As of February 2023, the Town of Woodstock has $616,385.47 and the Village of Woodstock has $159,094 to invest in projects for the betterment of the community. This 30-acre site in Salem, New Hampshire, is the largest collection of stone structures in North America,consisting ofstanding stones, stone walls, cairns, natural caves, horizontal stone slabs, rock circles, and stone chambers, has long puzzled archaeologists, astronomers, and historians. Teacher In-Service Day (No classes) . This 100-acre site is located in the wooded hills outside of Groton just off Gungywamp Road. I visited and studied Balanced Rock in October 2015, a huge rock perched atop a ring of much smaller stones located in North Salem, NY. Closed now : See all hours. Marketplace. Images: Gungywamp By Randal J. www.RichardCassaro.com. Lots of options are offered for trail distances. Mystery Hill, Salem, Massachusetts Historic Marker. Many of the activities center around nature: skiing, hiking, fishing, biking, and . A flue hole in the ceiling is located at the back of the chamber. The corbeling technique is used to support arches, parapets andfloors, and it is one of the reasons why the Stone Chambers have survived this longfar outlasting the actual farmhouses of the colonial settlers who are credited with having constructed them. The two also concluded that many of these siteswere at least several thousand years old. Researchers have identified the Celts and Native Americans as possible builders who would use it as a ceremonial site. The winner will be notified within 24 hours of the drawing by email to confirm their prize, and to provide . . Speculation now runs rampant about the origins of the mysterious stone structures. Right: Winter Solstice Sunrise alignment at Newgrange, a 5,000 year old passage tomb in Ireland. The site itself says that it isover 4,000 years old and is most likely the oldest man-made construction in the United States. You can visit the restored chamber at the Nashoba Brook Conservation Area in North Acton on the easterly side of Main Street (Route 27), toward Westford and Carlisle. Billings farm was established way back in 1871 and is best known for its Jersey dairy cow breeding. This group, comprised of volunteers who have been active for more than 40 years in preservation and historical research, has a mission of promotinga deeper more accurate depiction of the Native American history of New England, as well as the protection of sacred sites. The angle of elevation to the horizon is significant; therefore, the Sun rises much further to the South than it would be with a level horizon. Review. The techniques our partners employ do not collect personal information such as yourname, email address, postal address or telephone number. The Calendar II site is a stone chamber located in South Woodstock, Vermont. The complex is located high atop an imposing cliff, situated above a swamp feeding a stream that connects to the Thames River. It thus allows a shaft of sunlight to fall directly on a smaller chamber within the larger structure. For me, the megalithic size of the roof slabs coupled with the incredibly advanced craftsmanship of the stones is extraordinary evidence enough. If anyone knows about it I would start there, Kedron Valley Inn 802 457 1743. South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 652-6300 . Some have also suspected that Quaiapen and Stonewall John were lovers. www.RichardCassaro.com. For 15 years they worked together researching and interpreting New Englands stone structures before publishing their findings in the bookManitou in 1889. A short time later onDecember 19, 1675, what is known as the Great Swamp Massacre occurred at theNarragansett village when it was attacked bycolonial militiamen fromPlymouth Colony,Connecticut Colony, andMassachusetts Bay Colony. Web Visit website. We use your survey responses and feedback email to help us improve the content and experience offered to our Web users. And the door aligns with the solstice sunrise. Some are aligned along north-south and east-west axes. It was described byDr. Edward J. Kealy, professor of the History at Holy CrossUniversity as potentially the most important stone complex in the Northern Hemisphere. But Professor Curtis Runnels,Professor of Archaeology at Boston University,scoffs at the assertion that it is a monument built by settlers from Europe in pre-Columbian Bronze Age times, stating thatNo Bronze Age artifacts have been found there.. (Photo courtesy of Bill Vieira.) The so-called Calendar II chamber, located in South Woodstock, Vermont, is aligned with the rising sun on the Winter Solstice: Left: Winter Solstice Sunrise alignment at the Calendar II Stone Chamber in Vermont. (en:User:RJFerret) Own work (own photo), CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7714677; Nashoba Brook Stone Chamber, By John Phelan Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20548479; Leverett Stone Chamber By BittyRed Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46106121; American Stonehenge, By Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=123562; Queens Fort, By JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. The authors, Mavorand Dix, wereanaval architect and an optical-mechanical engineer,respectively. If you sign up for our newsletter we will add your name to the subscription list for our e-newsletter, which we send out monthly. Cassaro has discussed his work on the History Channel, and in documentary films like Magical Egypt 2. The Queens Fort and Queens