By Michael Perna Jr.
Contributing Writer
PRINCETON – Most any Massachusetts resident has heard of Mount Wachusett, if not paid a visit there to hike or ski. The mountain itself has a history all its own, with several interesting stories to tell.
Early history
The name Wachusett itself was derived from the Native American tribes that spoke Algonquin, with various translations, one meaning “mountain place” and another “near the mountain.”
The first mention of the mountain was in 1632, when the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop noted “a very high hill, due west.” Following this, settlers began entering the region by a path discovered in 1648, which was called the “Bay State Path.” Tragedy struck these same settlers in the winter of 1676, when King Phillip, who had previously claimed this same land, lit fires on the mountain to notify his followers to attack the area – every settler was killed and every dwelling destroyed. One exception was Mary Rowlandson, who was captured and held hostage before being ransomed sometime later at what is today called “Redemption Rock.”
By the 19th century, the mountain had seen a number of well-known visitors. Among these was Henry David Thoreau, who wrote of his visit to the top of the mountain in 1842: “A Walk to Wachusett. But special I remember thee Wachusett, who like me, Standest alone without society. Wachusett is, in fact, the observatory of the state.” Other noted visitors included Louisa May Alcott, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In the years following, the mountain became a popular tourist destination. In 1870, a small stone building was placed on the summit, this being built by W. G. Morse, who earlier had a small stand selling cigars and candy bars. It was added to in 1874, due to the increase in visitors. Within a few more years, a second structure featuring thirty guest rooms and at one point a bowling alley, of all things, was built. It was estimated that 30,000 people visited each year. By 1908, the third and final summit house was built, hosting visitors for decades – people came by horse-drawn carriages and later automobiles. This structure was destroyed in December 1970 by arson.
Ghostly legend
One of Mount Wachusett’s most interesting tales has lasted down through the centuries – the legend of Lucy Keyes. Lucy was only four years old, when, in 1755 while out playing with her sisters near their home in Princeton, she disappeared into the nearby woods. Despite frantic efforts by Lucy’s family and their neighbors, she was never found.
Despite that, Lucy’s mother, Martha Keyes, refused to give up hope and kept searching for her. It was reported that her neighbors would hear her calling out “Luuuucy” in the woods at night. A local legend is that visitors to the mountain, even to this day, still hear faint voices in the woods at night!
Lucy’s story became more well known in recent years – in 2006, it was the subject of a Hollywood movie, “The Legend of Lucy Keyes,” which was featured at the Santa Barbara Film Festival that year.
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the first ski trails on the mountain. This was then followed by the United States Army training the 10th Mountain Division for skiing operations during World War II. Skiing has continued on the mountain through the years. In 1969, Ralph Crowley secured a lease for a 450-acre parcel of land on the mountain, establishing the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, which has, with numerous improvements over the years, become a bustling winter recreation hub.
Mount Wachusett is a Central Massachusetts landmark with a rich and varied history that has spanned centuries of use.
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