Lowering the steeples, October 1938

 

 Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, October 1938. The twin 310-foot steeples are in the process of being lowered to 235 feet, shortly after the Hurricane of 1938, during which they swayed greatly, causing fear they might collapse. The work was performed by contractors Swift-McNutt of Providence.

 

Flint Furniture Company

Located in the Weave Shed of the Wampanoag Mills, Quequechan Street.

South Watuppa Mill Stones

A number of these round stones line the shore of South Watuppa Pond in Fall River, along the former railroad (now a bike path). The extend into Westport also. They appear to be made of a green sandstone. They are about 5-ft diameter and 1-ft thick. They don't appear to be grist mill stones. I'd love to find out what they are, where they came from, and how they got there.

 

 

A view OF Bogle Hill

1953 Herald News photo of the lower end of Pleasant Street (then still part of Route 6), looking west toward the top of Bogle Hill. I wonder why all of the cars seem to be facing the same direction. I don't think this was ever a one way street. I will have to ask my dad who has lived here, about midway up on the left side, since about when this photo was taken.

1908 Concrete Oil Tank Containment Building

A rare early reinforced concrete industrial structure. Located off of Water Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. Built in 1908 by the Fall River Gas Company to contain a 36-ft diameter steel oil tank, used in the gas manufacture process. This conical concrete building was required for fire protection from the nearby railroad. It is currently proposed to be demolished by MassDOT for a highway project.

See detailed 1908 article here.

Quequechan Bicentennial Idea

Next year, 2013 will mark 200 years of industrial development along the Quequechan River in Fall River. I am proposing a special event, or series of events to commemorate this. As a member of the Society for Industrial Archaeology - Southern New England Chapter, I would envision this event to be somewhat technically-based, and opened to the general public. There are a lot of possibilities for an occasion. There could be a series of lectures followed by a walking tour of the mills. If you are interested in helping me with this, please contact me to let me know.

Massachusetts 351 Update

Massachusetts 351 Update: April 14, 2012. 9 new towns added in the southern Berkshires: Southwick, Granville, Tolland, Sandisfield, New Marlborough, Sheffield, Mount Washington, Egremont and Alford.