Bed Chamber in Exeter, R.I., have colorful legends about them. Overall it is a very nice facility. Vermont Calendar of Events Vermont Calendar of Events. In fact, for several decades researchers have been asking a variety of questions challenging the mainstream interpretation. She supposedly hid out at the site during King Phililps War before moving somewhere else, where she died. However, Vermont farmers have told stories of uncovering these stone chambers since colonial times. Prior to the publication of Written in Stone, Cassaro enjoyed a successful career as a U.S. correspondent, professional journalist, and photo researcher for Rizzoli Publications, one of the worlds leading media organizations. To see photographs from 1944 of the Upton Stone Chamber, click here. And some have symbolic markings, while others have Celtic place names. One claims to have found inscriptions in Ogam, a dead Celtic language, at the site.There is evidence of other structures or spaces constructed near by that have been destroyed, dismantled, or lost to time. 4 bedrooms (4 homes) $798,041. Notice the massive roof slabs of several tons each and fifteen feet long capping the edifice. It is standing with one's foot wedged against this stone that the Winter Solstice Sunrise can be seen (see next image). Several chambers have large trees of significant size growing on top of them, demonstrating their structural sturdiness by their ability to withstand the outgrowth without collapsing: Several chambers have one or more trees of major size growing on them. Though many historians and archeologists believe these structures were built by early colonists as root cellars, or perhaps by Native Americans before them, others believe that some of these chambers are ancient, built by European travelers during the Bronze Age. Some say thechamber is aligned to observe the setting solstice sun and stars of the Pleiades, as marked by large stone piles located on nearby Pratt Hill. In Killington, you're half-way done with your road trip to see Vermont fall foliage. Winter is especially picturesque though, thanks to an annual average snowfall of . 20 Things to do in Woodstock, VT. Woodstock in Vermont is a picture-book New England Village, voted the prettiest town in America. To date, most archaeologists feel that the prehistoric European temple explanation for the Stone Chambers lacks archaeological context. This is only one of many such sites found all over New England. Gungywamp is preserved, but many of the structures stand on private land. Some researchers have dubbed them beehive chambers because of the often conical shape of their central rooms. In the case of Calendar I, above, the ratio is 1.617 : 1. At the top, I parked and started walking around. The Calendar II chamber in South Woodstock is one of the biggest and best-known Stone Chambers in New England. Woodstock Elementary School Woodstock, Vermont. Sugarbush Farm, just a 12-minute drive from Woodstock, has 500 lovely acres and is a great place to order a special gift, Vermont-made cheese. By . Some features of the site suggest they were originally built as fortifications. One view of the Equinox Sunrise at Calendar I. His first book, Written in Stone, is a wide-ranging exploration of hitherto-unknown connections among Freemasons, medieval cathedral builders and the creators of important ancient monuments, in support of his theory that a spiritually advanced mother culture, lost to history, is behind many of the worlds architectural and artistic traditions. Some of those ancient stone structures are oriented to the stars and planets. More information is available here. There are peaks at both ends of the ridge, and a saddle, or dip, in the middle (where the Equinox sun rises somewhat south of East due to the angle of elevation to the horizon. Its not far-fetched to think that instead of 1492, maybe in 500 A.D., explorers came ashore and built them.. Dimensions of the chambers vary, with some chambers measuring up to 40 feet in length and 10 feet in height. The large interior of a stone chamber at the Calendar II site in South Woodstock Vermont. . Many archeologists have since dug at the site. See below: Calendar II Stone Chamber showing entrance in foreground and ventilation shaft in background, partially illuminating the back wall. It has been dismissed as a colonial root cellar and also claimed to be ancient in its origins. In the central section is aTshaped chamber with internal structures similar to a chimney and hearth, as well what appears to be a couch sculpted in the rock. 8.3. The Owen Moon Farm is a historic country estate on Morgan Hill Road in South Woodstock, Vermont. Expertly constructed of mortar-free masonry and covered with earth, these strange structuressome astronomically alignedare found nowhere else in North America. Every two weeks between September 21, 2022 and February 28, 2023, the Town of Woodstock, Vermont, will randomly select a single winner of this giveaway; either a one-night stay at the Woodstock Inn & Resort (exclusions apply), or a one-night stay at the Blue Horse Inn (exclusions apply). The site is located at 105 Haverhill Road in Salem, New Hampshire. . The chamber interior measures roughly 10 feet by 20 feet. A vent at one end of the chamber aligns with the spring and fall equinoxes. The village of South Woodstock consists of an inn, a general store and a post office. The state has 105 sites containing stone structures. Also crossing the Ottauqueechee River, the Lincoln Bridge's construction took place