On-line Walking Tour / 10-Brown's Race

On-line Walking Tour/ Browns Race

Browns Race, the power canal, was constructed in 1815. Today, a street called Browns Race follows the old raceway. Diverting water from a point about 500 feet south of High Falls, the raceway was 1221 feet long (later extended), 30-feet wide and five-and-a-half feet deep. Even before the race was completed, a cotton mill was constructed at a location which was once called Browns Island (north side of Commercial Street and east of the remaining raceway). Spillways funneled water from the race through the mills. Mill lots between the race and the gorge each had the right to a certain amount of water from the race. All buildings on the east side of the race were reached via foot bridges; overhead shafts transmitted power to the west side of the race and to the buildings which fronted on Mill Street. Eventually the race was covered by a wooden plank roadway. In 1991-92 portions of the original Browns Race were uncovered; concrete planks delineate the original width of the raceway.