There are local stories from history that are more than just stories. They are so popular that their facts become intertwined with folk tales, sometimes told by the person themselves, making it hard to discern folk tales from fact. In that case, we are left with only the words they left behind.
Such was the case of John Smith, known popularly as the hermit of Erving Castle.
Several books were written telling Smith’s story, the first in 1868 by George W. Barber titled “The Hermit of Erving Castle Written for the Hermit” at the suggestion of his numerous visitors and friends. The book is written in the first person and is a fascinating look at the hermit’s life.
According to Barber’s book, Smith was born in Perth, Scotland on July 10, 1823. After being raised by his grandmother, he tried his hand at several careers including selling wares, acting and a stint as a professional hermit at several estates.
In 1866, Smith came to Boston. Smith soon headed west, picking berries in Leverett, Shutesbury and Locks Pond area, carrying them back to sell in Boston, with the trip taking about 3½ days one way. Following berry-picking season, Smith in the book states, he would then do the same with horse chestnuts and then wreaths.
Smith discovered his Erving cave, he states, while picking chestnuts in late autumn 1866, moving there the next spring. Despite being settled in the cave, Smith always had a fear of being discovered. As a result, he kept to himself, not frequenting Erving stores and instead visiting adjoining towns for his needs. Even then, he did not enter the same store twice for fear of attracting notice or being questioned about his home.
When walking home, Smith stated, “I avoided using roads as much as possible instead using fields and woods to avoid detection.” Of that time he said, “That summer I spent here alone — no, not alone — was the happiest of my life.”
Smith seemed content with his home in the cave, stating in Barber’s book, “Such is my attachment to this place that I would not exchange the rude cave for a princely mansion.” As for his view of the local scenery, he continued, “From some of these cliffs, through openings in the trees, one catches occasional glimpses of Millers’ sparkling river, winding its way through the narrow valley to the beautiful Connecticut.”
Smith was discovered the next fall, according to Barber’s book, while he was making repairs to his cave after throwing down a rock he was using as a hammer and someone calling out. “My first thought was ‘I am discovered and this is the sheriff, who has come to arrest me or throw me out in the snow,’” Smith stated in the book.
It was not the sheriff. Instead, several days later, three men approached Smith’s cave and met with him, one of whom had been the man on the path. They assured Smith the owner of the property would probably allow him to stay.
This is where John Smith the hermit, becomes less of a hermit. “The next day four ladies paid a visit bringing with them for my comfort, no small quantity of delicacies and substantial provisions. This was unmistakable evidence that I was in a friendly and kindly deposed community when I had supposed all were unsympathizing and perhaps hostile,” Smith stated in Barber’s book.
Even Smith admits visitors soon began to throng to his cave, leaving him “eatables and other expressions of good will.” These visitors included the property owner Barton Wright Esquire of Springfield, assuring him he could stay as long as he chose to. His cave too was furnished with several gifts from others, according to Barber’s book, including two or three dilapidated chairs which were furnished by visitors.
Barber explains at the end of the book that among Smith’s pastimes were gardening, growing potatoes onions and lettuce, as well as knitting socks which he would sell to visitors to support himself. Smith would also sing for visitors when they requested and tell stories from his life.
The original books written about the hermit’s castle can be found at the links below.
Remnants of the hermit’s cave exist today. There is a trail which can be hiked to the area via the New England Trail in Erving.>kern 0pt<