Valley Falls in Cumberland in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
A Bit About Arches
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 10, 2024
1. A Bit About Arches Marker
Unfortunately, due to defacement and weathering, much of the marker is unreadable.
Arches Everywhere
At the mill complex which once filled this park, arched openings in buildings crossed raceways and defined the [unreadable] of windows and doors. Some of the arches are intact, but many are not. The two in front of you are easy to see. If you look closely, you may find many others. How many can you discover.
A Few Facts About
Arch builders use temporary wooden supports, called "falsework" or "centering". They set their bricks or stone blocks along the top of the falsework, working from each end with the keystone section installed last. When the falsework is removed, the arch becomes self supporting. Only then does the arch act like an arch with every piece in compression.
The Broad Street Bridge has concrete arches faces with stone.
Connect the Arch
Some of the larger arches in this park have only a few stones left. If you can find them, imagine how these stones once connected with others to span raceways, like the lines in this photo. Remember that the arches created openings in buildings. Maps of buildings, raceways, and waterpower systems on other signs may help you find arches.
Erected by Blackstone
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 53.994′ N, 71° 23.402′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Cumberland, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in Valley Falls. It can be reached from the intersection of Broad Street (Rhode Island Route 114) and Meeting Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker stands on the grounds of Valley Falls Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Broad St, Cumberland RI 02864, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Blackstone Valley and in Greater Providence. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: c 1820 - 1934 (a few steps from this marker); Your Key to the Past / End of an Era (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterpower & Dams (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Neighborhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Turbine Power (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Sri Chinmoy Peace Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cumberland.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
