Fairlawn Neighborhood Walking Tour

Saturday, October 21, 10:30am

meet in front of St. Francis Cemetery on Smithfield Avenue

Fairlawn’s stories are mostly linked to the Blackstone Canal and the Providence & Worcester Railroad, and how those modes of transportation changed Pawtucket’s landscape in the second half of the 19th century. The Moshassuck River and the railroad tracks now separate Fairlawn from the rest of the city. The name Fairlawn originated with early English and Scottish textile workers who settled in the area and in 1889, when it was formally subdivided for house lots, the name was retained. This neighborhood developed as mills and factories were built in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Lincoln. The streetcar line from Providence was extended into Fairlawn, and that made it possible for workers living here to commute to jobs elsewhere. Today, Fairlawn is a neighborhood of mostly single-family houses, an active commercial district, several churches, and a large cemetery. Join us as we visit some of Fairlawn’s historic landmarks. The tour is free, but we ask that you RSVP by emailing pawtucketpreservation@gmail.com.