Harnessing the Power of the Blackstone River

Control of waterpower meant control of economic, political, and social power. A mill developer's first power grab was to build a walled dam, creating a pond that stored water to power the mill. Fishermen, artisans, farmers, and others relied on a natural river flow and did not willingly give up control. When Samuel Slater began building the dam, citizens filed a lawsuit against him, and four of them destroyed the dam when it was partially built. Slater pressed on and finished the dam before the courts had a chance to decide the case. Built one section at a time under Oziel Wilkinson's management, the dam was completed in November 1792.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island · United States