Embedded Files
Long ago, before any settlers had come to Ellington, before this place was even called Ellington, a group of Native Americans resided here. They called this place Weaxskashuck, which meant 'Great Marsh.' What most people don't know, however, is that this word has a second meaning, 'Marsh of Gold.' The natives had found substantial amounts of gold in the hills surrounding the marsh and were mining to make Jewelry and other trade items.
When settlers started moving to this place, they originally called it Great Marsh or Goshen. They had no idea that they were living on a literal gold mine. It wasn't until three mysterious settlers moved to Ellington that someone found out about the Native's secret.
The richest of the three settlers, Eliza White, was a very successful trader and owned a few companies. She had built a mansion in Ellington, but unfortunately it has been developed over and the location has been lost over time.
Another one of the settlers, Bob Drofdet, came to Ellington and started a carpentry business. He frequently built sheds and other small buildings for his friends. Before he moved to Ellington, he was the first mate on an unsuccessful whaling ship. His ship wrecked on a shoal near New Bedford, and the experience was so traumatic for him, he vowed to never go near the sea again.
The last of the settlers was the most mysterious one. He was one of Ellington's most successful farmers, and he owned many pieces of land all around Ellington. The townsfolk knew him only as R and his name never got passed down in history.
These three settlers were very mysterious among the townsfolk, and the other citizens knew little about them or where they came from.
One thing that was known among Ellington, however, was their feud with the Natives. No one knew how it started, but every citizen of Ellington knew that since the settler's arrival they have been engaged in a deadly battle with the Native American Chief. During this feud, the three settlers somehow came to know about the Native's gold.
Eventually, after many years of tense argument, the three settlers had decided to strike at the Native Amerians one final time. The three settlers planned in secret on the best way to attack the Natives, and they decided to steal their gold.
On a calm night with no moon, all three settlers snuck down to the Native American Village, where most of the village inhabitants had already gone to sleep. The three settlers snuck around the border of the village until they reached the storehouse, which they broke into and found it unoccupied. From there they grabbed all the chests and sacks which carried all of the Native's most precious gold, and finally made their way back to their homes. By the time morning came, and no angry Native Americans came for them, they thought they had got away with the act. But the Chief was smarter than that.
The Chief knew that they were going to steal the gold, he just didn't know when. Once he found the gold was missing he knew that they had stolen it. The Chief thought about his next move. Eventually he came up with a cunning plan.
He knew that the three settlers had no kids and no family that they could give the gold to. He also knew that they had stolen the gold purely out of spite and the value of the gold meant nothing to them. He realized that the most likely thing they would do with the gold is to hide it. And once they hid it, he would find it.
The three settler's plan was to hide the treasure, but what the Chief didn't know was that the three settlers had spent months working on a series of clues and puzzles that lead up to the treasure. Over the final years of the Chief's life he spent all of his time searching for the missing gold until his death, not realizing that he might have found the gold if he looked at the right clue. The three settlers died soon after him of old age, and over time the secret of the gold died with them. Until Today.
New clues have been found indicating that the town library is probably the best place to start looking for the treasure, and with this discovery, the story and the secret of the three settlers has been revived. In the midst of all these aspiring treasure hunters searching for lost Native American gold, will you be the one to find it?
Go to the Hall Memorial Library and ask about the Ellington Adventure Challenge to start looking for the lost gold!
Need a hint? Email the ellingtonadventure email posted below.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse