Thursday, March 28, 2024

TEN MILE RAMBLE

WATERSHED VENTURE TALES AND TRAILS

BY DON DOUCETTE

 A RAMBLE out th

An inspection tour of the Ten Mile River this morning between West Bacon Street in Plainville and south to North Attleboro’s North End behind the Woodcock Garrison House proved an informative venture.

 

After flowing beneath West Bacon Street, the Ten Mile River skirts the western flank of Plainville Cemetery. From that point the main flow of the Ten Mile eventually passes through Whitings Pond thence to the North End.

 

A related tail race associated with Plainville’s industrial era flows east of Plainville Cemetery parallel to U.S. 1A to the North End and also joins the main Ten Mile just behind the Woodcock Garrison.

 

A concerning observation is the condition of the historic main entry to Plainville Cemetery and a related small wood frame chapel situated above the gently flowing Ten Mile River.

 

The wrought iron fence and related field stone columns are rusting and crumbling.

 

An affixed plaque reads: LADIES CHAPLAIN AID SOCIETY, 1909.

 

Just inside the gate, a formal planting is rife with rubbish, weeds and unintended wild saplings.

 

The windows of the small wood frame gothic chapel are boarded as a stop gap measure, however, the main building, brick chimney and stone column front portico are crumbling and in these last days of life, pleading for civic-minded attention.

 

And as happened in the past, every ounce of related flood plain has been packed with additional modern development.

 

And when periodic flood conditions occur, local residents repeatedly complain to no avail and simply put, the water has no alternative but to flood properties over and over again.

 

Like the runner in a dream never gaining ground. Sobering yet true, a good portion of North Attleboro’s center exists in flood plain.

 

Till our next watershed journey,

Don Doucette

Ten Mile Friends