TORY CAVE

TORY CAVE

Tory Cave is located in Lenox, Massachusetts on October Mountain or Dewey Mountain as some people call it. There is a brook that passes it called Roaring Brook. There are other Tory Caves located in many different areas like Connecticut, West Virginia, Vermont, and near Boston.

Tory Cave is a natural cave. It collapsed in a land slide in 1900 and all that remains is the entrance. Before it collapsed, a person could walk through the cave and they ended up on the other side, which would lead them to Tory Cave Farms. But now someone can only walk several yards into it. The entrance to the cave is right at the bottom of the cliff which is covered with moss. In front is a large pool with crystal clear water and a small waterfall.

Tory Cave got its name from a man named Gideon Smith because he was a Tory. “The British made Gideon Smith an officer in the British Army by proclamation of the king during the French and Indian War. Hence his loyalty to England.” (T.Bosworth) a Tory was someone who sided with the British in the Revolutionary War. Gideon Smith did that, but everyone hated him. Gideon Smith owned a tavern in Stockbridge named Gideon Smith Inn which is now Wheatleigh. In May 1776, he harbored a British prisoner of war, which was a crime. Gideon Smith spent many weeks hiding out in his house, but after that, he heard that the colonists knew where he lived so he went to hide out at Tory Cave. The Indians brought Gideon Smith food (Berkshire web.com) When the colonists found him, they roughed him up. The colonists decided to hang Smith because he went against them. Then smith fought for the colonists. (Wood 32)

Gideon Smith died at the age of 98. One of his sons also fought for the colonists in the Revolutionary War. His obituary says that “for several years he was little known except in his family and neighborhood” (Duval 4). There is a small burial ground in Stockbridge (across from Wheatleigh) on land that he sold and said in the deed that it would have to stay as a burial ground. One of the gravestones there was his daughter’s who died as a baby. (Stockbridge Historical Room). He died in 1838, and is buried at the Church on the Hill cemetery.

The Outing Club is known to visit the cave on many different trips. This cave is actually the most favored place in the Outing Club because so many students want to visit it. This cave requires good skills and walking carefully across very wet rock that can some times be dangerous.

DIRECTIONS

From Pittsfield turn on to Holmes road keep going straight until you see a light that is blinking yellow. You will then see a street sign that says Chapman Road or East Street. If you see one of those street signs then turn on to that street. Once on that street keep going straight until you see a four way intersection. Then turn on to New Lenox Road the one that has the St.Helena’s Chapel sign. Once on that road you will see St.Helena’s Chapel and you will want to keep going pass the church until you see a sign that says Roaring Brook Road. Once you see that sign take that road. You will see a bridge with water running under it and that’s the one you want to stop at and once stopped you will see a trail.

From Lee take Route 7 past Cranwell Resort keep going until you see a sign that says Housatonic Street with a hardware store on the corner. Go past the hardware store until you see a sign with a big hill that says East Street. Turn on to that road and keep going straight past Eastover Resort then about 4 or 5 miles from Eastover you will see a four way intersection. Then turn on to New Lenox Road the one that has the St.Helena’s Chapel sign. Once you see that sign go past the church and then a ½ mile you will see a sign that says Roaring Brook Road take that one and you see a bridge with water running under it and that’s the one you want to stop at and once stopped you will see a trail head.