in 1877 and stretches 136 feet across. The sun also is first seen rising in the notch of two hills seen from inside. Photo courtesy of Paul Tudor Angel. Colonial settlers built others with purposes such as root cellars and birthing chambers. Analysis by archeoastronomer Byron Dix shows that the chamber was also used in lunar observations and eclipse prediction. Within the fort a chamber six square feet with a seven-foot ceiling and a sand floor was perhaps built for the Narragansett queen Quaiapen (also called Matuntuck). The monoliths are astronomically aligned, leading to the conclusion the stones were used as a prehistoric calendar. In the meantime, the mystery remains and speculation continues regarding themysterious stone structures. If you request a brochure from Woodstock , you have the option to also receive other offers from Woodstock. Two of Woodstock's four losses were against the Blades, who won 3-2 in December and 1-0 in February, while Woodstock won the teams' second contest in January, 5-3. If you continue using this site, well assume youre happy with this. Apr 22 - Apr 29. All Rights Reserved. They aimto honor Mother Earth. In recent years, the North Salem Historical Society changed the description of Balanced Rock to include the possibility that the rock may be a Celtic memorial. 10673 South Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091-4440 +1 802-457-3050 Website Menu. The chap she mentions family now own a lot of the land including the South Woodstock general store and the Kedron Valley inn. There are some things that we do know for sure. Current Land Use; Current Use Tax Parcels; Future Land Use; Slope Elements; South Woodstock Design Review; Town Resources; Town Roads; Viewsheds and Ridgelines; Village Districts; . ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, SIX SIGNS JESUS GAVE THAT HE IS ABOUT TO RETURN. *Home value over the past month. His published booksWritten in Stone(2011),The Missing Link(2016), andMayan Masonry(2018) offer rare insights into ancient megaliths, spirituality, mythology, magic, symbolism, secret societies, comparative religion and occult archaeology. Its roof is comprised of seven massive lintel stones that span its width, the largest of which is estimated to weigh approximately three tons. 1,349 were here. Or could they be something much different, and perhaps far older? 4.9 "Excellent" (216 ratings) Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont, United States. Additional Community Calendars - website links can also be found below Village Trustees: Agenda Items Due Wednesday Before Meeting at 12:00 Noon 1.3.23 Trustees Meeting Agenda 1.10.23 Trustees Meeting Agenda 2.14.23 Trustees Packet 2.16.23 Trustees Packet 2.23.23 Trustees Packet Select Board: Agenda Items Due Wednesday Before Meeting at 12:00 Noon 1.3.23 Select Board Meeting Agenda 1.10.23 . Who built them, and why? One of the best indicators of when a site is at its "hottest" is when the major axis aligns to a significant horizonal astronomical (in this case Solar) event. ONE summer day, I drove to the top of a mountain in central Vermont. 975 people like this. The site can still be used as an accurate yearly calendar. The Secret Occult Meaning of the Three Wise Monkeys Hidden by the Elite, Exposing The Secret Owl Society Soaring Through History, The Occult Secret of the Skull & Cross Bones Symbol. Still others say railroad workers lived in it during the 19th century. Improve Your Listing. The Spring Distance Rides at GMHA bring together competitive trail, endurance and pleasure riding in one fun weekend. We use the information you supply us in different ways. Hugh Newman of Megalithomania has been visiting and researching these chambers since 2007 and wrote about them in 'Giants On Record' (2015), and finally got to explore this enigmatic site which is on private land in 2018 with Jim and Bill Vieira whilst filming for another documentary. It's tempting to spend the entire weekend on the grounds of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, a horseshoe-shaped colonial lodge in the heart of the village built by John D. Rockefeller's grandson Laurance.Two grand lawns feature shaded Adirondack chairs perfect for whiling away the afternoon with a book, while a heated outdoor pool with cocktail service offers a decidedly . Winter Solstice Sunrise as seen from the back of the chamber of Calendar II. It is located near South Woodstock in Vermont and has huge lintels forming its roof, is aligned to the Winter Solstice, and its interior has the same ratio as the Kings Chamber of the Great Pyramid in Egypt (although much smaller at 20ft x 10ft). Above is a photograph of the sunrise at solstice, 2004, at the Calendar II ancient stone lodge site, in Vermont. Later, he and James Mavorled a seven-year investigation into stone sites in New England. The site may have been down. Thirty miles away in Acton, an underground stone chamber in the Nashoba Brook Conservation Area is known as the potato cave. Residents had long assumed the structure was a root cellar. In 1977,theVermont Division for Historic Preservationstudied the stone chambers and concluded that theydid not serve as stone burial vaults, charcoal or lime kilns, potash burners or iron furnaces. Many tribes have origin stories and legends that havestrong connections between the Underworld. New England colonists found many stone buildings, when they arrived. A 2006 excavation found evidence people stored food in it in the 18th or 19th century. Standing to the left of the mouth