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History
Cabot Camp located on East Mineral Rd. in the town of Montague
Mass. is a site with a rich and extensive history. It is known
as Cabot Camp by most of the local residents because one of the
most recent owners, Phillip Cabot of Boston, Mass., who used it
as a summer retreat. Many residents are unaware of the many other
owners and site uses preceding Mr. Cabot.
Records dating back to 1799 tell of a dam and a sawmill located
at the mouth of the Miller's River. Evidence can still be seen
to this day of a lock cut in the rock outcropping at the northeast
corner of the site. This channel was created to turn the paddle
wheel that powered the sawmill. Evidence of drilling can still
be seen in the rocks. Furthermore, just to the west of the rock
outcropping exists the remains of a field stone foundation, most
likely that of the sawmill.
Many old newspaper clippings tell of frequent log drives down
the Connecticut River, and that East Mineral Rd. (formerly Old
Stage Rd.), served as a major interstate trade route. The original
buildings at Cabot Camp served as a toll house and carriage house
for travelers along this road as well as the Connecticut River.
Some evidence points to a possible tavern on or near the site
owned by the Durkee family. The neighboring property to the west
was the original gatekeepers lodge. This is where the "river
rats" and stagecoach drivers would often stop for the night.
Many of the names that surfaced in the research can be found in
the old cemetery just up the road. This unique site, being located
at the junction of the Connecticut and Miller's Rivers, and south
of the French King Gorge is a historic site that desperately needs
formal recognition as such in order to preserve its charm and
characterHistoric timeline for Cabot Camp and sawmill
Sometime prior to 1799, a dam and sawmill are established at the
mouth
of the Miller's River.
1815: Isaiah White sells 1/4 of the sawmill to Turner Rawson
for $300.00.
1818: Turner Rawson sells his interests in the sawmill to Thomas
Durkee.
1819: Thomas and Charles Shepherd sell 1/2 of the sawmill to Thomas
Durkee
for $400.00.
1819-1839: Gap
1839: Eli Cowles sells entire sawmill to Aaron Cowles for $5000.00.
1874: George Lewis sells to calvin L. Hamilton for $500.00.
1874: On the same day as the previous entry, Calvin L. Hamilton sells back to Sarah Lewis ( wife of George), for $500.00.
1883: Sarah and George Lewis sell to Edward D.G. Jones for $175.00.
1896: Edward D.G. Jones sells to Orange G. Brown for $50.00.
1903: Sarah L. Briggs (widow of Orange Brown) sells to Turners Falls Company for " one Dollar and other valuable conciderations".
1920: Turners Falls Power and Electric Co. leases to Mr. Phillip Cabot of Boston MA. 10 years for $10,000.00.
1920 to present: Turners falls Power and Electric Co. becomes Western Mass. Electric and finally Northeast Utilities. The property is soon to be put on the market.
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