Jacob's Ladder Stone Cairn

Becket, MA - In September 17, 1910 people came from all over the Northeast to celebrate the opening of a section of Route 20 bypassing a dangerous section of road called "Jacob's Ladder". The people came bringing stones from their home towns to the original dedication site. In 1930, the dry laid stones were moved across the street from the original site and then in 1946 it was moved to it's present site and set with mortar. Over the years some of the stones have been lost and they have been set in different locations on the monument.


Sections of the Jacob's Ladder Trail started as Native American Footpaths and then it the late 1700's European settlers developed a supply and travel route from Boston the Albany, "The West". In 1910 when the modern road was opened it was the first " Automobile Mountain Crossing" in the country reaching an elevation of 1,775 feet.


Stones on the Right side.


Stones on the left side.

Information from sign next to Cairn.

ABANDONED TRUCK AT THE QUARRY

Beckett MA - This is one of the trucks left behind when they closed the quarry.

BECKETT QUARRY AND FOREST

Beckett, MA - This is the former Hudson-Chester Quarry which was active from the 1850's to the 1960's. Stone from this quarry was sent by train to near by Chester MA and Hudson, NY for polishing. This stone was used mostly for gravestones and monuments.

In 1999 a stone company wanted to purchase this quarry and resume the operation. A group from the town, not wanting the noise and activity bought the land and donated it to the land trust. It is now an an extensive day hiking area, free to all.

The next three photos are of the quarry. It is said that there is still a crane under the water. The area around the quarry still has much of the old equipment. I will be posting photos of those later in the week.

I almost didn't get these photos. I tried to find this quarry by hiking up the trail, I didn't pay close attention to how far it was. Well, I went a ways and then turned around. At the bottom I saw these four young women who had just come back from the quarry and told me it was not far and it was worth the hike. So I went back up and about two hundred feet past where I turned around was the quarry. They also told me about some other areas which I will be posting shortly.








This is a Guy Derrick high above the quarry. That dark spot above the derrick is a black fly on my lens. If you hike this time of year, bring your bug spray.