A prominent boulder on the west shore of the Seekonk River (near the current Gano Park) was once one of Providence's most important historic landmarks. Slate Rock was said to be the spot where a group of Narragansetts first welcomed the exiled Roger Williams in 1636 with the famous phrase "What cheer, netop?", and directed him to his eventual settlement location at the fork of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers.[5][6][7]
The historic rock was accidentally blown up by city workers in 1877. They were attempting to expose a buried portion of the stone, but used too much dynamite and the stone was "blasted to pieces."[5] Pieces of the stone were later sold for souvenirs. A monument in nearby Slate Rock Park commemorates the location.[5][6][7]
Flora and fauna
The Seekonk River is home to numerous fauna that either migrate to the bay at some point during the year or live there year-round. There are several species of fish, shellfish and crab that have been documented.[8] Birds include loon, cormorants, herons, gulls, terns, swans and geese.[9]
Numerous plants also make the Seekonk River their home, both on land and underwater. Common aquatic vegetation includes grasses like spartina grass and phragmites in most high marsh areas, and brown and green seaweed in the intertidal zone. Other vegetation that makes its home along the river include shrubs like rosa rugosa, various trees like the willow, oak and beech.[10]
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