Worcester County Wonders: A pleasant trip to Purgatory

SUTTON — The Corn Crib, The Coffin, The Pulpit, Lovers' Leap and Fat Man's Misery. Welcome to Purgatory Chasm.

The moment one steps into the shade of the woods of Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, granite walls rise on both sides of the small rocky trail, some 70 feet above the forest floor, and envelope visitors within its dramatic landscape.

The unique rock formation was formed in Sutton some 14,000 years ago. There have been several different theories as to how the chasm came to be. Some scientists have suggested a sudden release of dammed-up glacial water, while others claim the chasm was created after a glacier moved across the region, causing a preexisting crack to fault.

According to the New England Historical Society there is an Algonquin legend explaining the chasm:

"The legend has an Algonquin Indian woman killing a white settler and walking away from her crime. She ran into another settler and tried to run away. When he grabbed her, she called out to her god Hobomoko for help. The settler then revealed himself as Hobomoko, took her by the waist and flew to the site of Purgatory Chasm. There he stomped his feet and swung his tomahawk, forming the 70-foot-deep chasm. Then he threw his victim into it."

Patrick Brown is the visitor services supervisor for Purgatory Chasm and agreed that several different stories surround how the chasm came to be.

"One of the earlier legends in town is about Sutton resident John Davis. He was a hunter and trapper, and around the year 1755, he was hunting in the area of the chasm but swore he saw nothing of the sort," he said. "That year, there was an earthquake off the coast of Cape Ann that could be felt across the state. When Davis came back to the area and stumbled upon the chasm, he made the connection to the recent earthquake."

Brown said it's pretty unlikely the earthquake had anything to do with the chasm, but the legend still gets passed around by locals.

The area was declared a state park in 1919 and has since become a favorite for hikers and rock climbers not just locally but from around the world. The rockface can get quite slippery and has seen several accidents over the years.

In 1991, an episode of "Rescue 911" featured an incident at the chasm, where a 14-year-old fell off the cliffside and miraculously survived, partly due to the enormous rescue effort by local first responders. Nowadays, first responders often use the chasm for rescue training.

"We don't see nearly as many injuries as one might expect," Brown said. "I attribute part of that to people encountering the chasm for the first time and being able to recognize it is a very different landscape than what we encounter in our everyday lives."

The sensational visual of the chasm has also caught the eye of Hollywood. In 2014, a film crew arrived at the chasm to shoot scenes for "The Sea of Trees." The film stars Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who portrays a suicidal college professor who decides to go into the Aokigahara forest in Japan to end his life.

In an interview from 2014, the film's publicist Gregg Brilliant explained the moment the director saw the dramatic chasm, it was perfect for their story.

There have been poems, books and even songs written about the geological formation. Author Lisa Shea was inspired by the chasm, making it a phenomenal backdrop for her mystery series "The Sutton Massachusetts Mysteries," featuring a young heroine, Morgan, who enjoys her quiet life in Sutton until a homicide rocks the small community.

Shea has lived in Sutton for nearly three decades and said she's always been drawn to the chasm.

"Over the years it's been the location of countless deaths, adventures, explorations, meditations and life-changing moments," Shea said. "We only have a brief moment of time with the chasm, and then the next generation finds their own meaning there."

Shea said she's explored "hopefully every inch of Sutton," and said her inspiration comes from her walks around town and the state park. The mystery series was part of an author challenge, during which she wrote one chapter per day. She said she often used the exact weather, local news and traffic conditions in her storytelling.

"I have walked through the trails countless times, in all seasons, and there is always something new to discover. There’s a new angle on an outcropping of rock or a new grouping of flowers," she said. "A poignant memory would be that I was in walking the trails on a day that someone slipped and fell to their death. It’s a poignant reminder that we should always be very mindful of what we are doing. Life is precious, and every day matters."

Shea has published more than 350 pieces of work and has also written a short horror story set in the caves under the chasm.

She said there are in fact caves lying "down in the chasm" and explained they can be narrow and twisty. Aside from the actual chasm and rock formation, Shea said if you're planning on visiting, start by downloading the full park map to get a sense of just how large the area is.

"When visitors first arrive to the park, most want to see the chasm first," Brown said. "The trail goes through the center of the chasm and most people spend about an hour, maybe a little longer, exploring."

One of the most popular stops in the park is a rock formation called "Fat Man's Misery."

"It's a bit of a tight squeeze, as the name suggests," Brown said. "One of the things I love, it's this fun family activity of seeing who can squeeze through the tight space, no instruction needed. It connects the same visitors today with those that came to squeeze through a hundred years ago.

"We're a park for all ages and ability levels, if visitors come back year after year, they'll find they're growing along with the park," Brown said, explaining there are rock formations for different skills throughout.

The park has installed two new observation platforms so those who may not be able to physically climb into the chasm can still experience a wonderful vantage point and even watch their families enjoying the space.

"It's crucial that visitors be mindful of their own ability level and wear sturdy footwear," Brown said.

One can only imagine trying to traverse the chasm in flip-flops — sheer purgatory on your ankles.

Thank you to Katie for her suggestion of Purgatory Chasm for this week's edition of Worcester County Wonders.

T&G engagement editor Sarah Barnacle is getting to know Central Mass. by exploring some of the best places to go and things to do in Worcester County. If you have an idea or suggestion, please email sbarnacle@gannett.com.