ I ------‘ Ajrjfl tçc:r: -‘- - - - - I - - ,- I t I I I 111*14 II ‘ ‘-I‘- ‘* ------I - - / - - _ --- I -- - ‘ - I- - - _ - I - -- -- ‘ - -- - ‘-_ ------‘ - - - ‘ - - - I -- - ‘‘- - - -: , -‘ - - LI1 I I- I / - I -- - F -. ‘ - ‘ - -‘ - - -.:-.‘*:: ll9IIt I -r II; 4lJIfl I II ______ .1’ - jJIGNIFICANCE - PERIOD check One or More as Apprapriato r-. - Pre-Columbian 16th Century - lath Century 20th Century /_ - I 0 fl fl o 15th Century 0 17th Càntury 0 19th Century SPECIFIc DATEIS It Applicable and Knawn AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More as Approprietó - ‘ 1 - -1, I Abor gina! -- EducafThn - -- /C Political - 0 il . Urban Planning P - - PrehistorIc 0 - - - Engineering - - - Religion/Phk - -Other Specify’.., Historic Industry - lasaphy - 0 / *. rH,f-.’-’-’ - - - -- Agrlculture InventIon fl 0 Science 0 - Art 0 Landscape - Sculpture - - - - 0 -, Commerce - Architecture 0 Social/Human- -- Communications Literature ‘ itorian C C C - - - ‘- - Conservation Militory - 0 C Theater C -- - Music C Transportation El - - - - / STATEMENT OF SIGN! FICANCE Include Personage.. Date., Events, Etc. - The canal was constructed between the years l82I. and 1828. linked the cities of Worcester, Nassachusetts,and Prôvidence.Thepx--: Vt forty-five-mile stretch, with a drop of b5l feet in altitude, em- played granite locks. The canal was not - - z built as one independent and continuous stretch for its entire length, as it utilized the - - 0 parallel Blackstone River at various points, thus saving some con ----I’ struction costs.- ‘ - - ‘ ‘- - - LI - Built at the height of the canal freny, the Blackstone had a life cif nearly twenty-five years--few of them prosperous. To begin with, it was too -A late in coming. John Brown of Providence had seen -- the advantages of such a canal opening up country markets for Provi- ‘ I- dence trade in the 1700 1s; but Zate when his fellow-merchant, Edward -- Vt Carrington, brought that vision to realization in the 1620’s the A -- z - coming of the, railroad already heralded a faster and better *ay of - moving goods and r - passengers. - In addition, the canal project was underfinanced. Also, hasty planning had failed LU to provide a proper -system of reservoirs to maintain a continuous water level; droughts A: -w and diversions of water by mill-owners resulted in frequent inter Vt - ruptions of service. ------ To-day few sections of the canal remain. There are no knam I locks still to be seen, though some of their remains may exist. In1, I- several places in Massachusetts the canal has been filled, in. 1The1A :1 canal bed in Rhode Island, however, is largely intact. - :4. - ‘- -- : :: :JIr: -I-- L - - : I - L 41 14* ‘C, * lI 7 q-.I1 1 II r -‘ 1 P I - 1 1 7 * I * - I I I - rI I -WI- I I r--i---" .--c -- - :- -: :-tA I -4 I - ‘ - I- I .------‘ I I I / -- I - - - 4-. ‘-- -7-- _____ ST A 7 Form 10-330 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Dec. 9e& NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Izla1d COUNTY - NATIONAL REGISTER O FHSTCUC PLACES Providonce EMVEN CRY - NOMINA 1I0 i-GRM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NuMI,IER I DATE Type all entries -‘ complete applicable sections - - ::_H:i1:_r_,:E:_,:_ I ‘I- - - - - cot-eoN: Blackstone Canal - - - - At-I OOR HIaTOR C I ..:i:I.,’,i*,::,,T’ S:.,-- ‘ ,II, - t2. LOC.4TON -- ‘ ‘ STE4ZT AN’ NUMBER: - -- - From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN * LiIcoln ‘ - ?rovidence I STATE I COUNTY - CODE - Rhode Island Providence - - flOOY ‘ Lcs FICA’iON CATEGORY - ACCESSIBLE - ‘In OWNERSHIP ‘STATUS Check One ‘ , 10 hE PUBLIC z Pubiic Public Acquisition: - Occupied Yes: in tart District C - Building C C C 0 Restricted Site Structure C Private C In Process C - Unoccupied C - Both Being Considered C Prosorvation work Unrostricred Ob1ocr C - - In- progruss - 1- C No: nartrjj ‘ C- PRE3EN T USE Chock 0n,: or More as Appropriate - - A 1jricI. turol Government Park C C C Transportation - Comments C Industrial - Commercial C - C Private Residence C - Other Specify Ir - - Ed. cationol Military Reli1ious -- Jfl3SS._ - - I C E - C I-:flu innlenl Museum - Scientific t.