of Calendar II is Betty Sincerbeaux, perhaps more than anyone else, was responsible for waking the rest of us see the reality of this lithic culture in Vermont. www.RichardCassaro.com. Thanks for watching.Music: Majestic by LesFM. Pynchon heard a report of a stone wall and strong chamber in it, made all of stone, which is newly discovered at or near Pequot.. Similar chambers with the same alignment can be found in other places in New England and in Europe. www.RichardCassaro.com. Other than the state highway, which runs through the center of town, most of the roads are unpaved, climbing . In fact, in the 1930s, someone estimated thatNew England had 250,000 miles of stone walls. Based on the aforementioned lower population figure, the average household income in Woodstock is $79,305, the poverty rate is 15.36%, and the unemployment rate is 2.8%. I couldnt stay in the chamber for more than five minutes. [] reason he ran was that he hoped to win the attention of an employer. Keep white schoolhouse (now a residence) on your left and white fence on your right on Kendall Road (formerly Sugarhouse Rd. These distinctive stone structures, also called huts, caves, beehives, dolmens, and root cellars, have long provoked questions about their age and cultural origins. However, this does not explain that early records of New England colonists make mention of stone chambers preexisting before they settled the land and also described in their writings, theexistence of strange Indian forts. Nor does it explain thatsometimes the age of the chamber could be authenticated by trees that predated settlement, that passageways were often too low and narrow to wheel a cart into, and the chambers having soil floors that would rot vegetables. The Red Paint people of Maine once settled in the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, a wetland preserve. In the end, the settlement was burned, its inhabitants, including women and children, were killed or evicted, and most of the tribes winter stores were destroyed. As a result, early mercenaries to the Northeast wrote about Indian stone castles. Furthermore, John Winthrop the Youngerin 1654 received a letter from John Pynchon of Springfield, Mass. One of the biggest and best known stone chambers is called Calendar II in South Woodstock, Vt. Calendar II measures 10 feet by 20 feet on the inside, the same geometrical ratio as the Kings Chamber of the Great Pyramid. 0.02 mi from city center. The floor of Upton is currently comprised of rotted wood planking covering flagstones. The overhead lintel stones weigh approximately three tons each. We also use your contact information to interact with you (if that was your intention). The overhead lintel stones weigh approximately three tons each. The Equinox Sunrise as seen from the Calendar 1 chamber occurs in a saddle in that ridge. 5491 South Road, S. Woodstock, VT, United States. This allows you to pick the cheapest days to fly if your trip allows flexibility and score cheap flight deals to South Woodstock. The Queen was one of those who managed to escape but was later killed by Connecticut soldiers when she tried to escape north inJuly 1676. There, he found a tabletinside one of the chambers, which he said was carved with Ogam characters, a Celtic alphabetic system. The haphazard collection of walls interspersed with tall, triangularshaped standing stones on a hill sitting on about an acre of land,contains22 stone chambers plus other megalithic features. The Calendar II chamber is in fact one of the biggest and best-known Stone Chambers in all New England. Archaeologists and historians associate the fort with a man named Stonewall John, a talented stone mason who may have been Narragansett or English. In 1936, the property waspurchased by William Goodwin, an insurance executive andantiquity collector, who believed that the site was built by Culdee Monks from Ireland. Most noteworthy, just three Northeast counties account for the majority of stone structures in North America: Putnam County, N.Y.; New London County, Conn.; and Windsor County, Vt. Massachusetts has the densest concentration of beehive-shaped stone chambers like those built by Culdee monks in Ireland. Our mission is to provide activities for diverse equestrian disciplines and promote trails preservation, horsemanship, and youth education. He named the siteMystery Hill. Richard Cassaro Copyright, All Rights Reserved. One of the best Christmas towns in Vermont is Stowe, the state's most visited during the season. While their homes and other buildings have long since vanished, these stone chambers still exist. An exciting weekend of pomp and circumstance is ahead for graduates and alumni of Woodstock Union High School. Stone chamber on Rattlesnake Gutter Road, Levett, Massachusetts, courtesy Wikipedia. You can read more about how cookies are used in our Privacy Policy. Stone Structures in South Woodstock, Vt. . Fell and others whosupport the idea of the ancient European settlement, also cite further evidence such as the use of stone circles, carved deities and animal figures,symbolic markings, Celtic place names, cairns, and chamber features that alignwith the sunset and sunrise during solar solstices and equinoxes. 591 Sugarbush Farm Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091, USA. Around 670 A.D., they used it to view the summer solstice. March 6th 6:00 pm. $375 per night. Americas Stonehenge by Stan Shebs, courtesy Wikipedia. Calendar II in central Vermont is perhaps the most famous of the Vermont chambers.