Mysterious find
Beach rock generating interest on social media
A beach rock with the inscription “White Point Beach, Nova Scotia, August 3, 2000” found more than 900 kilometres away on York Long Sands Beach, in York, Maine on the July 1 weekend is generating a lot of interest on social media.
“Can you help us solve the mystery of the travelling beach stone?” asks White Point staff on the resort’s Facebook page, accompanied by a photo of the rock sent to the Queens County resort by Maine resident Tricia Beltran, who found the rock while out walking.
“(Beltran) said she found something interesting on the beach,” said Donna Hatt, White Point marketing manager, adding it was very kind for Beltran to share her find with the resort.
“It’s very curious. We’re really hoping to get the back-story. How did it get to York, Maine?
Who put it there? What is the significance of the date? Or is it just a date?”
The story has caught the attention of hundreds, generating comments, speculations and theories from countless people across North America about how a rock from Nova Scotia ended up in Maine. It has also generated stories about the practice and popularity of painted rocks, friendship rocks, travelling rocks, keepsake rocks, RV’ing rocks and memorial rocks being left for others to find and finds being made. In less than 24 hours, the post had been shared more than 180 times.
Hatt called it “serendipitous” that the rock was found between July 1 and 4 on the Atlantic coastline mid-way between Boston and Portland, considering the connection between White Point and New England. White Point Beach Lodge was founded by Newton, Massachusetts native Philip Hooper Moore in 1928.
“It seems this rock is re-solidifying the link between White Point and New England,” said Hatt.
“It would be neat to find out its story and journey. Maybe we will never find out or maybe the story is just beginning.”