Road trippin’ Rhode Island

Posted on April 25, 2021April 25, 2021 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Rhode Island Road Trip

Taking a break from my virtual exploration of Colorado, I took advantage of a sunny, warm spring day in New England by taking a little road trip to Rhode Island. My friend Joe, a professional photographer from Florida, was visiting for a couple of days so we didn’t want to waste a beautiful day inside. I remembered reading about a field of daffodils in Rhode Island. That would be perfect for a spring day. A google search revealed Blithewold, mansions , gardens and Arboretum. After a quick breakfast at IHOP we piled into the car and headed off to Rhode Island.

You wanted Daffodils

Blithewold Mansion is located in Bristol Rhode Island right near Roger Williams University. It was really easy to find and only about a 30 minute drive from my home in Taunton , MA. Right next to the parking area was a wildflower garden filled with tulips and flowering tress and shrubs. A stone arch completed the tranquil setting.

Tulip Gardens

Stone Arch

Blithewold Mansion

Just past the Tulip Garden was a white gravel drive that led to the Blithewold Mansion itself. Unfortunately we would learn that it was daffodils or the Mansion. The Mansion is closed in April and May. The daffodils bloom in April. So if you plan to visit you won’t get both daffodils and a mansion tour. We watched a small wedding take place in a tiny garden next to the mansion with views looking over Narragansett Bay. Beyond the tiny manicured garden were the first of the daffodil fields. You’ll find benches placed at strategic places along all of the trails.

field of daffodils

Daffodils seem to spill between the trees

The Trail by the Bay

After taking a break by a potting shed, we explored a dirt road that just begged us to wander. It made me think of Robert Frost’s The Road Less traveled. It was a lovely walk. There was a stone and water garden that had not been opened for the season yet but Joe took a peak. He said it was very pretty. The path took us along Narragansett Bay. All in all there are 33 acres of gardens and trees to wander and explore. We only spent a couple of hours but it was time well spent. If you like nature and gentle strolls along the ocean, I highly recommend a visit to Blithewold.

Shore Walk

Rhode Island

Posted on October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Rhode Island is a definite yes in my count down. Its my neighbor state to the south. I’m closer to Providence than I am to Boston. I may not have “vacationed” there but I think the new rage of “Stay-cations” would count my many visits to this state.

Rhode Island is the smallest in area, the eighth least populous , but the second most densely populated of the 50 US states behind New Jersey. Rhode Island was the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony. The State was also the last of the thirteen original colonies to ratify the United States Constitution.

It’s little wonder that Rhode Island should have such a feisty attitude for a little state. It was founded by Roger Williams after he was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views.

Today the Ocean State has a lot to offer the curious visitor. Some of my favorites are Newport and Narragansett. I first “discovered” Newport when my brother was stationed there at the Naval War College. That was an experience in itself! I also was invited to experience the America Cup Races. I was excited and climbed aboard one of the privately owned boats to watch the race. Unfortunately that was the day I learned that I was prone to sea sickness, having the worse bouts with that nasty feeling that I’ve ever had the misfortune to endure.

Better times were coming for Newport and me. I spent many weekends at the Viking Hotel for Arthur Murray Competitions before moving on to the mansions and the cliff walk.

Newport Mansions and Cliff Walk. In the 19th century socially prominent families like the Vanderbilts and Astors built seaside “cottages” to escape the summer heat of the cities.

Of course , their idea of a cottage and mine (and probably yours unless you are an aristocrat) are miles apart.

Today these grand mansions are open for tours and events. The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile national historic trail that hugs Newport’s Atlantic Shoreline. No gentle beaches here, the trail is rocky and wild but offers some great views of many of the Mansions and gardens along it’s path.

The Newport Tower. The Newport Tower is located in Touro Park just a couple of streets from the heart of Newport. Newport Tower has been the subject of much speculation and lately made the reality series, America Unearthed. It’s really an interesting bit of architecture and worth a stop to visit.

Narragansett. I like Narragansett, RI. A few years ago I took a drive down and they had a glass bottom boat that did evening tours. You could watch the phosphorescence pass under the boat and see a lot more lobsters and crabs than are active during the day. Narragansett is also home to Rose Island Lighthouse. There’s a museum and you can actually stay in the lighthouse. You pay to be a keeper for a day or week. Interested?The link is www.roseislandlighthouse.org.

Roger Williams Park and Zoo.

A very active zoo set in a beautiful park, Roger Williams has events like the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular which winds through the zoo, to swan boats on the lagoon and a carousel park.

Sorry, I’ve run-over but I have to mention Waterfire, a series of bonfires on the rivers that run through Providence. I’ve never seen it but I want to. Friends give it a big thumbs up. And Block Island, a wonderful, quaint village on an island off the Rhode Island Coast…2 light houses!

Well, that’s all for this post. The tally now stands at 14/ 25 and still counting. 🙂

Life on the “old Homestead”

Posted on May 7, 2011May 7, 2011 by Dusty Roads | 4 Comments

Well one of the comments from the “Borderland” post asked for more of the history of the area. So I have begun to do a little research. I will share what I’ve learned so far. I concentrated on the Ames Family History although eventually I’d like to look into the Native American History of the site if it’s available. Most of this information can be found in the brochures provided by the park if you ever visit. The brochures have some vintage photos that are pretty interesting too.

The land was first developed for farming and industry in the early 1700’s. One of the first locations to be developed was just over the line in Sharon where a dam and sawmill were situated on a brook that is a pond today. That same brook powered a nail factory and two mills that made cotton twine and batting.

Further along the brook bog-iron ore was mined from the exposed swamp. In 1825 General Shepherd Leach built a pond (the one we saw on our visit) to ensure a steady water supply for his iron works. According to the brochure that iron works is still in operation today. That’s something I need to look into further.

Throughout the 19th century the main activity at Borderland was farming. Stone walls divided cleared fields, homesteads were established and then in 1810 a 2nd house was built. All that remains of that home is the foundation But stone walls can be seen winding through the new growth forests and fields.

Oaks and Blanche Ames started acquiring the land in the area around 1900. The small farms in the area were no longer prospering allowing the Ameses to purchase the properties and consolidate them. The Ameses continued to farm part of the estate but created a wildlife preserve with the rest. In order to create a better environment they built dams to turn swamps into ponds that could be used for wildlife and recreation.

The Ameses weren’t just wealthy landowners who sat back and watched their employees do all the work. Both Oakes and Blanche took an active role in the clearing of fields , cutting wood for the fires, gardening and raising turkeys. From the beginning they partnered with foresters to develop the land as a sanctuary and preserve, a policy the state continues today.

Politics was another past time as seems to be the habit of wealthy families in Massachusetts. If in doubt just look at the Kennedy clan, one of Massachusetts most well-known political families.

I’m sure I have much more to uncover about this family and this area of Sharon/ Easton. As more of the history comes to light I will pass it on to you.

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