|
|
Field
Journal
by
Daniel
V.
Boudillion
Lake
Nagog at Nashoba Indian Village (Sarah Doublet Forest)
.
Updated 18 December 2009
11 new articles posted since June
19, 2009!
A
Record of
Excursions
& Adventures
in Massachusetts
.
.
.
|
.
472,800 visitors since July
2001
About
this Page
 Massachusetts
has a wealth of unusual and enigmatic stone structures of uncertain antiquity
and unknown origin. These have been conjectured to be constructed by
ancient Celts, Native Americans, Colonial farmers, and neo-pagans. I
have personally located many previously unrecorded dolmen, stone circles,
standing stones, prayer seats, underground chambers, altars, turtle shaped
boulders, and odd stone arrangements. There are many mysteries here
worth investigating.
Also in my travels I have come across many other strange and wonderful things
tucked away in the woods - such as a Shaker dancing ground from 1840, haunted
cemeteries like Spider Gates, various Tophet Swamps, and innumerable small caves
called Devil's Den's.
The following is a record of my travels and investigations over the last eight
years. As I turn these investigations into Field Reports, links will be
provided. A photo gallery is also in the works.
Enjoy - and if you find anything I might be
interested in, please let me know. Thanks!
D. V. Boudillion
Speaking Engagements
Upcoming:
.
Past:
.
I am available to give PowerPoint presentations on my
original research and local history in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Please contact me at dvb@boudillion.com
if you would like me to speak.
Publications: NEARA
Journal
&
Weird Massachusetts
A number of my articles and photographs have seen
publication in the NEARA Journal and Weird Massachusetts. There are over 6
million people in Massachusetts, and when Weird Massachusetts was looking for
writers, they contacted me - I'm assuming that's a compliment, right? In
any event, I contributed a story to
Weird U.S. (reprinted in
Weird New England). In
Weird Massachusetts I have a chapter, and another dozen or so
stories sprinkled throughout the book. (Jeff
Belanger is the primary author of Weird Massachusetts, with
contributions by Christopher
Balzano and myself.)
There are 2 of my articles in the
NEARA Journal, with another 2 scheduled for Fall 2009 and Spring 2010.
If you are interested in running a writing assignment
by me, please do. My specialties are historical research and the odd and
unusual in Massachusetts and New England. Contact me at
dvb@boudillion.com.
Field Reports & Links
New
England
Antiquities
Research
Association
(NEARA) Field
Reports
by D. V. Boudillion:
.
Deed
Rock & God's Ten Acres A deed to God carved in a rock in Worcester
New June 2009
Rattlesnake Hill,
Where Are You?
Looking for, and finding, Rattlesnake Hill
Druid Hill Stone
Circle A Stone Circle in Lowell Massachusetts?
Pots Point the Way?
An Enigma in the Dog Town Woods
Father John & the Rock Pile A
Recent Donation of an Antique Medicine Bottle?
Fountain of Youth
Found The Harvard Shakers' Miraculous Spring
A Second Shaker
Spring Harvard East Family Village
The Six Altars Of
Nashoba A question of purpose and origin
Half
Moon Meadow Brook A Solstice Sunrise Site
in Boxborough Massachusetts
Boxborough Esker
As featured in Manitou, a Native ceremonial site in Boxborough Mass
Burnt
Hill Stone circle and standing stones on a hill in Heath
Mass
Littleton
History Field
Reports
by D. V. Boudillion:
.
The
Indian Fort at Fort Pond
Mini-report: Locating the Fort's well
New
December 2009!
Sarah
Doublet's Cave Mini-report:
Sarah's vision-quest cave found
New
December 2009!
Nashoba
Hill: The Hill that Roars Vision Quest and Nashoba Praying Indian
Village
Updated
December 2009
Rattlesnake Hill,
Where Are You?
Looking for, and finding, Rattlesnake Hill
Ceremonial Time
The facts vs. Mitchell's fictions in the Littleton 1720 Dudley witch accusations
Misc.
Field
Reports
by D. V. Boudillion:
.
Picture Glossary Pictorial of New
England Lithic Constructions
New October 2009!
Gallows
Hill: Where Were the Salem Witches Hung?
The real site of the hangings
New September 2009
Witch
Caves & Salem End Road The tale of Salem's Towne sisters
New July 2009
The
Ecstatic Spirits of Holy Hill How the Shakers Invented Spiritualism
New July 2009
Pierce Tomb in
Old Hill Burying Ground Newburyport's weirdest clubhouse
New June 2009
Devil's Footprints Leaving infernal footprints in Ipswich & Norton
New
June 2009
Witch Bridge:
Norton, Massachusetts A lady + a buggy = a witch?
New June 2009
Mormon Temple
Alignments A look at a curious alignment in Palmyra
Spider Gates:
Photo Fakery & Photo Theft Fake "ghost" photos busted!
Hoosac Tunnel: Abode of
the Damned? An Exploration of the "Bloody Pit"
Alistair Crowley's Lam & the
Little Grey Men Another striking resemblance?
Updated
September 2009
Nothing is easier to see
then lights in the sky at night An obvious observation
about UFOs
Acrobatic Nocturnal Lights
Are we looking in the wrong direction?
Interview with Raymond
Fowler UFO Investigator, Author of the Andreasson Affair.
Mothman & The
Thunderbird A striking resemblance between two
creatures of legend.
Updated
September 2009
Spider
Gates The most haunted cemetery in Massachusetts?
Updated
September 2009
Special
Features, updated regularly and irregularly,
by D. V. Boudillion:
.
Roadside Architecture Weird and whacky
stuff seen on the side of the road in Mass Updated
April 2009!
Antique Postcards
of Littleton Massachusetts & Vicinity
15
new postcards - revised January 2007!
MST3K Reviews
Reviews of Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes
Awesome Chipmunk Stories
How history really happened
Rogues
Gallery All the usual suspects at all
the usual places.
Updated
October 2009!
Links:
.