#n En fl C - C b_c rJROPERTV - 1:.CASNAMIZ: - -. -- - - ISTI4EET AND NUMBER: - - w CTY OR TOWN: --- ‘ , STATE: Vt LDDE _0CA OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Cou,IvNo::II’:. ItIZt:I:-TI4Y OP DEEDS. CTC: - Lincoln Town Clerk -. , City Hall ‘ - STREET AND NUMbER: - - 130, Old River Road Dorrance and Washington Streets CITY OR TOWN: - STATE DOS-C -- Providence Rhodo Island - - flP NOMINATED PROPEWTY: 6.9 bNThTION IN EXbTING SURVEYS OP SURVEY: - - - Not so represented - OP bLJI4VEY Federal fl - State C County t: L ocol DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: -4 z S Trial ST AND NLIMOER: -I C CITY OR TOWN: - - STATE: IS m I ‘ CODE I -: I I 0 H H - - - :-- I. : ------.- ‘*rt--.%,. -. -** : - Pro-Columbion C - 6th Century 18Th Century C 20th Century C 15th Century D - 7th Century E 19th Century 1X SPECI Ftc DATEISI if Applicable and Known 1623- SZE I AREAS OF SIGNI FICANCE Chock One or Mere a. Approprlard - -- Abor gmat Politcal - - Educotlan C - C Urban Planning - DJ Prehistoric C Engineering Religion/Phi- Other Specify C Historic C Industry C losophy C - Agriculture Invention Science C - Art LondsCap. Sculpture Q Commerce Architecture C Social/Human- I - I Communications itorian C Literature C C ‘ Conservotion Military Theater C C C I I Music C Transportation - - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Include Personages. DotoL Events. Etc- The Blackstone Canal was at its -eginnings thought o in 1823, opened for use in 1828 another with many canals being stretched thrcu- out the eastern United States. In the first’ third of the CC Century occurred what might be called a frenzy of canal-b-tiilding, induced by si-nit industrial and commercial- development and the consequent. need for a transportation nett-york. All are familiar with the zne Canal; there were also’the Chesapeake and Dsiaware, the Pniladelphia State, the Chespéake and Ohio,’ the Louisville and Portland,’ the- Norris-Delawar9 /- and Raritan, the Georgetown etc.- -The Blackstone Canal justifiably ‘takes a tlace among then in national history; and in Rhode Island it certainly takes a notable place in local history. --‘ ------Here its functions were to assist in coiinerce between Povidenc and Worcester and to stimulate -the industrial. developmen-t’of intervenin- toms and villages along the- Noshassuck aPd Bladkstone Rivera. - These it. H did during its useful life:of about twenty years, ended--by the thto- c.acton of a Prondence__ orcester :ailroao It nac forty-nne lo&’s, as well as "t’ct--paths, basins, dams, wharves, embanlsiients, toll’ houses1 - - - ‘ F’ a’d etr’cr necessary aptenoarresl demonstrative of the engireerin-r a d bu.lcin1 skflls ol’ the times Its Thocie Island management was n t-e bands of a corooratton which had ceen foned cy such pranirent cit.ize-s as La rare Carrrgton, Stephen i-i. Smith and Noses B. Ives Anotner cor poratIon financec and ran- gad the construction and oteration of the canalts hassachusetts portions. In noae Island thero are still many narts of ttle canal vsy intact whik in i’assaehuet-cs here ra’rain only a few vagte a a a eaaces of its existence at all. In these sections re rc’vc haori- cally valuwle strvivals of the engrineonng and transoortaion amrltiQrs and ec’mology of the 182015 1ie can see tne masonry retan1 g wails, vanoasly built, sore tow-paths and wharfage areas, and the tatn of ;ne canal into the centre of Proncence In many northern parts of the See Continuation Sheet II ______ STATE -- / - For-n L’-tJc - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR , /1 Dec: ;5oS NATIONAL PARK SERYICE Rhe Island COUNTY - NATIONAL REGIS-t ER Or HtS OR!C 2 LACES Providence - NVENtORY - NOhUNATION FORM - FOR NPS USE OiLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE -- Continuation Shce Number all onfries - - 8. bignincance. - / - - -- city--a section not lately noted for its beauty t scheduled for improve- ment--seents of the canal with water stifl flowing, railed and sometimes overhung by trees, provide almost the only, alive, picturesque thing to be seen and watched. - -- - - In many cities "poàkct parks’ of green have lately been created.