Dogtown & Babson Boulder Trail
A New England ghost town features a trail of boulders etched with intriguing life lessons
Category Ghost Towns
The location unknown even by many locals, deserted Dogtown in Gloucester, Massachusetts has been the focus of many a ghost story and urban legend.
Dogtown has a long history, started in 1693. Once a community settled by farmers, Dogtown was abandoned during the War of 1812. Legend is that fleeing families left their dogs behind, fueling the area's lasting nickname.
Long after the last resident of Dogtown died, Roger Babson created a trail of over 30 immense boulders etched with sayings to promote his inspirational ideals, now called the Babson Word Rocks. The rocks bear inscriptions including "Help mother," "Stay out of Debt," "Loyalty," and "Never try never win." Babson was a millionaire who supported the project, carried out by local masons, as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression.
Originally, the boulders stood in a groomed field, but now, the rocks are an eerie presence strewn in an overgrown forest with many footpaths scattered throughout, and make up a popular hiking trail.
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- Hours anytime
- Website Visiting Dogtown
- Address Dogtown Rd. , Gloucester, Massachusetts, 88, United States
- Cost free
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogtown,_Massachusetts
- http://myweb.northshore.edu/users/ccarlsen/poetry/gloucester/dogtownhistory.html
- http://www.thedacrons.com/eric/dogtown/babson_boulders_gloucester.html
- http://www.thedacrons.com/eric/dogtown/boulders/Babson_Boulder_Trail_Map.pdf
- http://www.capeannweb.com/babsonboulders.htm
- http://walkthewords.com/
By car: Take Route 128 from Grant Circle (exit 11), then Route 127 North. One mile in go right on Reynard Rd. or Dr. Osman Babson Rd. then left on Cherry St. Look for Dogtown Rd. on the right, and park. The boulder trail is on the right after you pass through Dogtown Square along the path.
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