Conference hydra::dejavu

    where, oh where, is Upton, Massachusetts?

   re: .1

   According to the map I have handy for just such emergencies :-), Upton
   is located:

   

   Why, right next to W. Upton!  :-)  Seriously though, it's just west of
   Milford (MA), just north of the R.I. border.

   -- Sam

    i believe the site that you're refering to is Native
    American. if memory serves it is not 'standing stones'
    but more like a cave...that is, it wasn't used for
    astrological sightings or viewing.
    
    i read about it in a book on the Sacred landscape of
    New England...i'll try and remember to find the book so
    i can cite the title for you.
    
    i also seem to remember that this site is on private property
    ...the main reason i've never visited.
    
    peter

    
    	Since the Indigenous peoples of North America were without the
    knowledge of magnetic fields or of the existence of the compass, I
    tend to doubt the interelation with sacredness and any magnetic
    anomolies found in Upton.
    	I grew up near Dighton Rock, along with the glacially
    significant Profile Rock in Assonet, Ma. and Anawan Rock in
    Rehoboth Ma.  They are all large remainders of glacial till
    left over from the retreat of the last Ice Age.  The runic
    carvings on Dighton Rock have been attributed to everything
    from the Vikings to pranksters.  To my knowledge, no irrefutable
    archeological evidence of Viking presence has been found south
    of a documented Viking settlement on the St Lawrence bay side of
    Newfoundland.  This site was excavated and proved a small community
    lived there a number of years, but was eventually abandoned.  This
    would jive with the mild climate of the 1000's to 1200's and the
    subsequent cooling off of later middle ages.  To assume that those
    sailor/explorer/trading Vikings did not explore up the St Lawrence
    or down the N. American coast would be ludicrous, so some of these
    sites may be true meetings of cultures.
    	Back to the rock sites, Anawan Rock was a significant Council
    meeting site between Rhode Island/Conn. based Wamponoaugs(sp?) and
    Cape Cod/S.E. Mass brethren (and sisterens).  They lie close to
    present Routes (44E/W and 18N/S) which are state roads now but are
    based on old "Indian Trails" that conveyed the clan moments of these
    pre-European peoples from salt water marsh clamming, fishing and
    shellfishing in the summer to well protected inland fresh water
    wintering sites.
    	I think the main reason these sites were selected to meet at and
    hold ceremonies was that they were on developed routes and could not
    be missed nor mistaken.  I'm not sure of the Upton site, that was in
    an area where I believe the local folk were known as the Nipmucs.
    
    BillM

    
    I thought htey were referriong to Purgatory Chasms but they were
    not specific.
    

    RE. -1 Purgatory Chasm is located in the Sutton, MA area. Which is
    about 5 miles away from Upton.  I have lived in this area (Worester
    County) off and on for about 25 years and have never heard of 
    anything "special" about Upton.  Yes, the Nipmuc's were the local 
    people of this area.  I would be really interested in knowing more 
    about this "power area", since I live only 10 minutes away from
    Upton.  Not to say I would go wandering around someones property
    without their permission.  But I have always been interested in 
    the local history of the area I live in.
    
    	Terry 
      

    
    	I used to keep my horse in Upton and ride a lot in the Upton
    	state forest. There is a section at the south end, outside of 
    	the gates and at the top of a hill where there is a green water
    	tower. I am told by the locals [some of whom are connected to the
    	police and fire depts] that several times a year they catch a 
    	group of people under the water tower at night holding rituals,
    	and claim they have found animals sacrificed up there. [fwiw]
    
    	Sherry