We Can’t Look Away From This Fall River Roadside Mystery

Fall River is home to many mysteries and I think I may have found another one.

The city lends itself to plenty of visitors, especially come the warmer months. So it would make sense to see an information center off a busy stretch of road. Except is that what this is? Does the picture above look familiar?

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The four-legged covered structure, at least 10 to 12 feet tall, stands off Broadway between Anawan Street and the Water Street Connector, a very visible feature on a well-traveled road headed south, and right near the ramps for I-195. There's nothing underneath or beside it indicating its purpose. About 15 feet north, a roadside sign announces the Fall River Waterfront Cultural District. Near the structure on one side are four bike racks. On the other, a "Welcome To Fall River Map" shows you where you are but unfortunately not what you're standing near.

That's it.

Some of you may drive by this installation every day as part of your commute to work and also have no idea what it is.

I needed to get to the bottom of this mystery. I was thinking it's as easy as making a phone call to the City of Fall River. Well, it ended up not being so easy.

First, I got ahold of Laura Ferreira, director of traffic and parking for the city. She said she believed the structure, being right off a main highway, was installed by the state and that I should call the state highway division in Boston.

Ferreira gave me the number and the chase continued.

While I did get ahold of someone at the state level, they directed me back to the city.

Was I on a wild goose chase?

A few hours later I got a call from Ferreira. She had a hunch but couldn't confirm. Ferreira, who grew up in the city, recalled a diner being located in roughly the spot of the structure in question many years ago. Perhaps it had something to do with the diner?

Then again, this thing looks too new to have ties to a place that has long since come and gone.

So, having tried the city and the state, I'm hoping we can get the real answer as to the functionality of this structure.

Is it supposed to be an information center? A shaded area in the summer? A solar energy generator?

Because right now, without any on-site context, it's one of those things that make you go, "Hmmm..."