2020 proves too much for rock of ages
Once pushed by George Washington, Balancing Rock finally topples
Like King Arthur’s sword in the stone, Holliston’s “Balancing Rock” withstood all challengers, including George Washington. Until 2020.
The tilted giant boulder toppled late Monday night, a neighbor who heard it fall says.
“It feels like some kind of sign,” said Rachel Jong, 40, who lives on aptly named Washington Street (Route 16) directly across from the rock formation. “It’s not a good feeling, with all that’s happening in 2020.”
A real estate agent told her years ago when she bought her house that Washington, then president, and members of his entourage took turns trying to tip it over. It didn’t budge. A local historian wrote that Washington was touring the area in 1789 and commented on the rocky terrain between Sherborn and Milford. He was also looking for an inn to rest.
Jong said trucks that rumble by are probably to blame, now that the volume of big rigs has increased as the economy opens up.
But others admiring the toppled 5-ton stone Wednesday had other theories — from a mini-earthquake (none registered) to the space station passing overhead. NASA reports the International Space Station can be seen around Boston this week.
“Balancing Rock has been here for thousands of years, probably,” said David Shortmann, 61, who grew up in Holliston. “As kids we always tried to push it over.”
He agrees the truck traffic can shake the ground around the area.
The rock of ages is just down the street from Our Lady of Fatima Shrine — famous for Christmas lights
— and not far from Mudville, where there is no joy because a baseball hero struck out.
But not everyone who stopped to see the fallen stone was upset.
“It’s not like the Old Man in the Mountain,” said Larry Barlow of Milford, referring to the face-like rock formation in New Hampshire’s White Mountains that crumbled in 2003. “I guess you just need to let Mother Nature do her thing.”