Monadnock Moment No. 149

Era 6: Development of the Industrial United States -
           1870 to 1900

Pierce's Wolf

Wolves were common residents of our region when the first settlers arrived here in the 1700s. Wolves were eventually hunted and driven away by the settlers, however. George Pierce of West Keene believed for a short time in 1878 that wolves were making a return to the area.

One day in March of 1878 Pierce heard a loud commotion in the yard at his farm on West Hill. He rushed outside to find that his dog had been attacked by what appeared to be a large wolf. Pierce picked up a club and went after the ferocious creature. He finally managed to do away with the yellowish-gray animal.

Pierce was proud of his feat and he quickly loaded the carcass into his wagon and drove into town where the wolf was exhibited to hundreds of people outside of the Keyes store on West Street. Some time later a man from Swanzey came and looked at the creature in amazement. He told Pierce that the animal was a poor old dog that had been owned by a Swanzey family for many years. The exhibition was quickly closed and one would assume that George Pierce returned quietly to his farm.