New England Antiquities
Research Association Reports and
pictures of lithic constructions
Berkshire
Mountain Man Jim is the foremost
cave expert, locator, and explorer in Mass
Littleton Historical
Society Littleton Massachusetts Historical Society
The Hoosac Tunnel: Now and Then
A comprehensive site by Jerry Kelley
Carol
A. Hanny Megaliths, caves and other interesting
stuff! (Litchfield County Ct)
Concord Lithics
Peter Waksman's home page of lithics in and around Concord Ma
Hockomock Journals
Reports on excursions in Southeast Massachusetts
Memoirs of a Rolling
Stone Jim Moore's New England Cave & Lithic Blog
New October 2009
Waking Up On Turtle
Island Tim MacSweeney's turtle rocks blog in CT
Avalon Foundation Nick
Reiter's many articles on the paranormal and historical oddities
Jeff Belanger
Author and investigator of all that Weird in Massachusetts
Rockpile Blogspot Unusual and interesting (native?) rockpiles and
lithics in New England
Mormon Temple Alignments
Adding some more info to previous work
Hoosac
Tunnel Marc Howes Hoosac Tunnel page
Worcester Friends
Cemetery Official Spider Gates webpage with cemetery policy.
New
England Oddities All that's strange, weird and wonderful in New
England
Indian Rock Piles Peter Waksman's rock pile website
New
England Anomaly A wide variety of links to the anomalous in
Massachusetts
Paranormal Crossroads Christopher Balzano's Massachusetts
Paranormal Crossroads
Ghost
Village by Jeff Belanger, the web's largest and most popular
supernatural community
Email:
.
dvb@boudillion.com
Email Daniel V. Boudillion If you are looking for directions
to some of the locations I have visited, bear in mind that I am not always at
liberty to divulge this, especially in the case of places in private ownership
or of a hazardous nature. Also note, if you can't be bothered to say
hello, please, and thank you, I can't be bothered to write you back.
Field
Journal
Et in
Arcadia ego.
Field
Journal 2009
December 5,
2009: Sarah Doublet Forest in Littleton
with NEARA
- results: led field trip and looked at the various lithic structures.
South Shaker Village in Harvard with
NEARA - results: looked at standing stone and
rocking
stone.
November 8,
2009: Fox Sisters Farm in Hydesville New York
with Nick Reiter
- results: looked at the
foundation
of the old Fox Farmhouse where Spiritualism first began.
November 7,
2009: Mormon Temple in Palmyra New York
with Nick Reiter
- results: took pictures of the
Moon Stones,
Sun Stones,
and Star
Stones on the
Temple.
October 31, 2009:
Blanchard & Dudley Witchcraft sites in Littleton - results:
took pictures of the
Dudley
and
Blanchard houses.
October 18, 2009:
Witchtrot Road in South Berwick Maine with
Gary Boston
- results: the
road
the Reverend George Burroughs was escorted on
in a thunderstorm back to Salem, and thence hung as a witch.
Etiole the 300 year old alien of Old Orchard
Beach Maine with Gary Boston - results: found the
house,
but not the car he lives in. (See
Eelkat's blog.)
October 17, 2009:
Joseph Smith Birthplace in Royalton Vermont with
Gary Boston
- results: Joseph Smith birthplace house
foundation,
memorial
obelisk.
Lithic monuments in Royalton Vermont
with Gary Boston - results: McIntosh
chamber
adjacent to Smith birthplace.
September 18, 2009:
Walter Powers Farm in Littleton with
Dave Powers
- results: looked at all the Walter Power sites in Littleton.
April 5, 2009:
Nashoba Brook in Acton with Andy Bowers
- results: the old mill run and damn of the Thoreau Pencil Factory.
March 28, 2009:
Odd named hills in Northborough with
Gary Boston - results: visited
Ghost Hill,
Fay Hill,
Sulfur Hill, and
Mt
Pisgah.
March 22, 2009:
Dudley House in Littleton - results: toured the 1700 Samuel & Abigail Dudley
house.
Field
Journal 2008
November 23,
2008: Tophet Swamp in Littleton with
Gary Boston - results: investigated
mounds
in the swamp and found a solstice sunrise
alignment.
November 22,
2008: Tophet Swamp in Littleton -
results: took various pictures in the
swamp
for upcoming presentation in Carlisle.
November 15,
2008: Nashoba Praying Indian Village
in Littleton with Hugh
Newman and
Glenn
Broughton
- results: looked at chambers and lithics
including the Whitcome Ave
chamber
and the restored Nashoba Brook
chamber.
May 1,
2008: Magnetic Hill Road in
Leominster with Andy Bowers - results: drove down the "magnetic
road" near
Magnetic
Hill, no untoward effects noted.
Bancroft Silver Mine in Harvard with Andy Bowers - results:
located the "cut"
where the mine used to be.
April 27, 2008:
Nashoba Hill in Littleton with Gary
Boston - results: large
white
quartz boulder at top, very wide
stone wall.
Field
Journal 2007
June 3, 2007:
Witch Brook in Townsend - results:
Nissitissit Village on
Witch Brook
on old North Road in North Pepperell, said to have been cursed.
June2, 2007:
Blanchard House in Boxborough -
results:
house where the Blanchard girls lived.
June 1, 2007:
Wizard's Glen in Dalton with Gary
Boston - results:
Wizard's Glen,
Altar Rock,
Indian
Painting, Lucky Seven
Cave.
Witch Rocks in Framingham with Gary
Boston - results:
caves
where escapees from the Salem witch trials hid for a winter.
May 30, 2007:
Shaker Village in Harvard with Gary
Boston - results:
main
street,
avenue
to the Holy Hill of Zion, Holy Hill of Zion
dancing
ground. Silver Mine in
Harvard with Gary Boston - results: tunnel is somewhere along this
ridge.
May 26, 2007:
Salem End Road in Framingham with Gary
Boston - results: houses built by Salem witch trial refugees, (Towne,
Nurse,
Cloyes,
and Bridges).
Danforth Rock in Framingham with Gary
Boston - results: a
large rock
that was supposed to signal safety to Salem Refugees.
Old Burying Ground in Framingham with
Gary Boston - results: Cloyes graves, "struck
by lightning." Death Valley
in Topsfield with Gary Boston - results:
stretch of road
with high traffic fatalities. Witch
Hill in Topsfield with Gary Boston - results:
location where Mary Easty was arrested.
