FALL NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER, 2016
Spotlight: King Philip’s Cave
Norton’s Land Trust - Norton, Massachusetts - www.nortonlandpreservation.org
King Philip’s Cave is a natural stone formation created by the advance and withdrawal of ice sheets during the last ice age about 13,500 years ago. The large boulders together provide an above ground cave that is beautiful to see and fun to walk through. The glaciers that left them were over a mile think, and hundreds of miles wide. They carried tons of soil and rock which they deposited throughout this area. The large stones and boulders that form King Philip’s Cave are called conglomerate or pudding stone.
This location is rich in history. The Norton Historic Society installed a sign in 2008 which reads in part:
The Native American Sachem, Metacomet of Pekonoket, called King Philip by the English, Sachem or chief of the Wampanoag people is reported to have used this area as a stopping place. It provided a natural fortress for his many visits to the settlements of Plimoth and Taunton, both part of the Plimoth Colony. Numerous native American villages have been discovered along Winnecunnet Pond, which were then visable from this natural great hill. as was the Old Bay Path, and all of the surrounding countryside.
During King Philip’s War (1675-1677) after a raid and burning of the settlement of Taunton in June 1675, and nearby homestead of Sgt. William Wetherell, Philip and his Warriers are believed to have taken refuge here as they withdrew in advance of the Militia from Plimoth and Taunton under the command of Captain Benjamin Church.
LPS acquired the land from Raymond Passenti in 1999 when the homes in the area were built. It is located on Stone Run Dr., off Plain St (between Leonard St. and Bay Rd.) Near the circle on Stone Run Dr. there is a paved driveway which allows for handicap access to the stone formation. We are in the process of extending the trail on this preserve and improving the signage. Visitors may park on Plain St. and walk the short distance up Stone Run Dr.. to the new entrance near our sign. Parking at the circle is primarily for visitors with handicap designation.
We hope to continue the improvements at this site with the help of Norton High School students and organizations offering community service.