Great Road Day

This popular Open House features the stories of life in the early days of this community, including farm, industry, home, and school, all through the 12 authentic sites open during Great Road Day, which include:  Hearthside House (c.1810), Historic New England’s Arnold House (c.1693), Hannaway Blacksmith Shop (c.1880), Pullen’s Corner Schoolhouse (c.1850), Moffett Mill (c.1812), Chase Farm Park (c.1867), Saylesville Friends Meetinghouse (c.1703), Mt. Moriah Masonic Lodge (c.1804), Northgate, home of the Blackstone Valley Historical Society (c.1807) and the Arnold Bakery (c.1874).  In addition, two private homes will participate in this event: the Butterfly Mill (c.1812) and the Valentine Whitman House (c. 1696).  These homes will not be open to the public, but their stories will be told onsite and where the architecture will be featured.

There is no order to this self-guided tour.  Visitors are invited to customize their own itinerary and their own pace, visiting all 12 sites, or just a select few.  The sites open at 11 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Parking is limited at some sites.  Arnold House and the Friends Meetinghouse parking is available at Gateway Park.  Hearthside parking is across from it, or at Chase Farm Park.  There is no parking at the Moffett Mill and is only accessible by the shuttle van picked up at the parking lot at Chase Farm or Hearthside.  A map to the various sites that are open will be provided at each site.

Great Road was built in 1683 as the major thoroughfare on the west side of the Blackstone River. It got its name because it was so much more substantial than other routes through the valley.  With historic houses, farms and mills, the nationally-designated Great Road Historic District in Lincoln retains much of the Blackstone Valley’s early 19th century rural character.  Great Road Day is a collaboration among the several participating historic sites, the majority of which are volunteer-run organizations.

This event is Rain or Shine.