Perfect day for a cemetary stroll. Very peaceful with some graves dating to the 1800s. The tower is…read morerather impressive. Would love to see it's twin in Ireland some day.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of…read moreAmerica that most people have never heard of or been to before, If you love Castles, Towers & the Fairytale Rapunzel or the Disney movie Tangled then you'll be excited about our journey today. It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour the Earth & take you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist. We have set the dial to the 1890's in the town of Milford MA about an hour outside of Boston. We've landed at this Beautiful Irish Round Tower that conjures up images from a bygone era. The Tower looks like it has been plucked from medieval times from thousands of miles across the Pond in Ireland. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Father Patrick Cuddihy envisioned an Irish Round Tower as the centerpiece of a new cemetery when the land was purchased in 1890 for the Catholics of Saint Mary's Parish in Milford. Travelers from all over the globe spend thousands of dollars & travel to Ireland to see The Irish Round Towers. There is one Irish Tower in particular called The Devenish round tower & is located in County Fermanagh on an island located on Lower Lough Erne Lake. The Round Irish Tower in Milford is almost an exact replica with the same look, design & height as the The Devenish Tower in Ireland. It is made out of Granite from the Milford quarry. It stands tall over the graves of thousands of Irish immigrants who were buried in the cemetery. They are laid to rest in an Irish setting that mimics the architecture & land of Ireland. You might wonder why did Fr. Cuddihy build this tower? The answer can be found in his obituary "It may be folly - yet when you and I have passed away, the Irish in America will make a pilgrimage to the Irish Round Tower at Milford." Now although it was very popular in its day this has now fallen completely under the radar. Now just about everyone has heard of the German Fairy Tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, but have no idea that a Rapunzel like Tower even exists here in America. The Milford Round Tower was the only one of its kind in the whole USA for decades & only a few Irish Towers in the whole world even exist outside of Ireland. In 2003 The Tower at Castleton Lyons Farm was built in Kentucky to be an exact replica of the round tower at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary Ireland. So now there are 2 Irish Round Towers in the US. The Milford one is well over a hundred years older than the one in Kentucky. It represents a unique granite architectural wonder that pays tribute to Father Cuddihy vision of an Irish Tower in America without going overseas. The 1978 East German stamps of Rapunzel look just like the Devenish Tower in Ireland & the one in Milford MA. I have posted the stamp pictures for you to see too. Just so you know the door to the Tower is locked so you can't venture to the top! In addition, behind the Irish round tower there is a small pond & benches with pine trees in the background that makes a peaceful place to pray, meditate & explore the grounds. On the other side there is a mysterious cave like structure that resembles a catacomb. Across the street there is a public park and free parking. You really wouldn't expect to see an Irish Round Tower or a Rapunzel Tower at a cemetery, but that's where it is - a True Hidden Gem. To make it really worth your trip in the area check out The Moon Tree a tree that went to the Moon & The Largest Rosary Beads in the World both in Holliston. All of these are Freebies as well. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

A unique piece of local history! This tower structure dates to the early 19th century and is…read morebelieved to have been used as a well that collected rainwater to use in the mansion that it was attached too. The tower was moved and restored at its current location after the original building it was part of burnt down in the 1980s. The small central district of Millville is listed on the historical register with the tower as the artifact.