Towne & Easty sites in Topsfield with
Gary Boston - results: William Towne
homestead
site, Isaac and Mary Easty
homestead
site. Devils Footprint
in Ipswich with Gary Boston - results: a rock where the devil left his
footprint.
April 21, 2007:
Tophet Swamp in Lynnfield with Gary
Boston - results:
Tophet
Swamp. Tophet Swamp in
Carlisle with Gary Boston - results:
Tophet Swamp.
April 14, 2007:
Satan's Kingdom in Westwood with Gary
Boston - results: a rocky
hill
with a spectacular
view. Devil's Oven in
Westwood with Gary Boston - results: old filled in
cave,
supposedly an Indain tunnel. Devil's Brook
in Sharon with Gary Boston - results:
brook.
Witch Pond in Foxborough with Gary
Boston - results:
pond.
April 7, 2007:
Podunk in East Brookfield with Gary
Boston - results: Quaboag
Pond,
Podunk Road,
Podunk
Village &
Cemetery, and an old section of Podunk
Road.
March 31, 2007:
Deed Rock in Worcester with Gary
Boston - results: A deed of land to God carved in a
rock,
foundations of Solomon Parson's
Forest
Sanctuary Temple, old foundations of Brown's
Hermitage,
Rattlesnake Ledge, a talus
cave,
and the
Hanging
Tree.
Field Journal 2006
December 21, 2006:
Littleton/Westford line - results:
took photos at "prayer seat" of Winter Solstice Sunset
alignment
over esker.
December 20, 2006:
Littleton/Westford line - results:
set up sightlines at "prayer seat" for possible Winter Solstice
Sunset alignment over esker.
December 19, 2006:
Gallows Hill in Salem with Gary Boston
- results: took more
pictures of the Perley site but camera
malfunctioned again. Witch Rock in
Danvers with Gary Boston - results:
examined the rock with flash lamps for markings -
one marking found,
but does not resemble the
supposed markings.
December 8, 2006:
Sarah Doublet Forest in Littleton with
Kevin Crispell - results: examined the "praying pet cemetery."
November 19, 2006:
Gallows Hill in Salem - results: took
pictures of the Perley
gallows
site, camera malfunctioned. Castle
Hill in Salem - results: most of the hill has been excavated
for a warehouse. Witch Rock
in Danvers - results:
looked for the
sigils but were unable to locate them.
October 15, 2006:
Littleton/Westford line - results:
found an apparent
Prayer
Seat that appears aligned to view the Winter Solstice
Sunset over an esker.
May 28, 2006:
Underground Chamber in Harvard - results:
viewed subterranean chamber used in the Underground Railroad.
May 5, 2006:
Cow Culvert in Littleton - results:
located the old cow culvert under Route 2A near Mannion Place. Took
pictures of the last remaining
stone wall section at the Old Powers
Graveyard.
April 31, 2006:
Powers Farm in Littleton - results:
took pictures of some of the
fields that have been in
cultivation
since 1675.
April 22, 2006:
Mormon Temple in Palmyra NY with Scurv
Dawg - results:
took GPS and compass readings. Toured the
Joseph Smith Sr. Farm in Palmyra NY where Joe Jr. said he had
visions. Toured the Grandin Print Shop
in Palmyra NY where the Book of Mormon was originally printed. (See
the Palmyra Report
for pictures and more info.)
April 21, 2006:
Cumorah Hill in Palmyra NY with Scurv
Dawg - results:
took compass readings at the Hill Cumorah Moroni Monument. Walked
around the Sacred Grove in Palmyra NY
where Joseph Smith Jr. had visions.
April 9, 2006:
Lake Nagog in Littleton - results:
took GPS readings at the original North Corner of the 1660 Nashoba Praying
Indian Village.
April 8, 2006:
Lake Nagog in Acton with Colin Duncan - results:
took GPS readings and confirmed the East Corner of the 500 acre Indian
reservation of 1714.
Field Journal 2005
October 2, 2005:
Old Hill Cemetery in Newburyport with
Carlton Jablonski - results: examined the repeatedly violated
Pierce Tomb,
looked for the "ghost head," saw the
gopher.
Dog Town in Gloucester with Carlton
Jablonski.
September 22, 2005:
Indian Point on Mt. Desert Island,
Maine - results: took measurements of a large
mound.
Several smaller mounds found to be in alignment with it.
September 17, 2005:
Cross Point in Edgecomb, Maine with
Ros Strong & Susanne Carlson - results: examined several stone mounds.
April 30, 2005:
Shabokin in Ayer - results: located
Hell Pond
in the "place of the departed souls."
April 30, 2005:
Fort Pond Hill in Littleton/Acton with
Gary Boston - results: located the "row
of stones" bounding the westerly side of the 1714 Indian New Town
as mentioned in the 1735 Jones deed. The boundary line crosses Fort
Pond and picks up on the far side
here. Saw a series of unusual
rows in
the area as well.
April 23, 2005:
Fort Pond Hill in Littleton/Acton -
results: looked for Southwest Corner of the 1714 Indian New Town as extrapolated from Harwood's 1894
account. Approximate location is
around
here, but nothing obvious found. Funky wall
construction in general area. Lake
Nagog in Littleton/Acton - results: found
Southeast Corner Cairn at
Lake
Nagog
as extrapolated from Harwood's 1894 account. Found old
Littleton/Acton
town corner, and 1911 General Court established Littleton/Acton
town corner.
April 17, 2005:
Cobb's Woods in Littleton - results:
Harwood's 1894 location of the
Northeast Corner of the 1714 Indian "New Town," an
unusual
cairn there, and the eastern
boundary of the "New Town"
based on the Harwood corner. Fort Pond Swamp
in Littleton - results: a non-engraved
marker slab under and ancient apple tree.
Nashoba Road in Littleton
- results: a
pyramid
shaped rock at approximate place the Northern boundary of the "New
Town," based on the Harwood corner, crosses Nashoba Road.
April 16, 2005:
Fort Pond Hill in Littleton/Acton - results:
the
southern boundary and approximate
Southwest Corner of the 1714 Indian "New Town" as indicated from
old maps, and
a large
cairn.
April 9, 2005:
Power Road in Littleton - results:
garrison
house location, old stone
bridge
and route of Snake Road.