- In the remains of the Black-stone Canal, Providence has pocket streams of run ning water between ruggedly handsome old masonry. They are interoctinr now to discover; in future, freed of di5bris, they can form even, more, pileacur-. able accents in developed areas. Above l, they shOuld be kept as visible and’tangible i-arts of the city’s and the state’s-history of growth, plan ning, commercial ambition and prosperity. --- ‘- ‘- - / I’ / I - / / I /I /1 - I -- -y / -: - - 1 _l - - 1/ ______-- ______ ‘1 *-1 9. MAJOR SIBLIOCRAPHICAL REFERENCES ‘--- :. - - ‘-:,:"-Y :- Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architectural Development of Provi dence, 1636-1950. Drovidence, R. C7193?D. - Map of the Black-stone Canal based on the original surrey, 1828-1830 - - at Rhode Island-Historical Society, Providence. - 1 Greene, hTelcome Arnold: The Providence Plantations for Two Hundred and Fifty Years Providence, labo. ‘‘ - -‘- 10 GEOGRAP’-ICAL DATA____ LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE LATI TUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES COORDIN ATES " DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY - DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY OF LESS THAN ONE ACRE - - - R CORNER LATITUDE J LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutos Soconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW -1° 21v 26" Iil° SLI.’ 22" ° * -- - 7j0 - NE 2V 00 hi° SIC 22" ‘ - - - - SE 71° 2b 22 Itl° b9’ 36" --- -- ° - SW 7l 2h$O - hi b9 - - - I, LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STA,TU: - CODE COUNTY - -- CODE : ‘ ‘ii STATE: - -- CODE COUNTY: - - - ‘. ‘- / ‘ j_CODE / - STATE: - - -- ‘ CODE COUNTY: - , -- COOE - c_s - STATE: ‘ ‘- - CODE COUNTY: ‘ ‘ -- ‘ - - ,__CODE DOR r IC - NAME AND TITLE: - - - - H - -- -‘ - - - - - Richara B. Hrrington, Consultant ‘ ------ ORGANIZAflON ------‘ -‘ ‘ DATE : - - Rhode Island HistocalPreserátibn COmmission -- ‘ - Ju17 28, 1970- - STREET AND NUMBER: - - .------‘- , - -‘ -‘ - - ‘ ‘ -‘ - -- - tate -nouse,- 90, Smth Street - : - -: -- -- :- -- -- 1C:TY OR TOWN: - ---- ‘I - - - -- ISTATE ------CODE2 H Prondence I Rhoce Island, 02903 -12. STATE LIAISON OFFiCER CERTFICA-I ION - - - NAtIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As t’-s- 1t.-,t flO Li Stat.. Liaison Offsccr for thc Na 0r :1 hereby. éertify that this property iS included in the i sn 1 Ii’tortc Prt.srvqt on Act 1066 PUbliC I OW National Ri.gister b9 665 ‘ ii rLby no:rin ti. this propotty or inclusion ifl t’L tson,’ ssti.r and certtiy that it has boon LVa uaii.d 0ccorc1 :15 to the crstLrta and procedures set tort’, b, t ‘,a ion.1 Par. Service "1 ho rccomtnended -- --- ‘Chiet Officeo Archeology-and 1-Iisforid Pteservuiion : -vi.1 c/ ss ,ifi&nce of this nomination is ational State Locat C - I-" : , - Date , - - - ‘ - ‘ ‘‘‘ ‘ -- - ‘ - ‘ - AIT4ST - : - -- - ‘-‘: - I -? -Title, H, - AOLPO, of The Niflional ReL1ttr ILL - 5TATC . UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ThE INTERIOR . NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COIJ NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLAC5S PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR SE ONLY , CNTRY NuMER ATC -- Type all entries - attach to or enclose wiLh photograph z [NAME . ::.. -. 