This was a rather interesting find for me. I was in the area for donuts, but I stayed for the…read moreRosary Beads. I had done a search on Yelp for obscure things in the state of Massachusetts, and this came up. With only one Yelp review at the time, I was impressed that it even showed up on my search. Nonetheless, I was already in the area, so I figured I had to stop. The beads themselves are giant boulders chained together. If you go up the little hill by the prayer cave, you can see the "Rosary Beads" a little better from the vantage point (with the exception of some overgrown trees.) There is plenty of parking on-site, and the grounds appear to be taken care of. There is even a donation-based section where you can light a candle for someone. Even if you're not necessarily religious, it's worth the stop to walk the grounds and see what it's all about.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! 5 STARS! The Largest Rosary Beads in the World…read moreare located in Holliston.MA about an hour or so drive from Boston. These are part of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard of & have never been to before. This place is so unique; there are some 23 beautiful peaceful acres to explore here in a nature setting . This place combines a bunch of different things together including religious artifacts, a President, the US Military, an Outdoor Walking Trail, a Church, a Pond & Gardens. Now If that's not the most unusual flavor profile you've ever heard of - I don't know what else is? If you drive by Our Lady of Fatima Church you would probably just think it's just another church & wouldn't pay it too much attention at all. That would be a Big Mistake. You can't see what's hidden behind the trees just driving by. First pull your vehicle into the Free Parking Lot. You can't bring food in here. There is a separate place right out in front next to the Free Parking area with Free Picnic Tables so you can eat there. There is a modern church with lots of 60'sish architectural detail including a unique shaped building with skinny stained glass windows. There is also a gift store that you should check out as well. Then you will start your walking journey on the road with The Blessings of Peace to You sign. Travel past The Way of the Cross, the lighted candle stations, Mary & the Children of Fatima scene etc. Then you will see The Largest Rosary Beads in the World measuring a whopping 950 feet long. That's not a typo - 950 feet long. They are made out of giant boulder rocks that were taken from building the I-495 highway. The granite boulders are joined together by giant thick steel chain links that are painted sky blue. It was commissioned by missionary Reverend Oddo Galeazzi in the 1950's. Walk all around the Rosary Beads along the path & you will see different sizes & shapes of the round rocks. There are prayers & dedication plaques on the rocks too. Then follow the rocks all around the road you will see a large green grass field. In the center of the field is yet another Mary & the Children of Fatima statue scene. Then proceed back around to the beginning & follow the chain that goes up the hill. On the side of the hill you will see a staircase; ascend the stairs. You will see several statues as well as a Giant cross of Jesus. Turn & you will see the blue chain link that is attached to a Large blue anchor. A sign is posted saying this is Dedicated to the 35th President of the United States - John F. Kennedy by the US Navy. Most religious statues or artifacts produce a solemn & introspective feeling in people. These Rosary Beads produce quite a different feeling. When people see these Giant Rosary beads & walk along the trail their eyes lights up & a big Smile appears on their faces. It's pretty Cool! Imagine- they made Giant Rosary Beads out of Giant Boulders with Chains. From the hill, you can view the Rosary Beads from a whole different perspective & get a panoramic view of the whole property. There's a lot of exploring to do here so be sure to check out the whole place inside & outside. This is a place of worship & reflection & meditating so be respectful. There is no Fee but it costs a fortune to maintain this place. Please make a donation in the offering box in the front. People who like religious places will love it here. Also people who aren't necessarily religious but just like offbeat, quirky, unique & unusual spots will also find this place quite Amazing. WHAT A GREAT PLACE & IT'S ALL FREE! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

most certainly -the- most unsettling cemetery i've ever been to. every so often footsteps would…read moreinterrupt the dead silence, only for no one to be around. unfortunately (or fortunately), the ghost of freddy fingernail failed to show.

A very very creepy…read moreplace There are lots of haunted and creepy places in Rhode Island. It's well known to paranormal investigators because of all the weird, old and bizarre houses, woods and of course graveyards. Of all the spooky places in the state perhaps the old Elder Ballou Cemetery has the reputation as being the creepiest of the creepy. All kinds of strange things have occurred and still occur here. Or so people say. The most consistent story is seeing some old fellow dressed in a grey suit walking around. He never says anything, just sort of appears and disappears and it seems like he is looking for something. Other people hear moans and cries of pains or see vague apparitions and faces appearing out of nowhere. Even people driving by of the road have stopped because they hear strange noises coming from the graveyard. What makes this place rather unique is that people see and hear things in the daylight and not just the dark of night. I have to admit I am quite skeptical of such things but this is definitely a really, really creepy place. It's sort of on a small rolling hill so it is hard to see and it has a nice variety of the morose and lugubrious gravestones, some worn virtually away while other old ones look almost brand new. Perhaps the creepiest thing are the "holding tombs". You just don't see them around anymore. These were crypts where the dead bodies were kept until the families could find the money, space or time to give the deceased a proper burial. Many now had bars in front of them. Not sure if there are to keep people out of keep something else in. No, I didn't see any ghosts or really see anything out of the ordinary except for a really creepy, old cemetery. The mosquitoes were really bad but I suspect they were real ones and not zombie mosquitoes. I remain extremely skeptical of ghosts and their kin but this is a very cool and historic place. One that is exceptional creepy and weird at the best of times and a place I would rather not be in the dark of night.

Amazing excursion into New England textile history! Ruins and well-kept trails and even a place to…read morepark! Between 1830 and 1840, the town's population decreased about ten percent. However, Samuel Slater's success at water-powered cotton spinning at Pawtucket in 1790 drew attention to the industrial development potential of the State's rivers and streams, and in the ensuing decades Rhode Island businessmen showed an eagerness to exploit available waterpower sources, even in relatively remote areas that had not been considered particularly favorable for settlement. I would recommend this after you read up on the Oakland Mill so you are better prepared for the ruins.