April 8, 2005:
Reservoir Road in Southeast NY with
Gary Boston -
results: a stone
chamber.
Route 301 in Kent NY with Gary Boston
- results: three stone chambers:
A,
B,
and C.
Lower Mine Road in Southeast NY with
Gary Boston - results: a roadside
shrine
lit late at night on a deserted road.
Field Journal 2004
November 14, 2004:
Snake Hill in Ayer with Shawn Damery -
results: a rock shelter under a ledge with stonework enclosure, a stone wall with
large gaps,
Colonial quarry with
chisel marks
rather than drill holes, and an unusual
well.
(thanks to Shawn for showing me these locations.)
November 7, 2004:
Potato Cave in Acton,
Whitcome Ave Chambers in Littleton,
John
Whitcome bear site in Littleton with Carlton Jablonski and his
friend Joe - viewed chambers and speculated on purpose.
October 23, 2004:
Lake Nagog Woods in Acton with Gary Boston - results:
a number of rock piles, effigies, and rows previously reported in this Field
Journal were observed to be destroyed by a new golf course.
February 7, 2004:
Sheehan Swamp in Harvard with Marc Sevigny
and Jonathan Feist - results: showed the aqueduct marker to the Harvard
Historical Commission.
Shaker Village in Harvard with Marc
Sevigny and Jonathan Feist - results: viewed the old Shaker herb drying
building.
January 18, 2004:
Sheehan Swamp in Harvard - results:
located the only remaining Harvard Shaker Village aqueduct marker
slate.
January 3, 2004:
Elliott Hill Cemetery in Leicester with
Gary Boston - results: visited an obscure 1760
cemetery
hidden in the woods.
Field Journal 2003
November 30, 2003:
Quagana Hill in Littleton - results:
located site of the Ralph Shepard
homestead.
November 29, 2003:
Mill Pond in Littleton - results: located
probable site of the
Witch Tree
(the Kimball Elm)
and thus the approximate location of the Abigail Dudley homestead.
Beaver Brook Road in Littleton
Massachusetts - results:
located large
rock
that was the original north corner of Nashoba Indian Plantation.
Garrison House in Littleton Massachusetts - results:
took pictures of original 1670's
well
at site of King Phillips War garrison house.
Quagana Hill in Littleton Massachusetts - results: located
hill where
Mary Shepard was captured by Indians in 1676, but could not find the rock she
was supposedly sitting on.
November 28, 2003:
Mill Pond in Littleton with Andy Bowers -
results: looked for the site of the "Witch Tree" (The
Kimball Elm), said
to be near the site of the Dudley homestead on the
shore
of Mill Pond. (Abigail Dudley was wrongfully accused of witchcraft in
1720.)
October 28, 2003:
Dog Town in Gloucester -
results: found various old
cellar holes
and the old
main street of the abandoned 1650's colonial village called Dog Town. Took
pictures of large rocks carved with inspirational
messages by a local
eccentric. Viewed extensive glacier created boulder
fields.
October 16, 2003:
Man o' War Brook in Acadia with Julie
Boudillion - results: British war ship used to provision fresh water from the
brook.
October 15, 2003:
Devils Den in Acadia with Julie Boudillion -
results: took pictures of
sea cave, location is now known as Sea
Anemone Cave.
October 15, 2003:
Eagle Cliffs & Dog Mt. in Acadia - results:
cliffs were rumored in the 1850's to be the
hiding place of Blackbeard's treasure. Area now called Acadia Mountain.
October 4,
2003:
"Witchcraft School" in Salem - results:
finally got pictures of
Witchcraft Heights Elementary School to come out.
Gallows Hill in Salem - results: visited
the traditional
site of Gallows Hill, watched
sunrise. Parris Parsonage
in Danvers - results:
visited the foundation of the parsonage where the witch accusations began.
Witch Ground in Danvers - results: located
the fields
near the parsonage where the witches were supposed to hold their meetings.
Ingersoll Ordinary in Danvers - results:
an Inn
where the witch trials magistrates would repair to after a hard day of
condemning innocent people to death. Rebecca
Nurse House in Danvers - results: the Nurse
homestead, and
family graveyard
where Rebecca was buried in an unmarked grave in the dead of night. Also
found the creek
that her son used to row her body from Gallows Hill to the homestead.
September 27,
2003:
Hoosac Tunnel in North Adams with Jerry "Ringo"
Kelley - results: located abandoned
tunnel,
viewed opening
of the West Shaft.
September 13,
2003: Nashoba Hill in Littleton -
results: took pictures of the 1660's Walter Powers
Farm area.
Fort Devons Military Cemetery in Devons
(Ayer) - results: located the
grave of Robert F. Massie, a participant in the
event that inspired Poe to write the Cask of Amontillado.
Whitcomb Farm in Littleton with Andrew
Bowers - results: searched for and located the
valley where John Whitcomb
killed the last bear in Littleton.
Old Burring Ground in Littleton with
Andrew Bowers - results: searched for the grave of Abigail Dudley, wrongfully
accused of witchcraft. Found the
Dudley plot, but not
Abigail.
September 12,
2003: Friends Cemetery (Spider Gates) in
Leicester with John Larochelle - results: viewed the
cemetery
(picture courtesy of John Larochelle), also explored
the west section of Earle Street for the abandoned house, but did not find it.
September 7,
2003:
Warbeck Rock in Warwick with Gary Boston -
results: a prominent
rock located on the old
turnpike which was once an Indian
path.
Devil's Washtub in Warwick with Gary
Boston - results: located waterfall
basin and old mill.
August 31, 2003:
Fort Pond in Littleton - results:
investigated second of two islands in the swamp (view
from island) for indications of Indian burials.
Found nothing obvious, but did locate stone
table and saw bear sign.
August 30, 2003:
Fort Pond in Littleton - results:
investigated one of two islands in the swamp (view
from island) for indications of Indian burials.
Found signs of
stone work and a short north/south wall, but nothing obvious.
August 23, 2003:
Littleton: observed
Mars at 5:30
am over Littleton Center. Hockanum Hill
in Warwick - results: took
pictures.
Hoosac Tunnel West Portal in Adams with
Jerry Kelley - results: west
portal.
