1761 Milestone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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1761 Milestone
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 1761 Milestone
Location in Rhode Island
1761 Milestone
Location in the United States
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| Location | 640 South Main Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1761 |
| MPS | Woonsocket MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000131 |
| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1982 |
The 1761 Milestone is a special old stone marker located at 640 South Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Think of it like an ancient road sign! This stone originally showed travelers where a major road from Providence, Rhode Island met a path going from Boston, Massachusetts all the way to Connecticut. It was found again many years later when workers were installing an "electrical road," which was probably a tram line. In 1898, a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution helped put it back in its original spot. Today, you can see the stone built into a low wall at the corner of South Main Street and Smithfield Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because it's a very important piece of history from the Colonial era.
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What is a Milestone?
A milestone is a marker stone, usually placed along a road or path. These stones helped travelers know how far they had gone or how far they had left to go to a certain place. They were very important before maps and GPS existed! The 1761 Milestone is a great example of these old-fashioned road signs.
The Stone's Journey Through Time
The 1761 Milestone was first placed in 1761. It marked a key meeting point for two important roads. One road, called Great Road, went from Providence, Rhode Island to Mendon, Massachusetts. The other road traveled from Boston, Massachusetts into Connecticut.
Many years later, the stone was found again. This happened when workers were putting in what was called an "electrical road." This likely refers to a tramway, which was a type of public transportation. In 1898, the Woonsocket chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) helped return the stone to its original location. The DAR even placed a bronze plaque on the stone at one point, but it was gone by 1982. Today, the stone is set into a retaining wall right on the sidewalk at 640 South Main Street.
What Does the Stone Look Like?
The 1761 Milestone is about 2 feet (0.61 m) tall and 3 feet (0.91 m) wide. It's described as an "odd-shaped piece of grey slate." Slate is a type of rock. The stone is a bit broken and worn down from age.
It has a bold message carved into it by a stonecutter whose name we don't know. The carving looks like handwriting from the 1700s. The stone clearly reads "...Miles to Boston 1761." This tells us it was pointing the way to Boston and was made in that specific year.
Why is This Stone Important?
The 1761 Milestone is very important for understanding early American transportation. Experts believe it is still in its original spot. It's considered special because it's one of the only remaining things in Woonsocket that reminds us of this early time in travel. There are only a few stones like it left in all of Rhode Island that marked colonial highways. Because of its historical value, the stone was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 24, 1982. This listing helps protect it for future generations to learn from.
