Lincoln in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Gate Operator
Welcome to Rhode Island's Blackstone River Park and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. To your right is a sluice gate operator. This device was used to open and close the sluice gates that controlled the flow of water to power the mill and its machinery.
Water Power & America's Industrial Revolution
This gate operator opened and closed a large wooden sluice gate controlling water flow from the pond above a dam into the headrace that carried the water into the turbines. The turbines then turned the moving water into power for the machinery in the mill.
The gate was attached to a vertical wooden stern, holding a toothed rack gear, that engaged a pinion gear on the operator. Turning the large hand wheel moved a worm-gear that, in turn, rotated another gear attached to the pinion gear.
Throughout the Blackstone Valley, you can still find remnants of machinery that transferred the moving waters of the Blackstone River to the energy that created America's new economy in the beginning of the 1800s. For example, similar sluice gate controls are visible on the Ashton Dam, located along
this page online
The Ashton Dam, Blackstone River Bikeway and Kelly House Transportation Museum are all within a short 15 minute walk from here following the Bikeway behind the welcome center.
Erected by Rhode Island State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 56.396′ N, 71° 26.654′ W. Marker is in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It can be reached from Providence Beltway (Interstate 295) east of Eddie Dowling Highway (Rhode Island Route 146), on the right when traveling east. The marker stands on the grounds of the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center at the rest area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 I-295, Lincoln RI 02865, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Providence. It is also in
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Water Turbine Runner (here, next to this marker); Kelly’s Mill Left an Impression (approx. half a mile away); Banking on the Riverbank's Value (approx. 0.6 miles away); Albion Dam (approx. one mile away); Nine Men’s Misery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Monastery Bell (approx. 2.1 miles away); Theodore Suptelny Memorial Bridge (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Theodore Suptelny Memorial Bridge (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 21, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