In 2009, Richard Gere starred in a movie called Hachi: A Dog's Tale. The movie is a bittersweet…read moretale of a dog so loyal that it spent almost ten years waiting at a train station for its master, who had died at work. This actually happened in Japan in the 1930s (The dog, Hachiko, passed away -- still waiting -- on March 8, 1935). The historic old Woonsocket, Rhode Island railroad depot was the 2009 American movie stand-in for the 1930s Japanese station where Hachiko waited for his master for ten years. The Japanese erected a statue of Hachiko at their Shibuya train station and the mayor of Woonsocket thought that his town should have one too. The statue is in the same spot that the dog appeared in the Richard Gere film. After watching Hachi: A Dog's Tale and visiting the statue of Hachiko in Tokyo, I had to come and visit the Statue of Hachiko at the Woonsocket Depot. There are several free parking lots in the downtown Woonsocket area. We parked at 170 Main Street and walked over. Hachi was right there and a little informational plaque next to him. Staff were setting up the Christmas Village for the Polar Express train ride. An Army veteran who was working on some construction across the street offered to take our photo and was very friendly. The Woonsocket Depot is a decorated brick building which was the finest on-line passenger depot on the Providence and Worcester Railroad line. It replaced the original 1847 depot which was destroyed by fire. The Depot also serves as office space for RI DOT staff and is home to the Blackstone Valley Polar Express.

The hurricane of '38 wiped this lighthouse out, killing the gatekeeper in the process. As our tour…read moreguide said tongue-in-cheek, that's why you don't come in on your day off. This is a lighthouse on the lighthouse tour offered by RI Bay Cruises, although it is really only a small foundation now. The location is actually Narragansett Bay, too, not Manville.

A broken lighthouse…read more Rhode Island doesn't get a lot of hurricanes but has had some whoppers. The monsters in 1938 and 1954 changed the coastline and caused literally billions of dollars in damage. The one in 1938 even managed to break in half a nearly indestructible cast iron light called Whale Rock Light. Whale Rock is a treacherous reef that was responsible for the destruction of many ships over the years. Laying right in the middle of the west passage of Narragansett Bay it was difficult to avoid and miss in bad weather so in 1882 the authorities finally decided to mark this deadly spot with a sturdy and stout cast iron "spark plug" light. This design was popular in severe areas because it was thought to be able to withstand anything nature could throw at it. Of course people underestimated the fury of exactly what nature was capable of. The light serve well until 1938 when an unprecedented and unbelievably powerful cat 3 hurricane slammed into the bay without warning. Sustained winds of over 120 miles per hour and gusts of almost 200 miles per hour literally shook the ocean and hurled it toward the shore. They didn't give official names for hurricanes back then but the colossus of 38 has been called The Yankee Clipper, The Long Island Express, The Great Hurricane or simply The Beast. Over 600 people died in New England and probably another hundred or so in other states. A 25 feet storm surge hit in places like a giant tidal wave and parts of Providence were under 35 feet of water. Millions of trees were destroyed and thousands of houses and buildings were laid waste. The destruction was sudden, complete and unimaginable. The intrepid and faithful lighthouse keeper was the 40 year old Walter Eberle, a father of 6 who was no stranger to the sea. He was off duty but knew a big one was brewing and bravely went out to the lighthouse to relieve his less experienced assistant who went back to shore. Walter stayed at his duty at the light as the waves and winds grew. He probably had to go up to the top of the structure but might have believed that nothing could actually destroy this lighthouse. Unfortunately he was wrong. The next morning the lighthouse was gone and Walter's body was never found. Over the years the the remains of the lighthouse were examined to determine why it failed. No reason was every found except for the fact that the storm was just so incredibly powerful that nothing could stand in it's way. Just a short distance north of Whale Rock five more people died in Prudence Island Lighthouse and the entire island was completely wiped out. Today a new hurricane called Irene is taking aim at Narragansett Bay. I have heard some of my neightbors along the water say that they aren't worried or scared because it will probably "only" be a cat one when it hits. Sometimes it is wise to be afraid, sometimes very afraid, it what keeps you alive. Perhaps people forget exactly what the ocean and wind is capable of but what remains of Whale Rock can be seen out in Narragansett Bay if anyone needs to be reminded. Perhaps this storm will turn out to be nothing more than just the usual histrionics of the modern media. But the again perhaps Irene will decided to get nasty and unleash the fury of her some of her predecessors. Perhaps people along the coast have nothing to worry about or perhaps now is the time to be very worried. We shall see.