Hoosac Tunnel East Portal Compressor Building
in Florida with Jerry Kelley - results: explored the ruins of the old
compressor
building and
sluiceway.
Berkshire Mountains with Jerry Kelley -
results: located a possible
cave.
Littleton with Andy Bowers and Andrea
Curran - results: observed
Mars.
August 21, 2003:
Littleton: observed
Mars on its closest
approach in 60,000 years.
August 19, 2003:
Shaker Village in Harvard - results: located
the place
where the Harvard Shaker aqueduct marker, now in Groton, was taken from.
August 18, 2003:
Groton Center - results: located one of
the Harvard Shaker aqueduct
markers in the
yard of a private residence.
August 17, 2003:
Wenimisset in New Braintree with Gary
Boston - results: located the sites of the
lower and
middle Indian camps on
the Ware River where Mary Shepherd and Mary Rowlandson were held captive in
1676. Could not find upper camp. Devil's
Elbow Road in Brookfield with Gary Boston - results: old pre-1668
road to Old Braintree Village.
Wickaboag Lake
Indian Burying Bluff in West Brookfield with Gary Boston - results:
the bluff is developed with houses. Devil's
Lane in Brimfield with Gary Boston - results: old dead-end
road.
Quabaug Old Fort in Brimfield with Gary
Boston - results: located
site of old Indian fort on southern bluff of Indian
Hill. Devil's Peak Hill in Warren with
Gary Boston - results: located
hill, not enough time to locate the peak.
August 16, 2003:
Bell Rock Cemetery (Sandy Bank Old Burying Ground)
in Malden - results: located the
grave of Ralph Shepherd (1606 -
1693) of Littleton.
Bell Rock Park
in Malden - results: see
picture.
Fort Pond in
Littleton - results: investigated some the "islands" in the swamp said to be
Indian burial grounds.
August 15, 2003:
Nashoba (Concord Village) in Littleton -
results: identified possible
site of Old
Powers Burying Ground. Grist Mill Road
in Littleton - results: Found earthworks and
spillway
from early settler's Mill.
August 14, 2003:
Sarah Doublet Forest in Littleton -
results: identified site of old Indian Fort on Speen's Hill at Fort Pond from
1914 photo
and old records.
August 10, 2003:
Nashoba (Concord Village) in Littleton -
results: searched for the 1670's Shepard
Homestead, found Quagana Hill, but
homestead site looks built over. Located the well of the 1675 Walter
Powers Garrison
House. Searched for original settlers burial ground, but textual
accounts disagree and the general area is built over.
Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton - results: a fourth grave has been
added. Also trash pit resembles 1914 picture of well at the now lost
"Indian Fort on Speen's Hill."
August 2, 2003:
Hockomock Swamp in Raynham with Carlton
Jablonski - results: abandoned
factory
associated with Bigfoot sightings, abandoned
railroad
associated with spook lights. Route 138
in Raynham with Carlton Jablonski - results: 50 foot milk bottle
used a restaurant,
2 foot diameter
golf ball. Anawam Rock in
Rehoboth with Carlton Jablonski - results:
rock where King
Philips War ended. Bad Luck Brook
and Bad Luck Swamp in Rehoboth with
Carlton Jablonski - results: located both
brook and
swamp,
saw the llama. Dighton Rock in
Dighton with Carlton Jablonski - results: viewed
inscriptions
on rock, translated them as 'beware the llama.".
Profile Rock in Freetown with Carlton
Jablonski - results: rock has Indian head
profile,
excellent
view from top.
July 27, 2003:
Mohawk Indian Icon in Shirley - results:
30 foot tall
Indian.
July 13, 2003:
Witchcraft School in Salem - results:
again, pictures did not come out.
Witch Hill in Topsfield - results: rural
hill with
water-tower, some lithics, no indications of why it is called "witch".
Tophet Swamp in Bedford/Lexington -
results: another
Tophet Swamp.
July 12, 2003:
Gallows Hill in Salem with Gary Boston -
results: located
actual hill
of the hangings, which is not the one called "Gallows Hill". Also found
foundation
rocks from the scaffold.
Witchcraft School in Salem with Gary
Boston - results: school is marked "Witchcraft School" on topo map,
but the building reads "Witchcraft Heights School." Pictures of
school mysterious did not come out.
Witch Hill in Topsfield with Gary Boston
- result: photos did not come out.
Salem-Beverly Waterway in Wenham with
Gary Boston - results: waterworks
canal built
sometime between 1904 and and 1944.
Danvers State Hospital in Danvers with Gary Boston - results: called
the "Witch Castle" because of its architecture - main grounds are
now no
trespassing, did see a few
out buildings.
Witch Rock in Danvers with Gary Boston - results: found the
rock, but
could not find any petroglyphs on it. (Carvings did appear to be on an
adjacent rock.)
Devil's Dishful Pond in Peabody with Gary
Boston - results: located the
pond but
not the summer community it was supposedly named for.
Joseph Tapley's Tomb in Lynnfield with
Gary Boston - results: lone
tomb on street corner.
Tophet Road in Lynnfield with Gary Boston
- results: road
appears to new, may have not Colonial era "Tophet" connection.
May 18, 2003:
Sheehan Road Swamp in Harvard - results:
located place where the old Shaker aqueduct passes through he swamp and under
the old stage coach road. (click
here)
May 17, 2003:
Old
Stage Coach Road in Littleton/Harvard with Gary
Boston - results: old stage coach
road, recent
donation of antique
medicine bottle
at a stone pile. (See the Father John & the Rock Pile report.)
Shaker Village in
Harvard with Gary Boston: located site of gate valves for the old Shaker
aqueduct.
April 25, 2003:
Long Pond Park in Littleton with Gary
Boston - results: odd stone
construction
in old cart path, anthropomorphic seal-shaped
boulder, stone wall fishing
weir found in
river.
March 22, 2003:
Potato Cave in Acton,
Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton,
Whipping
Stone in Harvard, and
Balance Rock in Harvard with Jim Moore. Looked for
Snake
Hill Balance
Rock in Ayer with Jim Moore - results: located
balance rock,
found old well.
February 8, 2003: Sheehan
Road Swamp in Harvard with Carlton Jablonski - results: searched
for slate markers that mark path of 1850's Shaker Aqueduct. None found,
snow a factor.
