The Spite Wall – Westminster, Massachusetts - Atlas Obscura
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The Spite Wall

Westminster, Massachusetts

One man built this massive wall to keep his neighbor from complaining about working on Sundays. 

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View of the Spite Wall from across the street. kensears37 (Atlas Obscura User)
View of the Spite Wall from across the street. kensears37 (Atlas Obscura User)
Sign marking the Spite Wall. kensears37 (Atlas Obscura User)
Along the side of the wall. kensears37 (Atlas Obscura User)
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When Edmund Proctor purchased his farm in Westminster, Massachusetts in 1852, he didn’t see any issue working on all seven days of the week. Farwell Morse, his neighbor across the street thought differently.

Massachusetts still had many Puritanical traditions at the time, which included not working on Sunday as it was considered the Sabbath. Morse expressed his displeasure with Proctor’s decision to work on his farm even on Sundays, however, Morse had no intentions of stopping.

In an attempt to end the dispute and perhaps irritate his neighbor, Proctor constructed an 11-foot-tall, 60-foot-long stone wall between the properties. With the massive wall, Morse would not be able to see when he was working. Proctor continued working on his wall until he died in 1890 at the age of 71. 

Know Before You Go

The Spite Wall is right on the side of North Common Road in Westminster, MA. 

walls design history & culture
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