By Bob Bumcrot

Since the end of the last Ice Age, a 47-ton glacial boulder has been resting on a bare, stone hilltop above the west shore of North Pond, the  reservoir that straddles the Norfolk-Goshen border. For over a century, local residents have known that the massive stone, 12 feet wide and nine feet tall in places, could be rocked back and forth several inches by a single person, pushing in the right direction. This once was possible, and now, thanks to the involvement of some resourceful residents, it is possible once again.

In the 19^th century, this rocking phenomenon was probably familiar to local farmers along Hazard Road, the now-abandoned path from the end of Estey Road to North Goshen Road. There is a 1908 image of Tipping Rock amongst Mary Ann and Fred McGourtys’ extensive collection of Norfolk postcards. Another photograph, of a small dog atop the rock, graced the front page of a recent issue of the Muse, the newsletter of the Norfolk Historical Society.

Earlier this summer, Hartley Mead, a local history buff, recalled visiting the rock in his youth. He also remembered it being featured a few decades ago in the newspaper series, Ripley’s “Believe it or Not.” His interest renewed, Mead, John Funchion and an observer went on a brief search but failed to locate the mysterious stone. After further inquiries, Mead and the observer found not only Tipping Rock, but, nearby, the less well-known Little Tipping Rock, a mere seven-ton stone, near Hazard Road.

The Little Rock was easy to tip. But the Big Rock was firmly pinned in place by a 40-foot tree that had tipped onto the stone, while continuing to grow. Action was clearly needed. A few weeks later, armed with ropes and chainsaw, an expeditionary force of Mead, Funchion, Tony Thomson and the observer returned to the scene. Mead was hoisted to the spot once occupied by the dog and in a few expert minutes had successfully removed the offending vegetation. Expedition members cheered, while rocking the stone.

Measurements made at the site led to approximates of the weights of both rocks, and also to a disturbing conjecture: while Little Tipping is definitely in Norfolk, the bigger one may be a few feet outside. Its GPS coordinates, within 30 feet, are North 41 degrees 54.905 min, West 73 degrees 13.679 min, altitude 1534 feet. The southern border of Norfolk is estimated to be 41 degrees 54.95 min, which is about 300 feet too far north. But even if a visit to Tipping Rock involves entering the foreign territory of Goshen, the trip and the tip are highly recommended.

You can join local historian Richard Byrne on a Labor Day walk to Tipping Rock. For details call the Norfolk Historical Society 542-5761.

Photo, top, by Bob Bumcrot: Hartley Mead clears a deadfall from Tipping Rock on a recent visit.