The Legend of Rochester’s haunted ‘Witch Rock’

ROCHESTER — Spooky stories are scattered across the South Coast, and Rochester’s claim to fame is a haunted rock. 

Located at the intersection of New Bedford Road and Vaughn Hill Road, this haunted rock stands at 12 feet tall and has the words “Witch Rock” scrawled across it with a small painting of a witch on a broomstick. 

Legend has it that the boulder is said to contain the spirit of a witch hanged near the area during the Salem Witch Trials, according to the Town of Rochester Facebook page. During a full moon, it is said that cackling from the witch comes through the crevices in the rock. 

Connie Eshbach from the Rochester Historical Society said some people reported seeing spirits of the witch coming from the rock too.

 “If you look at the rock it has these great big cracks in it — you could see what would look like something coming out of it if you were already nervous,” she said. 

Shirley E. Vaughn Thompson Norton is reported to have added the witch painting in 1990 when she lived on the property. She made the rock central to Halloween celebrations, hosting parties for children and neighbors at the rock. 

The boulder is located in front of a house on private property. Eshbach said that there is a curious clause in the deed.

She explained that if the house gets sold, there's a clause in the deed that says whoever owns the house has to repaint the witch every few years. 

This boulder continues to intrigue locals, but is located on private property. Attendees are asked to be respectful when visiting the site. 

“I always like to say all local history is anecdotal so you don't take any of it too seriously,” Eshbach concludes.