Blackstone Viaduct
Also known as: New York & New England Railroad Viaduct
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Why it's listed
Running roughly 1,600 feet through the Waterford village of Blackstone, Massachusetts, this railroad viaduct was completed in 1872 by the Boston, Hartford & Erie Railroad. It is made of eleven connected parts: earth-and-cinder embankments, granite abutments and retaining walls, a seven-arch bridge that carries the line over Mill Street, and a single-arch bridge. By 1912 several arches were failing, and in 1918 they were encased in about a foot of steel-reinforced concrete, which now hides the original granite arch barrels. The structure is tied to the contest to build and control competing rail routes between Boston and New York City, and it dominates a local landscape shaped by railroads and textile mills. It is also counted among the notable 19th-century masonry arch bridges in Massachusetts. The river bridge at its east end was removed after flood damage in the late 1960s, and the viaduct is no longer in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its link to the 19th-century struggle to build and control competing rail lines between Boston and New York City. Under Criterion C it is a highly visible part of a railroad landscape and one of several large 19th-century masonry arch bridges in Massachusetts. The 1918 reinforced-concrete sheathing is also noted as a notable repair of its era.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001558, listed February 5, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Canal, Farnum and Mill Sts., Blackstone |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 5, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001558 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1872-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Boston, Hartford & Erie RR, Boston Bridge Works, American Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | OTHER: masonry arch, earth embankment |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; the steel bridge over the Blackstone River was removed after flood damage in the late 1960s. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.01552, -71.53288 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001558.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715408
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.