0 COMMON: on1 1°" HISTORIC: - LOCAT1ON . . . STRtT AND NUMOCRI U From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWNI ‘ Lincoln Providence }- STATEt co COUNTY: I, Rhode Island Providence . PHO7ORFERENCE , lPHoTO CRCOIT: Rhode Island Historical Society oot: engraving: 1o30; copy negative, 1970 Ui EGATIVE LEO AT: Rhode Island Historical Society, 2, Power Street, Ui Prcvidnce, Rhode T1nd 0290 4, IDENTIFIcATION OECRI8E VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. View from the west towards Mart Square in Providence, showing on left the terminus of the Blackstone Canal. / / / Rfflvw’- Prrv Rn3 ?.c çg1 t’ A UNITED STATES DITFAITMFNT OF THE INTLRIOi NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rho&lsland COUNTY , NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC LACE$ Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS UE E..TRY tU:/ZtF C..’.TC , Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph z LNAME -- 0 TCOMMON: Blackstone Canal ANO’ØR HISTORIC: I. 1ILLOCATION 1/ U STREET AND NUMBER: From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Sreet.s CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln Providence Pridence z HOTO CREDIT: Philip Seibert jATEOFPHOTO:y, 1970 LU EGATIVE FILED AT: 1Tifliam D. 1’Tarner, 30, Benefit Street, LU I i’rc’vionce, ithodo TmThrid, .O29C jjDENTiFICATION V.’ DESRI BE VIEW. DIR EC TI ON. ETC. The canal as seen from the Smith Street bridge, flowing southard into dotown Providence. S ..:;: 4 ..‘ . p. _‘4. 1’ STATE UN1TED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TIlE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORiC PLACES Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS uSE O.LY ENTRY NMER Type all entries - attach to orenc1ose with photograph [NAME . ... ,...... 0 JCOMMOH: Blackstone Canal 1ANOOfl HISTORIC: I- [LOCATION . .‘ . . STREET AND NUMBER: U From Front Street1 Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln / Providence STATE: / CODE COUNTY: Rhode Island / 38 ] Providence o0T z PHOTO RFERENCE .. .,../, ...... LPHOTO CREDIT: Philip Sèibert DATE OF PHOTO: May, 1970 LU EGATIVE FILED AT: William D. Warner, 30 Benefit Street LU Prdence, Rhode Island, 029O1 4, DENT1FICATION ../...... DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. The canal as it passes the Eagle Mills at the west eage of the Screw Company property on Stevens Street, Providence See N. R. nomination for Moshassuck Square, Providence. io1 11 5 CYCLE c1 I AUTO pPIy ..- , : UNITED STATES DUAkTMFNT OF ThE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE I Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence______PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR P$ USE LY ENTRY NUM Type alt entries - attach to or enclose with photograph NAME . 0 CMON: Blackstone Canal ANfl OR HISTORIC: .*: [LOCAT1ON ...... STREET ANC NUMBER: U Froi Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln Providence STATE: CODE COUNTY: Rhode Island 33 Providence pC07 z . . . . [PHOTO CREDIT: Philip Seibert bATE OF PHOTO: Nar, 1970 LU EGATIVE FILED AT; William D. Warner, 30, Benefit Street, LU Providence Rhode Island 0290.t ...... : . . .. 4, IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. Western granite-block wall of the canal opoosite the Eagle Mills of the American Screw Company, Stevens Street, Providence . See N. R. nomination for Moshassuck Square, Providence, jus before the canal is crossed by Stevens Street. ,,. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island COUNTY NATIONAL REGiSTER OF. HISTORIC PLACES Providence FROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR S uSE ONLY ENTRY NU’ACR ATC Type all entries - attach to o enclose with photograph LLNAME ...... -I 0 1COMMON: Blacketone Canal 4ND’OR HISTOR:C; [LOCAT ION ... i ,... .,.., . . U STREET ANO NUM,ER: From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln Providetice I. STATE: COUNTY; C3DC Rhode Island . LCOOE Providence V.5 38 007 z HOTORFERENCE ,. . . .. HOTO CREDIT: Philio Seibert bATE OF PHOTO: iiay, 1970 Ui 1EGATIVE FILED AT William D Warner, 30, Benefit Street LU I - Providence, Rhode Island, O290 IDENTIFICATiON ...... 