Pawtuxet Village – January 11, 2014

Put-in at Pawtuxet Village Park

I got my days mixed up. The RICKA trip I thought I was joining today is actually tomorrow, but I still did some paddling down at the Pawtuxet Village. 

Pawtuxet Village was established in 1638 – just two years after Roger Williams founded Providence, and one year after Richard Smith built the “Castle” in Wickford. Settlers were attracted to Pawtuxet for it’s sheltered harbor and for the waterpower available from the Pawtuxet Falls. The Native American term "pawtuxet" means "little falls". 

View from the breakwater

I put-in at 11:00 at the Aspray Boathouse at Pawtuxet Village Park. I paddled out to the breakwater, but decided not to venture out into the Providence River. I paddled back down the cove to the Broad Street Bridge to do some surfing at the Pawtuxet Falls before heading back. 

Pawtuxet Falls was the site of the old Pawtuxet Falls Dam. In the summer of 2011, the old dam was demolished in one of the largest dam removal projects in the state. The removal of the dam restored seven miles of free-flowing river habitat to one of Narragansett Bay’s largest tributaries. 

Pawtuxet Falls - site of the old Pawtuxet Falls Dam

Links:

My Pictures