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West River (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The West River, in the US
state of Massachusetts
, is a 13.4 miles (21.6 km) tributary of the Blackstone River
.
and Upton, Massachusetts
, near the Upton State Forest, at Silver Lake and Cider Mill Pond in Grafton, and crosses into the eastern portion of Northbridge
, passes through the eastern portion of Uxbridge
where the West Hill Dam
provides flood control
, and enters into the Blackstone River
south of Uxbridge and Wheelockville before the Blackstone enters the state of Rhode Island
.
A wildlife preserve with fishing, hiking and recreation trails are found at a federal recreation area created at the West Hill Dam
. The West River Reservoir is well-known for fishing.
at the outset of the American Industrial Revolution
, providing power to a textile mill founded by Luke Taft
in 1825, which later became the site of the Waucantuck Mill where wash and wear fabrics originated. About 1810 Taft's father-in-law, Daniel Day
, started an early wool-carding
mill where the West River joins the Blackstone River. The Daniel Day woolen mill was one of the first US woolen mills. The Blackstone River Valley is a U.S. National Heritage Area
and a major contributing region to America's Industrial Revolution.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, is a 13.4 miles (21.6 km) tributary of the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The 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...
.
Course
It originates in the towns of GraftonGrafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
and Upton, Massachusetts
Upton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
, near the Upton State Forest, at Silver Lake and Cider Mill Pond in Grafton, and crosses into the eastern portion of Northbridge
Northbridge, Massachusetts
Northbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,707 at the 2010 census. The Northbridge Town Hall is located at 7 Main Street in Whitinsville. The town is now a part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, of the National Park...
, passes through the eastern portion of 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...
where the West Hill Dam
West Hill Dam
West Hill Dam Reserve is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project with a recreational park and wildlife management area located at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The West Hill Dam Project was completed in 1960. It is located on the West River, one of the branches of the Blackstone River which...
provides flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
, and enters into the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The 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...
south of Uxbridge and Wheelockville before the Blackstone enters the state of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
West Hill Dam
West Hill Dam Reserve is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project with a recreational park and wildlife management area located at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The West Hill Dam Project was completed in 1960. It is located on the West River, one of the branches of the Blackstone River which...
. The West River Reservoir is well-known for fishing.
History
The West River provided water powerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
at the outset of the American Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, providing power to a textile mill founded by Luke Taft
Luke Taft
Luke Taft was an industrial pioneer in the manufacture of woolens in 19th century New England.-Family:...
in 1825, which later became the site of the Waucantuck Mill where wash and wear fabrics originated. About 1810 Taft's father-in-law, Daniel Day
Daniel Day
Daniel Day was an American pioneer in woolen manufacturing.-Family:Daniel Day was born in Mendon, MA and was the son of Joseph Day and Deborah Taft...
, started an early wool-carding
Carding
Carding is a mechanical process that breaks up locks and unorganised clumps of fibre and then aligns the individual fibres so that they are more or less parallel with each other. The word is derived from the Latin carduus meaning teasel, as dried vegetable teasels were first used to comb the raw wool...
mill where the West River joins the Blackstone River. The Daniel Day woolen mill was one of the first US woolen mills. The Blackstone River Valley is a U.S. National Heritage Area
U.S. National Heritage Area
A National Heritage Area is a site designated by United States and intended to encourage historic preservation of the area and an appreciation of the history and heritage of the site...
and a major contributing region to America's Industrial Revolution.
See also
- West Hill DamWest Hill DamWest Hill Dam Reserve is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project with a recreational park and wildlife management area located at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The West Hill Dam Project was completed in 1960. It is located on the West River, one of the branches of the Blackstone River which...
- 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...
- West Hill Dam Project, Master Plan