The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-28
The Ringing Rocks.

n low udJo dSO d representative VI
the Times and Dispatch paid visit to
the geological wonder known as the
Ringing Rocks, in Montgomery County.
Ringing Hill, as the people there call
the eminence on which the celebrated
rocks are found, is on the farm of
Abraham Mench, in Pottsgrove Town
ship, three miles northeast of Pottstown.
The ringing rocks cover space of
about three-quarters of an acre. In
this tract powders are piled upon
powders of all shapes and forms, and
SO promiscuously arranged that con-
ciderable agility is required to walk
from rock to rock, ringing sound,
produced by the nails in the t-heels,
is plainly heard. On rapping the stones
with a hammer, quite remarkable
acoustic properties are revealed. Some
of them give forth a rich, full tone
which would probably vie with the best
bell metal if the stones were fashioned
into bells. One of them in particular,
from its depth of tone, is known as the
State House bell. This was at one
time among the largest of the rocks.
1t has been broken off, however, but
still has preserved its strong, full tone.
The general sound produced by striking
the smaller stones resembles that of
blacksmith's anvil, some having little
clearer ring than others, and no two
sounding just alike. In passing from
one to another of the larger rocks one
is reminded of the tapping of car-wheels
by the train-inspectors. Thousands of
people visit this natural phenomenon
every summer. The rocks themselves
bear evidence of this, the edges being
battered off by hammer-strokes, and the
sides of many having names carved upon
them, some parties who were unwilling
to take the time or trouble to chisel
their names upon the rocks. having re-
sorted to paint, and considerable daub-
ing has been done in various colors.
The advertising tiend has not failed to
put In his appearance; and we are made
aware of the merits of patent medicines,
OF the place to buy carpet and the like
upon every hand. We have not heard
any satisfactory explanation of the
cause of the ringing or bell-like sounds
of these rocks. Some say it is owing
to there being cavern under them.
This, however, can have nothing to do
with it, as when the rocks are removed
they still have the same sound. One
large and sonorous bowlder was taken
to the Centennial and attracted great
deal of attention there. Another was
sent to England year or two ago.
There is probably metallic substance
in this group of powders to which the
ringing sound may be attributed. We
have not heard, however, of any geo.
logical analysis being made. Half a
mile east of the Ringing Rocks, and in
the same range of hills, there is an
other group of powders which are
much visited. Here a lofty pile of
rocks surmounts a cavity of considera-
BILE depth, the whole being known as
the "Stone House." Near by the stone
house is huge bowlder, some fifteen
or twenty feet high, which, from its pc
culiar contour, is called the "Hay
Stack" Besides their acoustic quail
ties there is another singular circum-
stance about the Ringing Rocks which
visitors rarely fail to notice. Many of
them have very strange marks, or in
dentations. At some points these re-
semble the tracks of horses hoof.
Others are like the track of a wagon.
Some of the larger indentations are
said to resemble an elephants foot,
and fac-similes of the human foot are
claimed to be found among the smaller
ones.-Readtng (Pa.J Times and Dis
Match