Blackstone Canal
Encyclopedia
The Blackstone Canal was a waterway linking Worcester, Massachusetts
, to Providence, Rhode Island
(and Narragansett Bay) through the Blackstone Valley via a series of locks and canal
s during the early 19th century.
Construction began in 1825 and cost $750,000 (twice its initial estimate). The canal opened on October 7, 1828 when the packet boat
Lady Carrington arrived in Worcester, the first vessel to make the trip. The canal brought immediate prosperity to Worcester and the Valley, with farmers to increase their profits and mills springing up, especially in Worcester.
It was a two day trip for the canal boats from Worcester to Providence and another two day trip to return to Worcester. The overnight stopping point was in Uxbridge
.
Boston merchants moved to recapture the trade moving down the canal to Providence, opening a rail line to Worcester in 1828. In 1847 the Providence and Worcester Railroad
began operation, and the canal closed in 1848.
The canal was 20 feet or more in width, and lined with white stone where necessary. It ascended 451 feet, passing through an original 49 locks plus a further 13 locks added after initial construction. The "slack-water" canal intersected the Blackstone River 16 times over its 45-mile course, and ran in the river itself for 10% of its length. These portions proved troublesome since in summer water was sometimes too low for navigation.
Each lock was 70 feet long by 10 feet wide and apparently 3–4 feet deep.
The canal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, to Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
(and Narragansett Bay) through the Blackstone Valley via a series of locks and canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s during the early 19th century.
History
The initiative for the canal came from Providence, where a merchant community wished to profit from trade with the farming country of the Blackstone valley and Worcester County. The people of Worcester and the Blackstone Valley, eager for transport that would enable them to get better prices for their produce, welcomed the plan. However, since the trade of central Massachusetts was at that time going overland through the port of Boston, Massachusetts commercial interests succeeded in stalling the project for several years. Finally, in 1823, the Blackstone Canal Company was organized through an act of the Massachusetts legislature, with a Rhode Island company soon following. The canal's construction may have been motivated by competition among rival industrialists to curtail "Water rights."Construction began in 1825 and cost $750,000 (twice its initial estimate). The canal opened on October 7, 1828 when the packet boat
Packet boat
Packet boats were small boats designed for domestic mail, passenger and freight transportation in Europe and its colonies, including North American rivers and canals...
Lady Carrington arrived in Worcester, the first vessel to make the trip. The canal brought immediate prosperity to Worcester and the Valley, with farmers to increase their profits and mills springing up, especially in Worcester.
It was a two day trip for the canal boats from Worcester to Providence and another two day trip to return to Worcester. The overnight stopping point was in Uxbridge
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was first settled in 1662, incorporated in 1727 at Suffolk County, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. Uxbridge is south-southeast of Worcester, north-northwest of Providence, and southwest of Boston. It is part of...
.
Boston merchants moved to recapture the trade moving down the canal to Providence, opening a rail line to Worcester in 1828. In 1847 the Providence and Worcester Railroad
Providence and Worcester Railroad
The Providence and Worcester Railroad is a Class II railroad in the United States. The railroad connects from Gardner in central Massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of Worcester and Providence, Rhode Island, and west from Rhode Island through Connecticut and into New York City...
began operation, and the canal closed in 1848.
The canal was 20 feet or more in width, and lined with white stone where necessary. It ascended 451 feet, passing through an original 49 locks plus a further 13 locks added after initial construction. The "slack-water" canal intersected the Blackstone River 16 times over its 45-mile course, and ran in the river itself for 10% of its length. These portions proved troublesome since in summer water was sometimes too low for navigation.
Each lock was 70 feet long by 10 feet wide and apparently 3–4 feet deep.
The canal today
Since the canal's closure, parts of its watercourse were filled and other segments are now heavily overgrown with brush and trees. Its remains, however, are still visible in many locations.The canal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
See also
- Blackstone RiverBlackstone RiverThe Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
- Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State ParkBlackstone River and Canal Heritage State ParkThe Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is a part of the State Park system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation...
- Blackstone ValleyBlackstone ValleyThe Blackstone Valley or Blackstone River Valley is a region of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence, Rhode Island
- Providence and Worcester RailroadProvidence and Worcester RailroadThe Providence and Worcester Railroad is a Class II railroad in the United States. The railroad connects from Gardner in central Massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of Worcester and Providence, Rhode Island, and west from Rhode Island through Connecticut and into New York City...
External links
- Highway of Commerce: The Blackstone Canal, Worcester Historical MuseumWorcester Historical MuseumThe Worcester Historical Museum, located in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, was founded in 1875. This museum is the only institution devoted entirely to local history and artifacts. The scope of their collection ranges from colonial to twentieth century, encompassing manuscripts, textiles,...
, 2005 - Canal District Promotional Website: Information about events and venues around Blackstone Canal