January 19, 2003: Sheehan
Road Swamp in Harvard with Gary Boston - results: searched for
slate markers that mark path of 1850's Shaker Aqueduct. None found, snow
a factor.
January 17, 2003: "Spirit
Island" in Littleton with Gary Boston - results: looked for Indian
"grave stones" said to be on island. None found, snow a factor.
Field Journal 2002
December 27, 2002:
Redemption
Rock in Sterling with Andy Bowers - results: large rock
outcrop
that was an Indian meeting place. Also, nearby underground
chamber.
November 30, 2002: South
Shaker Village in Harvard with Andy Bowers and Marc Sevigny - results:
toured the South Shaker Dormitory building.
November 25, 2002: Old Coke
Kiln Road in Leverett with Andy Bowers - results: old brick
lime kiln.
Rattlesnake Gutter in Leverett with
Andy Bowers - results: searched
Rattlesnake Gutter
for three chambers reported in the area, none found. Numerous
talus caves,
including longest cave
in Franklin County.
November 16, 2002: Glidden
Point in Damariscotta Maine with Ros Strong - results:
shell middens.
Temple Heights in Northport Maine with Ros
Strong - results: old foundation and
thirty foot tunnel.
Greers Bog
in Belmont Maine with Ros Strong - results:
stone chamber.
West Chops Point in Bath Maine with Ros Strong - results: unusual
stone row, chamber.
November 3, 2002: East Shaker
Village in Harvard - results:
located path of aqueduct on west side of Route 2.
October 26, 2002: Shaker
Village in Harvard with Marc Sevigny and George Watkins - results:
Shaker spring
house, Shaker whipping stone.
October 19, 2002: Mt.
Cadillac in Acadia with Gary Boston - results:
dolman (recent?),
view from top.
October 14, 2002: Hoosac
Tunnel in the Berkshires with Andy Bowers - results: walked 5 mile
RR tunnel, said to
be haunted. See the Hoosac Tunnel: Abode of the
Damned? report.
October 8, 2002: Glacier
Erratic Complex in Littleton with Jeff Kunz - results: investigated
possible alignments. No significant alignments were found.
October 6, 2002: Heron
Rookery in Littleton with Gary Boston - results: earthworks,
probably modern. Also, nearby glacier
erratic complex,
perched rock.
September 29, 2002: East
Shaker Village in Harvard with Gary Boston - results: located track
of old Shaker road that connected Shaker
Road & Old Littleton Road via Oak Hill.
September 20, 2002: Halibut
Point in Rockport with Jeff Kunz - results: talus cave at high tide
mark. Enjoyed the full moon.
September 15, 2002: Crow
Hill in Acton - results: rock structures shaped like an animal with
additional rocks for "ears".
August 11, 2002: East Shaker
Village in Harvard - results: located the "Fountain of Youth", the
Shaker village spring said to be the
source of Shaker longevity. Also located route of mile long aqueduct
from spring to village. See the Fountain of Youth
Field Report.
August 10, 2002: Old Lancaster
Cemetery in Lancaster with Julie Boudillion - results: gravestones
dated 1674 and
1683.
July 22, 2002: North Cemetery
in Shirley with Jeff Kunz - circa 1850's cemetery near Shirley Shaker Village.
Old Lancaster Cemetery in Lancaster Flats
with Jeff Kunz - results: a gravestone dated 1697.
July 20, 2002: South Shaker
Village in Harvard with Gary Boston - results: two sets of steps,
twenty feet long, leading up to an earthen platform cut from a hillside,
buttressed with fieldstone facing. (click
here)
July 13, 2002: Hockomock
Swamp in West Bridgewater with Jeff Kunz - investigated east section of
swamp at 4:00 a.m. in bigfoot
sightings area - results: no sightings or tracks observed.
Dighton Rock in Dighton with Jeff Kunz -
results: museum closed. Collage Hill
in Hopkinton with Jeff Kunz - results: 60 foot sheer cliffs.
June 29, 2002: "House at the
Entrance of Nashoba" in Littleton - results: looked for large stone
cross reported to be in niche of old foundation - niche found, but cross does
not exist as reported.
June 23, 2002: Westford Knight
in Westford with Carlton Jablonski - results: stone
effigy of sword.
June 22, 2002: Tannery Falls
in Savoy with Carlton Jablonski - results: 2
waterfalls, old mill works,
stone table. Estes Cemetery in Savoy
with Carlton Jablonski - results: old family
plot.
Balance Rock in Savoy with Carlton Jablonski -
results: large perched glacial
erratic,
boulder
with small stones placed around it. Shaker
Cemetery & Foundations in Savoy with Carlton Jablonski - results:
site of 1820 settlement.
Crooked Forest in Savoy with Carlton Jablonski - results: unable to locate.
Babbitt & Tower Cemeteries in Savoy with
Carlton Jablonski - results: old family plots.
Hoosac Tunnel, east
entrance, in Florida with
Carlton Jablonski.
June 20, 2002: Half Moon Meadow
in Boxborough - results: confirmed solstice
sunrise alignment.
June 19, 2002: Black
Pond South in Littleton - results: solstice
sunrise at rock alignment,
also, stone steps found.
June 16, 2002: South
Shaker Village in Harvard - results: 5 foot
tall standing stone,
1 ton rocking stone,
stone table, donation
stone, possible site
of Shaker Whipping Stone. Capt. Benjamin
Stewart's grave
in Harvard - died 1775.
June 15, 2002: Eliot's
Pulpit & Cave in
Boxborough - Photo
located, actual Swanson Road site destroyed by construction.
Fruitland's Museum in Harvard - results:
photo of King
Philip's War Club, Thunderbird artifact that resembles "The Mothman".
See the Mothman & Thunderbird report.
May 4, 2002: Nagog
Hill in Acton results: new photos of
altar, possible seat or basin
stone.
May 2, 2002: Pin
Hill in Harvard results: colonial quarry,
several talus caves.
April 28, 2002: Zion
Hill in Harvard with Jeff Kunz results:
stone steps and stone work, dancing at the dancing grounds, tape recording
spirit voices.
