Town’s Mill History is Preserved at
Ashton Village
October 5, 2016
By Valley Breeze Staff Writer
CUMBERLAND - Ashton Village, the historic mill workers complex and focal point of the new
Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park, was officially opened Monday by Valley Affordable
Housing.
The village features 53 renovated and new units available to low- and moderate-income families.
This is a $14 million project funded primarily by Rhode Island Housing.
On hand for the ceremonial opening were U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, state Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Lt.
Gov. and former Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee, current Mayor Bill Murray and Valley Affordable
Housing's CEO Peter Bouchard.
The dedication comes at the same that Preserve Rhode Island announced that Ashton Village is one
of a dozen projects, places, and people that will be honored at the 8th annual Rhode Island
Preservation Celebration in Newport, on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Organizers of that group applauded ambitious rehabilitation and new construction in the village.
Celebrating the renovation Monday of mill buildings in Cumberland's Ashton Village, a development of 53
low- and moderate-income housing units renovated to retain their historic character while creating homes
within walking distance of jobs, schools, parks and other amenities, are, from left, Carol Ventura, deputy
director of R.I. Housing; state Treasurer Seth Magaziner; U.S. Sen. Jack Reed; Lt. Gov. Dan McKee; Peter
Bouchard, CEO of Valley Affordable Housing Corp.; and Cumberland Mayor William Murray. (Breeze
Photos by Robert Emerson)