Great Road Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Great Road Historic District is a historic district
in northern Rhode Island
and Rhode Island's oldest highway, dating back to 1683. It sits on the east side of the Blackstone River
, site of some of America's earliest industry, such as nearby Slater Mill
. Great Road served as the main connection between Providence, Hartford and Worcester during colonial times.
Great Road stretches across Lincoln, Rhode Island
, and several nearby communities and passes by numerous registered historic places such as the Eleazer Arnold house
, a stone-ender built in 1687, and passes by historic Union Village
in North Smithfield where the road is known as Smithfield Road Historic District
and near Limerock, Rhode Island, where much of the state's early limestone was mined.
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in northern 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...
and Rhode Island's oldest highway, dating back to 1683. It sits on the east side 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...
, site of some of America's earliest industry, such as nearby Slater Mill
Slater Mill
A National Historic Landmark, the Slater Mill is located next to the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Modeled after cotton spinning mills first established in England, the Slater Mill is the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in North America to utilize the Arkwright system of...
. Great Road served as the main connection between Providence, Hartford and Worcester during colonial times.
Great Road stretches across Lincoln, Rhode Island
Lincoln, Rhode Island
Lincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 21,105 at the 2010 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence....
, and several nearby communities and passes by numerous registered historic places such as the Eleazer Arnold house
Eleazer Arnold House
The Eleazer Arnold House is a historic house built for Eleazor Arnold in about 1693, and located at 487 Great Road, Lincoln, Rhode Island in the Great Road Historic District...
, a stone-ender built in 1687, and passes by historic Union Village
Union Village
Union Village or "Bank Village" is a village and historic district located in North Smithfield, Rhode Island and Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Rhode Island Route 146A...
in North Smithfield where the road is known as Smithfield Road Historic District
Smithfield Road Historic District
Smithfield Road Historic District is a historic district in North Smithfield, Rhode Island along Smithfield Road or Route 146A. The area is near the Union Village Historic District and contains many Colonial American, Federal and Victorian homes. The road was part of old Great Road, also a...
and near Limerock, Rhode Island, where much of the state's early limestone was mined.