Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

Worcester Public Market/Kelley Square Lofts 7 Building the Blackstone Canal By the beginning of the 19th century, Worcester was already becoming known for its textiles, agricultural products and manufactured goods, but getting its wares to market presented a challenge. Isolation and slow, in- adequate means of transportation prevented expansion in trade with other towns and, subsequently, economic growth. To remedy the situation, a group of businessmen from Massachusetts and Rhode Island presented an idea that gained traction from both states. The men envisioned a canal that would connect Worcester and the Blackstone Valley with Narragansett Bay in Providence, a major ship- ping port, facilitating trade and prosperity. The Canal took four years to complete and covered 45 miles, winding its way along the Blackstone River. Forty-nine granite locks helped watercraft navigate rapids and shallows; the Canal carved a path from what is now Thomas Street through the downtown Worcester area, beneath a corner of current-day Union Station and south down what is now Harding Street. Since the Canal ran in tandem with the original Mill Brook, it created an actual island south of Kelley Square, giving birth to what was then called The Island and subsequently Green Island. In 1828, passenger boat, the Lady Carrington, made its maiden voyage successfully into Worcester. Initially, the Blackstone Canal facilitated trade with other towns and cities and helped to enhance economic condi- tions and boost population in the city. The Canal District held the promise of jobs and attracted many different eth- nic groups, who settled in the area from Kelley Square to Washington Square. The project was also responsible for the influx of the Irish, who provided the hard labor to build the Canal. During the construction of the canal, these mis- trusted newcomers were relegated to encampments in the current-day Shrewsbury Street area – later home to the Italian population; and they subsequently populated The Island, a rough district also known as Scalping Town. However, the much-heralded Canal was soon beset by problems. The way in which the Canal was constructed left it vulnerable to freezing conditions in the winter, drought in the summer and overflowing banks when torrential rains fell. Moreover, factory owners along the Blackstone River required waterpower to run their mills and claimed the canal interfered with business operations. The mill owners sued and won their case. Workers cover the Blackstone Canal (@1895-1905) Below: Blackstone Canal Northwestern view in Millbury

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