April 27, 2002: Shaker
Village in Harvard with Ed Cornish results:
effigies, Zion Hill dancing
ground, base of God/Fountain
Stone, stone piles, effigy, North
Village and barn
ruins, triangular stones in rows,
South Village dormitory and barn ruins, old stage coach road.
April 22, 2002: Shaker
Village in Hancock with Julie Boudillion.
Dam,
Mill Race, Foundations in Phillipston
with Julie.
April 21, 2002: Indian
Burial Ground in Stockbridge with Julie
Boudillion. (click
here)
April 20, 2002: Hoosac
Tunnel, east entrance in Drury with Julie
Boudillion results: located Church Street.
Hoosac
Tunnel, west entrance in North Adams with
Julie results: located West Shaft Road. Tophet
Brook in Adams with Julie results: located
Tophet
Brook, found a stone
chamber on East Street.
April 13, 2002: Bumblebee
Park, Whitcome Ave. Chambers, Esker, Half Moon Meadow
with Steve Glines.
April 10, 2002: Black
Pond North in Harvard with Andy Bowers
results: possible Eliot's
Pulpit and cave, more lime quarries,
odd rock pile
on boulder, other rock constructions.
March 20, 2002: The
Boulders in Boxborough with Andy Bowers
results: three
seats carved from rock, possible Eliot's
Pulpit and cave.
March 17, 2002: Flag
Hill in Acton with Jim Salem results:
Shaker bridge. Flag Hill
in Acton with Peter Waksman, Tim Fohl, Jic Davis results: Colonial spring
house.
March 14, 2002: Sergeant
Road in Boxborough with Gary Boston
results: prayer
seat, embrasure, Manitou
stone on southern boundary of Nashoba.
March 10, 2002: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Jim Salem.
March 4, 2002: Black
Pond and Ridge in Littleton results:
more alignments.
March 2, 2002: Black
Pond and Ridge in Littleton with Andy
Bowers results: stone wall lines up with summer solstice sunrise - ravine
is a Colonial lime quarry.
February 18, 2002: Dog
Town in Cape Ann results: dolman,
boulder caves,
perched rock,
aligned pots.
February 17, 2002: Black
Pond and Ridge in Littleton results:
photos.
February 16, 2002: Black
Pond and Ridge in Littleton results:
compass readings. Half Moon Meadow
in Boxborough results: compass readings.
January 30, 2002: Oak
Hill in Littleton results: compass reading
on both altars, found large capped well or cistern.
January 27, 2002: Purgatory
Brook & Falls in Mont. Vernon NH with
Ed Cornish results: three sets of falls,
four piles of stones in a row.
Purgatory
Hill in Mont. Vernon NH with Ed Cornish
results: two old
foundations.
January 26, 2002: Lake
Nagog in Acton results: compass readings
at altar, aligned true east. Nagog Hill
in Acton results: more compass readings at second altar, aligned true
north, offering found.
January 20, 2002: Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough results: compass
readings.
January 12, 2002: Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough results: scallops.
Compass readings: embrasure faces big dipper, scallops face midsummer sunset.
Yapp
Farm in Littleton with Cal Yapp results:
turtle
stone (found in Westford quarry circa 1890).
January 6, 2002: Oak
Hill in Littleton results: altar, standing
stone, spring,
stage coach tracks
in rock. Silver Mine
in Littleton results: dam, possible Colonial strip mine.
Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough results: rock
piles, altar, 2nd twins effigy, 3rd viewing platform, keyhole rock formation,
large embrasure, pail. (See Half Moon
Meadow Report)
January 5, 2002: Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough results: six
foot tall stone walls,
berm on island, twins effigy, dolman, rock piles, rock circle.
Nashoba
Brook in Acton with Peter Waksman and
Jim Salem results: stone piles, stone
enclosure,
potato cave chamber.
January 4, 2002: Black
Pond and Ridge in Littleton with Bill
Ray results: third well, 30 feet deep; examined ravine for signs of silver
mining, results negative also, Bill has no recollection of altar or prayer
seat. Silver Mine
in Harvard with Bill Ray results: Colonial strip mine.
Field Journal 2001
December 30, 2001:
Colonial
Silver Mine in Pepperell with Leah Jablonski
results: 50 foot horizontal shaft,
bats. Witch Brook
in Townsend with Leah Jablonski. (click
here)
Fay
Cemetery in Athol with Leah Jablonski
results: Fay family cemetery.
Perched
Rock in Athol with Leah Jablonski results:
yellow quartz rock found beneath
perched
rock.
December 29, 2001: Balance
Rock on Rte 111 in Boxborough results:
not a tipping stone. Esker
in Boxborough with George Krusen - results: observed sunset (not significant),
found earthen u-shaped prayer cove. Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough with George
Krusen - results: 2 embrasures, grave also, stone pile at Half Moon
Meadow Brook is vision quest site per Byron Dix.
December 27, 2001: Mounds
on Rte 111 in Boxborough with Peter Waksman results: asphalt and gravel
dump. Flag Hill
in Acton with Peter Waksman - results: stone piles in two areas, keyhole
rock, colonial dam.
Half
Moon Meadow with Julie Boudillion - results
at sunrise wall: spur in row, platform in row, different style of stone
in section of row, pails by row results at sunrise rock: bear head rock.
December 23, 2001: Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough for solstice
sunrise with Gary Boston - results: sun
rises in cleft of rock as seen from
viewing platform at 7:30 at E25S, bear profile seen in lichen of sunrise
rock, also noticed stone pile with construction where Half Moon Meadow
Brook crosses Littlefield Road.
December 22, 2001: Corn
Grinding Stone/ Stone Seat in Acton for
solstice sunrise - results: sun does not rise over rounded rock on knoll,
line of sunrise misses egg rock, sun rises over stepped
rock - also, found possible prayer
seat and altar. Black Pond and Ridge
in Littleton - results: 3 wells, 100 foot long ravine, talus caves, stone
shelter, stone altar, large erratic,
odd row construction. Whitcome Chamber
and Tunnel in Littleton results: tunnel
appears to be a Shaker-style drainage culvert.
December 21, 2001: Half
Moon Meadow in Boxborough for solstice
sunrise - results: (too overcast to see sunrise), sunrise rock, viewing
platform, equinox mound, midsummer stone pile and wide row, George Krusen.
