Monument Mountain

It's been "one of those days" here at the Norman Rockwell Museum. It's storming outside and the computers are down, so the great people at Admissions have been doing everything by hand. I went to the store for our Thursday night event (Combat Artist and Marine Chief Warrant Officer Michael Fay is speaking), driving there over slick backroads (okay I'll admit, that's a dramatic way to explain my outing to purchase cheese and crackers). Our terrace cafe, normally a charming spot for visitors to eat their lunch, is sauna-like as steam rises off the stone floor and our kind patrons roast in 100% humidity. At about 12PM, with the rain coming down in sheets outside, I checked weather.com to see when it would stop. The website kindly informed me that it was actually partly cloudy with a 10% chance of precipitation.

But in fact, it is strangely appropriate that today is so rainy. Remember, faithful readers (hi Mom), when I mentioned the historic property tour last week? Well, we never fail to stop and mention Monument Mountain, which is just visible in the distance. The mountain is a popular place for hiking and biking today, but there is also a legend associated with it that literature geeks love to tell. Purportedly, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville picnicked on the mountain in 1850. While they were still climbing to the top there was a big thunderstorm (like today!) and they were forced to take cover under a rock. While they were there, Melville showed Hawthorne a story he'd been working on called "The Great White Whale" and asked for his advice.

Well, I'm not sure if Melville ever did get to writing that book, but isn't it a great story? I'm kidding, of course, he would go on to write Moby Dick right down the road in Pittsfield. And do you know what day they ventured onto Monument Mountain and had that fateful discussion?

August 5th.