Monadnock Moment No. 142

Era 2: Colonization and Settlement - 1623 to 1763

The Bear in the Boat

Local legend indicates that during the mid 1700s a hunter by the name of Spafford lived near the shore of the lake in Chesterfield. It is said that the lake, now known as Spofford Lake, was named for this early hunter.

One story about Spafford tells of his experiences one day while fishing in the lake. It seems that he was out in a small flat bottom boat when he saw an animal begin to swim across the lake. Spafford rowed closer to investigate and found that the animal was a large bear. He tried to shoot the bear, but his musket had gotten wet on the trip across the lake and would not fire.

The bear promptly changed course, swam to the boat and climbed in, nearly tipping the boat in the process. Spafford was about to club the bear when it shook the water from its fur and sat down in the front of the boat, paying no attention to Spafford in the rear. Spafford quietly turned the boat and started to row toward the shore from which the bear had started. When the boat was headed in that direction, however, the bear turned on Spafford, bared its teeth, and growled loudly. He tried this two or three times, but each time the bear growled. Spafford found that the bear remained quiet as long as the boat was headed toward the opposite shore. Spafford continued in that direction and the bear remained content.

When the boat reached shallow water, the bear jumped overboard and headed toward shore without so much as a thank you. Despite the lack of manners, Spafford was relieved to see the bear disappear into the woods.