December 19, 2001: Esker
in Boxborough results: reviewed embrasure, found public entrance; Field
Report submitted to NEARA.
December 16, 2001: Esker
in Boxborough results: 4 earthen ramps, 4 earthen circles, 2 prayer seats,
embrasure, pails, summer solstice sunset row, Manitou stones, 2 bank and
ditch with rows, scallops. (See Boxborough
Esker Report)
December 9, 2001: Dogleg
Chamber in Harvard results: Partridge
Road, could not see chamber, if it still exists it is in a front yard.
December 5, 2001: Corn
Grinding Stone/Stone Seat in Acton with
Mark Magowan results: egg rock (large erratic), mismatched rows, stacked
stones on row, curving row.
December 2, 2001: Wizard's
Glen in Dalton with the Berkshire Mountain
Man (click
here) results: Lucky Seven cave,
talus caves.
December 1, 2001: Corn
Grinding Stone/Stone Seat in Acton with
Gary Boston results: stone piles.
November 25, 2001: Witch's
Caves in Ashland with Ed Cornish (click
here) results: talus caves.
Pout
Rock in Ashland with Ed Cornish results:
old
Indian ford on the Old Connecticut
Path; linear earth works, possibly old aqueducts. Devil's
Den in Ashland with Ed Cornish (click
here) results: possible solution
cave.
Perched Rock
in
Hopkinton
with Ed Cornish. (click
here)
November 24, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in
Littleton results: 2nd turtle
rock (carapace), newly constructed standing stone, donation stone,
stone seat also visited: turtle rock, chamber, corn mounds.
November 23, 2001: Cobb's
Pond in Littleton results: perched
rock
A, perched rock
B, Indian dam
and ditch.
November 22, 2001:
Lake Nagog in Acton results:
stone
altar on north/south axis, 3 cobblestone
rows, 2 foundations,
well, rock piles, turtle shaped rock
piles, water works, effigies,
goddess stone, Manitou stones, corn-grinding
stone/stone seat stone seat appears to point at winter solstice sunrise
point.
November 21, 2001: Nashoba
Hill/Pickard Farm in Littleton results:
2 large whale shaped rocks.
November 19, 2001: Newtown
Hill in Littleton - results: large crescent
shaped berm and ditch,
small stone
stack, stone pile, possible effigy,
neo-pagan stone circle in woods.
November 18, 2001: Meteor
Shower 4:00am results: about one per
second. Bumblebee Park
with Peter Waksman and Jic Davis results: investigated pond, rock
mounds, well.
Newtown Hill in Littleton results: large
well
near the pond.
November 17, 2001: Spider
Gates Cemetery in
Leicester with Gary Boston (click
here) results: Quaker cemetery,
Shaker-style bridge,
old water-works, ledge cave, old dam
and mill. (See
Spider Gates Report)
November 11, 2001: Bumblebee
Park in Littleton results: stone mounds,
stone bench,
well, shaker bridge, triangular pond, large triangular rock pile, (property
owner is Chip). Whitcome Road Chambers
in
Littleton results: Chamber
A,
Chamber
B, Manitou stones.
November 10, 2001: Devil's
Den in Williamsburg with Andy Bowers (click
here) results: talus caves, river
ravine, potholes in river, stacked stones, placed
stones, stone altar, prayer seat,
neo-pagan offerings, cellar holes,
abandoned family cemetery of six plots (Roger's
family). (click
here)
November 3, 2001: Burnt
Hill in Heath with Ed Cornish results:
many standing stones, rows, stacked stones, white quartz piles - Field
Report submitted to NEARA. (See Burnt Hill
Report)
October 21, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton results:
white quartz effigy, serpent mound, turtle stone pile, rounded bend in
row, dolmen, old foundation
at Nagog, stone pile also mapped old quarry.
October 20, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Andy
Bowers and John Hanson Mitchell results: John found the graves convincing
and doubts property owner's story.
October 14, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton results:
photos of chamber interior.
September 29, 2001: Hockomock
Swamp in Raynham with Gary Boston results:
walked railroad bed before dawn, no bigfoot or spook lights seen, split rock
found, Black
Brook.
September 23, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton results:
a second older quarry? - the cuts on right-angle stone face north and west.
September 1, 2001: Tophet Chasm & Swamp
in Littleton. (Tophet is old term for Hell)
August 26, 2001: Tophet
Swamp in New Ipswich NH with Julie Boudillion. (click
here)
August 25, 2001: Tophet Swamp in
Westminster results: peninsula/island in swamp. (click
here)
August 18, 2001: Tophet Swamp
in Shirley (click
here) results: old railroad line.
Fort
Pond & Kalava Road in Shirley. White
Rabbit Swamp in Townsend. (click
here)
August 16, 2001:
Sarah Doublet Forest in Littleton with
Mark Magowan results: looks like pet cemetery to him also visited colonial
quarry, chamber, turtle rock, ledges, corn mounds.
August 11, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Gary
Boston results: title research shows property owner purchased the land
on October 1, 1991 (cemetery looks much older) - also, property owner is
a developer.
August 10, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Rick
Roth - results: Rick spoke with property owner about the cemetery, claims
it to be their pet cemetery (1 cat and 2 dogs).
August 4, 2001: Nashoba
Brook in Westford results: stone circle
with pit, odd stone post in row.
July 25, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Sean
Tierney results: Sean felt the headstones were convincing and looked
like some of the old Colonial era gravestones he has seen while surveying,
the rings of stones around the graves weren't as convincing to him and
he wondered if they were added later - pointed out circular earthworks
as possible Indian Fort location.
June 23, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in Littleton with Andy
Bowers and Peter Waksman to look at the graves results: Andy noticed
a large white quartz rock in row marking site, Manitou-style bottle
dump found in circular earthwork 20 feet from graves.
June 17, 2001: Sarah
Doublet Forest in
Littleton with Peter Waksman results: three small graves with non-inscribed
headstones abutting stone row, grave plots outlined with cobble stones;
headstones appear to be quite old, cobblestone newer also visited: 2
stone circles, chamber,
colonial quarry, corn grinding stone, corn
mounds, large glacial erratic, 2 springs,
stone turtle, ledge-shrines with white offering stones.
|
