Hermit, writer and actor, he traveled from his birthplace of Scotland, to the United States, through New York City and then went on to Boston Massachusetts. From there, he moved on to Leverett, Massachusetts and finally found his niche in Erving, Massachusetts in the 1860’s on Hermit’s Mountain, along the edge of the Mohawk Trail. He lived on a three acre site of low stone walls, rock piles, stone stairways and stone terraces. His home was a simple cave from 1867 to 1899. In his prime, people came from near and far to visit him at the Erving Castle and hear his tales of his life in the Highlands of Scotland and of his work on the stages of Glasgow and London. He promoted himself and the Erving Castle, writing to newspaper editors in Boston, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. He also had biographers chronicle his life and then sold the publications at the Hermit's Cave. In the fall of 1899, John became ill and he was moved to the nearby town of Montague. He died the following year. His beloved cat, Toby's headstone was moved to be near his master. You can learn a little more here, about John Smith.
Hermit, writer and actor, he traveled from his birthplace of Scotland, to the United States, through New York City and then went on to Boston Massachusetts. From there, he moved on to Leverett, Massachusetts and finally found his niche in Erving, Massachusetts in the 1860’s on Hermit’s Mountain, along the edge of the Mohawk Trail. He lived on a three acre site of low stone walls, rock piles, stone stairways and stone terraces. His home was a simple cave from 1867 to 1899. In his prime, people came from near and far to visit him at the Erving Castle and hear his tales of his life in the Highlands of Scotland and of his work on the stages of Glasgow and London. He promoted himself and the Erving Castle, writing to newspaper editors in Boston, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. He also had biographers chronicle his life and then sold the publications at the Hermit's Cave. In the fall of 1899, John became ill and he was moved to the nearby town of Montague. He died the following year. His beloved cat, Toby's headstone was moved to be near his master. You can learn a little more here, about John Smith.
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