Cobble Rock  LbNA # 60822

Clues

Cobble Rock

History: Cobble Rock in North Smithfield was once a popular gathering spot and local point of interest. The 200-ton rock is an erratic left behind by a glacier some 10,000 years ago delicately balanced on a rock ledge. Throughout the rock's history, it has been purported to be a meeting place for Narragansett Indians, a spot where mill workers snuck away for a swig of rum, and a late-night hangout for teenagers. Also, throughout its history, Cobble Rock has acquired quite a bit of distinctive carvings and graffiti; many of the postcards printed around the turn of the 20th century show Cobble Rock marred with graffiti. However, Cobble Rock's history would change forever on the night of September 26, 1977. A severe thunderstorm accompanied by high winds struck northern Rhode Island, knocking down trees and power lines. Two days later, it was reported that Cobble Rock had fallen from its ledge and now rested sadly upside-down in a small hollow. People at the time suggested the recent storm's combination of wind and rain brought the rock off its perch, although rumor also has it that a nefarious individual with access to heavy equipment might be to blame. It is known that many people had tried in vain to tip Cobble Rock over the years, even setting fires beneath the rock in an attempt to crack it at its base, but whether the ultimate cause of Cobble Rock's fall was natural or not is still up for debate.

Clues: Park in the large parking lot at the St. Antoine Residence. There is a wide gravel road that begins near the small "Reserved" parking lot close to the rear building and moves along the right side of the building. Follow this road. Shortly thereafter, you will see a small brick building near a pond surrounded by a chain-link fence on your right. Just beyond this building, a path opens into the woods to your right. Soon after entering the woods, the trail forks. Take the right fork. Continue down the trail; you will see a large clearing with an antenna on your left. Walk a bit more and you will see Cobble Rock in a hollow on your right, about 15 steps off the trail. The ledge on which the rock once precariously rested is right off the trail. Take a moment to look at some of the carvings (some of which are now upside-down!) on the rock and surrounding ledges. Take a reading of 310˚ from the west side of Cobble Rock. This should point you in the direction of a rocky ledge about 37 steps away. The Cobble Rock Letterbox is hidden under the ledge near a double-trunked oak.