MacCurdy — Passing of a Connecticut Rock Shelter. 511 



Art. XLYI. — The Passing of a Connecticut Rock Shelter ; 

 by George Grant MacCurdy. With Plate IY. 



Of the several dozen rock shelters in the State of Connecti- 

 cut, that at Pine Rock in High wood, a suburb of New Haven, 

 was in many respects the most important. In addition to its 

 occupancy by the Indians, it has an interesting geological 

 history. 



To the tens of thousands who annually attend the games at 

 Yale Field, West Pock is a familiar feature. Because of its 

 proximity to the main artery of travel between New York and 

 Boston, East Pock is known to even greater numbers. These 

 are only two of New Haven's four rocks. They form two of 

 the principal parks. The other two, though smaller and in 

 private hands, add to the grandeur of New Haven's natural 

 setting. They rise from the plain between and are so related 

 to the two greater rocks as to form with these a series of four 

 convenient stepping stones for the Sleeping Giant* of Mount 

 Carmel were he to wake from his long sleep. The names of 

 the four rocks in succession are East Pock, Mill Pock, Pine 

 Pock, and West Rock. 



The rock shelter formerly known as the "Cave" was on the 

 southern face of Pine Pock. J. W. Barberf gives, perhaps, 

 the first published account of it : 



" At the base of this rock there was formerly a cave well 

 known to the inhabitants of New Haven as ' Fry's Cave,' so 

 called from being first occupied by a family of that name, who 

 retained possession of it for several years. In front of this 

 cave there was a small patch of ground which they converted 

 into a neat garden. They obtained a subsistence principally 

 by money received from those who visited their habitation, and 

 by begging. The family of Frys left the cave in 1826, and its 

 next occupants were a colored man and his wife, named Mc- 

 Daniel. These two persons lived in this cave about a year, 

 supporting themselves by making baskets, but in consequence 

 of the death of Mac (as he was commonly called) the cave was 

 deserted. The falling of rocks from above has ruined the 

 habitation and garden, which now has the appearance of a 

 heap of rubbish." 



Mrs. Rhoda Wolcutt of 729 Dixwell Avenue, still living at 

 the age of 92, is able to supplement Barber's account. She 

 remembers when "Mac" and "Clo" lived in the Cave. When 



* Now being beheaded by the Connecticut Trap Eock Co. 

 f History and antiquities of New Haven, Conn. New Haven, 1831. The 

 location of " Fry's Cave " is indicated on Barber's map. 



