Tannery Falls 8-Mile Snowshoe Fun Run
March 23rd, 2004 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

A small group of snowshoers met in Savoy to search for the Dunham Burial Lot, Tannery Falls, Balanced Rock, Ross Brook Trail and Lewis Hill.

K2 and Kenny with Tippi, Sierra and Summit

Our first sightseeing stop was the Dunham Burial Lot, the final resting place for members of a Shaker Community that thrived in Savoy during the early 1800’s. The burial ground was established in 1818 and is referred to as the “Dunham Burial Ground” as many of those buried here are from the Dunham Family.

The Silverback and PH at the Dunham Lot

The Savoy Shaker Community numbered eighty members from 1817 to 1821. In 1820, a severe drought devastated the farm crops and during that time a plague of locusts hit the area doing even more damage. In the fall of 1821, a decision was made to disperse the community to other Shaker Villages, namely in New Lebanon and Watervliet.

The Silverback and PH at the Dunham Lot

We ended up visiting a total of three cemeteries within the state forest on this day, all swallowed up by snow and a bit hidden from view. We didn’t have enough in us to visit the most infamous lot in Savoy, though, Tower Cemetery. That trip and the sad story behind it will be saved for another time.

Silverback and PH at Parker Brook Falls

The first 3.5-miles are downhill. When we finally hit bottom it was at Tannery Falls, originally called “High Falls” on early maps of Savoy. The falls drops 85’ and was a solid chunk of ice. I have also seen reference to this area as “Twin Falls”.

Silverback and PH above Tannery Falls

Tannery Falls is so named due to a full operations tannery thriving here from 1841 to about 1860. A community rose up around the tannery, mostly Maynards and Meachams. The area was often called “Meacham Village” or “Maynardville.” After the tannery closed a saw mill operated at this location until 1870.

Silverback with me and Tips at the bottom of Tannery Falls

A terrible fire at the tannery sometime after 1912 destroyed everything. The tannery and all the houses burned to the ground, and the land was given to the state in the 1930’s.

BH rambling along

After the falls, we shuffled toward the Ross Brook Trail, which is a beauty. The snow was about a foot deep and pure powder for this section of our day. After the Ross Brook we visited Balanced Rock, and then climbed back up toward Adams Road in a light snowfall. What a way to end the last snowshoe trip of the year.

Silverback and I at the Balanced Rock

Coffee in the General Store ended the day. We even were able to sit at the comfortable table reserved for locals. The owner of the Savoy General Store is a Thiel, and her family owned the Thiel-Farm which is now part of the Greylock Glen. What a day!

The entire gang at the finish