At the center of it all was Drum Rock

Before nature and vandals and Father Time got involved, a drumbeat could be heard pulsing from a Warwick pasture. Some said the sound carried a distance of 12 miles.

One mile from Apponaug, the land had been sold to Samuel Gorton and 10 other men for 144 fathoms of wampum on Jan. 12, 1642. Two centuries later, the shells and relics still being found at the site reminded locals of its history. At the center of it all was Drum Rock.

A large, flat boulder described by early geologists as being of hard blue sandstone, the rock was broken into two pieces. The smaller of the two, weighing over two tons, rested so creatively over the bottom piece that a massive natural instrument resulted.

Three feet higher than the ground, the smaller rock measured a little over seven feet long, just over five feet wide and was 15 inches thick. Perfectly balanced, if one stood atop it with a foot at each end, it easily rocked to and fro, creating a resounding rhythm as it banged against either end of the larger rock.

To the north of the pasture was a hilltop which the Native Americans had used for a lookout. Other boulders were spread upon the land and a clear fountain bubbled serenely from this idyllic location not far from Cowesett Bay.

Although some early Rhode Islanders steered clear of the rock, afraid it might be connected to some sort of witchcraft, locals eventually flocked to it, enjoying picnics and other outings at the interesting site. The more people learned of the existence of Drum Rock, the more vulnerable its integrity became. In 1837, vandals wrenched the smaller stone from its resting place, ceasing its ability to drum.

A group of residents brought forth a great deal of manpower to reset the rock, but they were not able to get it balanced as it once had been and, although the drumming was made possible again, the sound carried for only about half a mile.

It was believed that a glacier had carried the rock into Rhode Island, dropping it into its present place as early geologists who visited the site stated that it was not a type of stone native to the area. It isn’t known whether the rock broke apart on its own due to the elements or if Native Americans separated the pieces to create the drum. Legend tells us that the natives might have used the rock to echo warning signals and calls to gatherings.

During the summer of 1908, a bronze tablet was attached to the face of the rock by the Rhode Island Historical Society, distinguishing it as a historic site. During the dedication ceremony, the drumming was demonstrated and William Weeden of Providence addressed the crowd, providing the site’s history.

The plaque read “A Trysting signal and meeting place of the Coweset Indians and their kindred Narragansetts.” During the 1930s, the plaque was removed by the landowner due to ongoing vandalism in the area. Allegedly it has been replaced and stolen numerous times.

How the rock arrived at its resting place and how the top piece was separated is a mystery. Whether the drumming capability was a natural coincidence or a purposeful feat isn’t known, either. Did Native Americans utilize the rock as a signaling device or does that information simply make for an interesting legend? Those answers have faded from time, like the resounding rhythmic boom that once thundered across Warwick.

Kelly Sullivan is a Rhode Island columnist, lecturer and author.