University Transportation Center
Assumption College Worcester, MA 01609

Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Research and Educational Advisory Boards
31 March 2000

Charles Estus, Mona Heffernan, Tom Slavkovsky and Pres. Tom Plough looking on

On behalf of Mr. Orville Harrold, who was unable to be with us, Mr. Clark Brown of the Providence & Worcester Railroad welcomed us aboard the train at 11:30 a.m. Board members and guests were invited to a buffet luncheon in the dining car.

The train proceeded through the train yards and the container storage area as we traveled south parallel to Millbury Street. As we neared Quinsigamond Village the train passed directly behind the Washburn & Moen wire rope building, the last extant structure of that company's South Works. The building will become the Northern Gateway Visitor's Center for the John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Crossing over the bridge into the Village we saw the headwaters of the Blackstone River and as the train traveled south into the river valley we were able to catch sight of the former Worcester landfill, and the sewage treatment plant on the Millbury town line. The train crossed and re-crossed the Blackstone as we ambled toward Woonsocket, and passed directly through the center of once prospering mill towns along the way where all traffic stopped behind dropped gates and railroad signals as we passed. With glimpses of extant portions of the canal, the river and valley floor, we had first-hand lessons in the relationship between transportation and the environment!

Sr. Kathleen Livingstone greets guests.

On arrival in Woonsocket, we visited the restored train depot which is now occupied, by the National Park Service's Corridor Commission offices. The history of transportation in the corridor was depicted in eye-catching displays, and printed materials were available for visitors. Michael Creasey welcomed us, gave us a brief history of the building and of the Commission. He outlined for us the Commission's major initiatives and ended his welcome by introducing us to the National Park Rangers who are on his staff.

Touring exhibits at the National Park Service's office.

We re-boarded the train, and after coffee and dessert, Dr. Estus called the meeting to order at 1:40. The published minutes of the joint meeting of 1 October 1999 were accepted, and Drs. Estus and Livingstone gave their directors' report. A discussion of the report ensued and members agreed that some real progress had been made during this, our first year.