As previously stated, by the 1870's all the trees on Dudleytown Hill, and in Cornwall, for that matter, had been cut down for the furnaces to make charcoal. Pictures of the area (only a few are left) show an area almost devoid of any trees. The trees gone, and with no crops, the reason for Dudleytown's existence was gone also. It is said that by 1880, there were fewer than 20 people left on the hill, and by 1890 less than 10.

There was a chestnut blight in 1900, and Cornwall itself was affected by it. Some historians believe that the town was almost in financial ruin because of it--and Dudleytown had only one--maybe two--families still living there. The trees in Dudleytown were just beginning to come back then, and it is at this time Dr. Clark bought his land.

Dudleytown, then, had literally died. Was there ANY chance left for it? Not as a town, for sure. Yes, there were still one or two folk left....there are records of a Joseph Matyas, Sr., who rented some land in the South end of Dudleytown and grazed cattle. No unusual occurrences were visited upon him. Some residents in the area still pick berries there, and there are one or two occupied houses even today.

After Dr. Clark's unfortunate experience, he remarried about 1920, and just four years later formed the "Dark Entry Forest Association", and attempted to make Dudleytown Hill a Summer resort (actually, a sort of Country Club) for New York Doctors. I would like for you now to remember that---up till now---NO strange stories or happenings had ever been reported about Dudleytown, and as far as Dr. Clark knew, it would be a perfect place to live.

Dr. Clark bought a red brick house just down the road from the old Heman Swift house (on what is now Rt. 45), and there lived till his death in 1943. The Dark Entry Forest Association (DEF), had grown, and built Bald Mountain Farm on Dudleytown Road (now Bald Mountain Road) as a sort of Bed and Breakfast affair to attract new members, and all seemed to be going well....and then......

"They found a Way" was published in 1938. It is unknown what effect the book had on the DEF, or Cornwall. Some alive at the time state that they thought it was a quaint book, and gave no notice to it. Everyone who read it didn't believe the story of Dudleytown contained within it, as most of the other stories it contained were not true also. It the light of the history of the legend, apparently most of the folks that read it nation wide didn't give it much thought either. Not then, at least.

World War Two came and went. Dr. Clark died. The Korean War came and went...... The DEF grows somewhat, but due to the nations unfortunate troubles, not by as much as it had wanted. The trees grew strong--and very, very thick. Dark Entry Road--known for its dimness at noon at the height of the towns now dead history--regains the reason for its name. And the wildlife makes its return to the hill. All seems to be going well. Cornwall shares in the normalcy of the times also. Its population grows somewhat--though it will never break 2,000. There is only one, small (very small) problem at this time.............the bugs. Then come the sixties.

Cornwall attempted to end the problem of the bugs with a fix the whole nation was using----DDT. (NOTE: what follows is hotly debated by the residents of Cornwall....some say the DEF did it, others say it didn't happen at all. However, I got this bit of history from a few residents who distinctly remember it.....could the town be covering it up? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm) It seems the town was sprayed in the late 1960's....and Dudleytown Hill was sprayed HEAVILY. To heavily, perhaps, for it seems that during most of the 1970's, and even early 80's, all the wildlife departed Dudleytown Hill, and it was dead silent up there for most of this time.

It is also remarkable that the sixties saw the rise of Eastern Religions, which would grow up to be NEW AGE philosophy in the 70 and 80's. Additionally, during the 70's we see the resurgence of (pseudo) Satanist groups in the U.S. Anyone alive during this time will remember what I am talking about. Satanists seemed to be everywhere! And "experts" on such things appeared on all the talk shows. They even seeped into the day care centers, which were supposedly "covens" of Satanists using children in rituals. This was a time of seeming mass hysteria. Luckily, it all ended when most of the "experts" (who were promoting the whole thing) were found to be frauds. (unfortunately, not before a lot of innocent people were sent to jail. In the middle of all this, Ed Warren formed his New England Paranormal Society, which would soon begin splitting and forming others. Lots of others.

Then "Ghost Hunters" by the Warrens is published, and in the midst of the now blossoming Paranormal Groups---all looking for a place to "investigate", the legend of Dudleytown is born. Articles abound....seances held....and by 1993, Dan Ackroyd is saying that Dudleytown is "the most haunted place on earth."

This ends the series of articles on the history of Dudleytown. YOU now have the enough FACTS at your disposal to make your own rational decision.

Now the ball is in your court. You have the truth. Should you decide to NOT believe what has been presented you, I challenge you to disprove it. That is the ONLY way to escape it.

Continue your tour, with "Why is Dudleytown Haunted".