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Ghost Towns and Other Strangeness

Monson Center, NH(July, 2000)

What Happened Here?    How to get there    Pictures  

Established in 1737, the residents we constantly under attack from local Indians. The town was abandoned in 1770.
Read more at: Monson Village: Milford NH.

One confusing point, while Monson is in Milford, NH it can only be accessed through Hollis, NH. Off 101 in Milford, take 122. Follow this road out of Milford to Hollis. About a mile down the road take a right on Hayden Rd. A mile later take a right on Federal Hill Rd(not marked). This will be a dirt road that turns into a blacktop again. Look for Adams Road. Look for an unassuming turn-off with an iron gate. Park here and walk down the path. The entrance gives no clue to what lies beyond. This is hidden gem, a great place for a picnic. If you are someone interested in New England colonial history this is a must see.

Hill, NH(July, 2000)

What Happened Here?   How to get there   Pictures  

Incorporated in 1753. Constant flooding in the early 20th century forced all the residents to move. The Army Corps or Engineers move all the houses to a new location(the current Hill, NH.) between 1937 and 1941.

There is a sign near the post office which gives a brief history of the town flooding and relocation. The area behind the post office is NEW Hill not OLD Hill. Also it says that it is located on Rt4. While you can get to Hill on Rt4, the post office is actually on Rt3a. To get to old hill, drive about 1 mile past the post office on Rt3a (going North, the post office is on the right). Take a right on Old Town Road (appropriately named). Drive past the cemetery on the left. The street will end at the entrance to the old town. Shop Rd. will be behind to the right. Park there and walk past the road block. Cross the foot bridge and your there. There are two major areas of the defunct town. The first "neighborhood" is on the immediate left, next to the river. Cut through the brush down to the edge of the cliff(a sharp drop of about 30 feet). There are a dozen or so foundations with a rusted sewer pipe running through them all, very cool. On the path above someone has placed a marker indicating the various high water marks. You could see how this seasonal flooding could have destroyed the town. At the bottom of this "road" is the other "neighborhood." This is the intersection which would have been the center of town. Turn left and you will cross a turn-of-century bridge. The state has posted weight limits for this bridge. Someone uses the sign for target practice. The road continues in this direction for several miles, we did not walk to the end. Keep your eyes open and you should find a on old, rusted bicycle. Turn right at the intersection and you should find crumbling sidewalks on either side. Creepy. Walk on the sidewalks and at you will see many of the old foundations and crumbling steps. There are also railings and barbwire fences that trees have grown around. The road continues in this direction for several miles, we did not follow it to the end. The sidewalks continue for quite some distance. There are small stone makers with letters on them. They look recent and may be part of some preservation effort. The foundations are covered by heavy brush in summer. May be easier to see during the fall. The fields and woods around the town are a wildlife preserve, this is posted everywhere. I don't know why they called it "Hill", it's in the middle of a valley!

Ricker Basin, VT(September, 2000)

What Happened Here?   How to get there   Pictures  

Town was dismantled in the late 1960's due to major damage from the 1927 and 1936 floods in Vermont. The town lies in a basin on High elevation between to large brooks.

Easy to find, difficult to get to. Town is now part of Little River State Park in Vermont, but the town is quite a hike into the woods and can take up an entire day. Plan on staying overnight. Near Waterbury, Vermont.

Dogtown Commons, MA(July, 2001)

What Happened Here?    How to get there    Pictures  

Fishing replaced farming in this area and most residents moved to the coast. Later, Be careful hiking here, it is very easy to get lost on the maze-like trails. Suposedly, there are maps available but not at the trailhead, at some bookstore nearby. Roger Babson(born in Gloucester, 1875) hired unemployed stone carvers durring the Great Depression to carve commonsense inspirational slogans into the rocks. Was not able to find all of the rock carvings, may be easier in winter to see them all.

Take Route 128N to Gloucester(this is the end of 128) to Grant Circle. Around the rotary exit onto Route 127 towards Annisquam. Right on Reynard St., left on Cherry Street. Look for the sign for Dogtown Commons on the right. Follow the road until you come to a small parking lot(5-7 cars). Get out and walk or ride your bike. Also of interest nearby is the Paper House.

The Glastenbury Project(Updated: October, 2002)

Other Strangeness

Where is John Belushi Buried

On March 5, 1982 actor and comedian John Belushi died of a drug overdose after using a combination of heroin and cocaine(speedball). Belushi was widely know for various Saturday Night Live characters as well as popular movies like Animal House and The Blues Brothers. Belushi was also well know for his fast, Dionysian lifestyle.

The events leading up to his death are murky and the subject of a controversial film called “WIRED.” He had been partying with Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro that night. After Williams and DeNiro left, Belushi’s “girlfriend” shot him up. She eventually did time for this.

The location of Belushi’s remains are somewhat difficult to discern. There are as many as 3 possible locations for his body. How could this be?

Belushi died in Hollywood, CA, but was born in Illinois and fond of Martha’s Vineyard where he and his wife had property. Apparently, he was f irst buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois, near his family.

At some point his body was moved to the historic Abel Hill Cemetery in Chilmark, MA(Martha’s Vineyard). He was initially in deep in the lot under a classic “Old New England” stone with a skull and cross-bones and the words “Here Lies Buried.”

The cemetery eventually “moved” the body closer to the road to avoid tourists tramping over the place (in typical Jim Morrison fashion people leave beer bottle, Chicago Cubs hats, pee on it…). The new marker is a natural-looking stone with a simple “BELUSHI” across it.

The truth is probably that he is really buried in an unmarked grave and the stone is a red-herring. But I have also heard that that the Vineyard location was the first location and that the Chicago location is the real one. Who knows?!?!?