4, I. IOEScRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. The canal as it emerges from the Sayles Finishing Plant in Lincoln, Rhode Island, following the Moshassuck River bed. / 1. .-.-.-.- UNITED STATES DE1’ARTMI:NT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS UE OY ENTRY NL1DER YE Type alt entries - attach to or enclose with photograph NAME . . . . ., 0 TEOMM0N: Black.tone Canal ARDOR HISTORIC; I LOcATION ...... STREET AND NUMBER: U : From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Prienade Streets CITY OR TOWN; : Lincoln Providence I- STATE: CODE COUNTY: Rhode . IdI Island Providence TUOYT z HOTORFERENCE . . PHOTO CREDIT Philip Sei’oert DATE OF PHOTO: Nay, 1970 LU frEGATIVEFILEDAT:Wil1iam D. Warner, 30, Benefit Street, LU Providence, Rhode Island, 0290li DENTIFICATION ...... V. DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. East wall of the canal in Providence, of piled stones without mortar. ci .A UNITLO S1AII:s I1UIAIiMI.NI UI 1111 INTLIth3R NATIONAL PAIK sI:RvICI: ktTnode 1siac1 -i NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES C OU I. TV Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR rP USE CLY El, TRY :UI/.:F V., Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph z [NAME : . . . 0 COMMON: Blackstone Canal lAND OR HISTORIC: jOCATION ...... U STREET AND NUMBER: From Front Street Bridge To Steeple and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln Providence I- STATE; Rhode Island ...... a- PhOTORFERENLE PHOTO CREDIT: Philir Seihort DATE Of PHOTO: Nay, 1970 LU ICOATIVE FILED AT: Wi1iian 0. Warner, 30, Benefit 5trect, Ui Providence, Rhode Island, 02901k I ...... 4, jjDENTiFICAT1ON DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. East wall of the canal in Providence, of stones and mortar. -. rL jr4. -.... :i.t /. - 1 4 ‘ y. .4 I - 4. I - L UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR $ TATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Is].and COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE 4, Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph . [NAME ...... 0. 4MON: Pnial Ronc4 MAn1nri1 Prk jANO/OR HISTORIC: P1nnk.nnA ‘.nnn I LOcATION .. . .. :.. STREET AND NUMBER: U from Front Street north to the Ashton Darn CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln STATE: Cj4E_jCOUNT5irjdeflCe Rhode Island, O286 CODE 4, I z PHOTORIFERENCE . .. . ‘... 10T0 CREDIT: Rhode Island Historical Society OF PHOTO: 1965 ‘U 14EGATIVE FILED ATI Rhode Island Historical Society, 2, Power Street, ‘U Providence, Rhode Island, 02906 jIOEWflFICATIO’i DEscRI*E VIEW. DICCTION. ETC. View looking north, along canal fran its Southern Lonedale portion and showing tow-path at right. PROVIDENCE QUALI I, Crook Tw Pt */ India ‘RaøTowe’ 23 wiCE4-- FoPt :. I, ‘ J4PROyIDEN1 ity WIPesBarre .- Wharf . Pier I HA RBOR .3ó I, aS .-‘,StateF’:er 34 ‘.. 2 jS V. p. . . V.:; . 5c;’-:*,. .:: t_, .N’_çy. V ‘I I .IS Form 10.301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Providence PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER I DATE all - attach to or enclose with map V. Type entries . . .. z LJ4AME ...... j...... 0 COMMON: Blackstone Canal - AND/OR HISTORIC: I. LOC ATION STREET AND NUM BER: U From Front Street Bridge To Steeplo and Promenade Streets CITY OR TOWN: Lincoln Providence I STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Island 35 Providence 007 MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U. S. Geological Survey Ui SCALE: EnlarEed photographically to DATE: LU l97 REQUI EMENTS 4,.. TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundories where required. The course of the canal is 2. North arrow. / indicated in red. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. /