♪ >> YOU CAN GO THAT WAY OR THAT WAY.
I AM GUESSING THAT WAY.
J.W. OAKER IS A MAN ON A MISSION.
EQUIED WITH GPS COORDINATES AND A TIRELESS CURIOSITY.
>> IT SAYS WE ARE RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS.
HE HAS BEEN TIPPED OFF THERE’S SOMETHING STRANGE IN THIS FOREST IN UPTON.
>> IT CANNOT BE TOO FAR OFF THE PATH -- THERE IS.
>> BINGO.
A RANDOM, SOLITARY HEADSTONE POKING UP OUT OF THE UNDERBRUSH, THAT SPOT WHERE, MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO, A CERTAIN ISAAC NELSON HAD A MISFORTUNATE ENCOUNTER WITH A TREE LIMB.
>> RECEIVED A MORTAL WOUND ON THIS SPOT BY THE FALL OF A TREE.
>> IT IS ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE BELT FOR THIS CONNOISSEUR OF CURIOSITIES.
HIS UPSET, ODD THINGS I’VE SEEN.
>> WE CALL IT "OTIS," BECAUSE MY WOULDN’T WE?
>> IT IS A COMPENDIUM OF NATURAL CURIOSITIES -- PRETTY MUCH ALL THINGS WEIRD AND WONDERFUL.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, A FAIR AMOUNT IS HIDDEN IN THE WOODS.
>> THIS KIND OF STUFF IS ALL OVER THE FOREST.
STUFF YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW -- YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IT IS THERE.
>> WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE ALONG WITH HIM TODAY.
THIS STONE IN UPTON HAS THE RAREST OF ALL RARITIES.
A FRESH FIND.
THAT IS, IT IS VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN, UNLIKE THE THOUSAND OR SO OTHER SITES ON HIS NEW ENGLAND LIST.
>> EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, I CAN LINK TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEM, OR OTHER THINGS.
THE ONLY REASON I KNEW ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE A READER SENT IT TO ME.
>> FORESTS MAY BE SYMBOLS OF ABUNDANCE, BUT COME WINTER TIME, IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY.
THE WOODS ARE LITTERED WITH DEAD STUFF.
AND WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING OLD STICKS.
♪ >> THIS IS A PET CEMETERY.
THIS IS VIRGINIA -- MADE FOR HER ANIMALS.
>> THEIR GREENWAYS CONSERVATION LAND, ONCE THE PRIVATE ESTATE OF THE PAYNE FAMILY.
>> THERE ARE X NUMBER OF STONES HERE.
>> OUR GUIDE, GRETCHEN.
>> THIS IS MCCRACKEN, AN IRISH SETTER.
HE WANTED TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
>> TODAY, THE GROUNDS OF THE ESTATE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE ANCESTRAL HOME HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO AN ELDER CARE FACILITY, BUT VIRGINIA PAYNE WAS DEADSET ON MAKING SURE ONE THING
LIVED ON.
>> ONE OF HER CONDITIONS WAS A PET CEMETERY HAD TO BE CONSERVED.
AND THEY HAD TO BE AN EASEMENT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO COME OUT HERE.
SORRY ABOUT THIS.
>> NO WORRIES.
GIVES US TIME TO TURN ATTENTION TO THESE HEADSTONES.
>> "CHRONICLE, "CHRONICLE THE PROGRAM ON -- "CHRONICLE," THE PROGRAM ON CHANNEL 5, IS DOING A PROGRAM ON ECCENTRICITIES IN THE WOODS.
>> THAT IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS ODD SPOT WAS ODDER.
>> WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE ONE?
>> LITTLE SIMY, ADOPTED FROM AFRICA.
>> HE WAS ORPHANED.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA, BECAUSE I DO NOTHING WE CAN BRING MONKEYS HOME TODAY.
IT SAYS "THIS LITTLE LIFE IS WOVEN WITH THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR HOME, 1226 -- 1926-1960." >> A SOMEWHAT SOBERING ERA OF MORTALITY ALSO HOVERS OVER OUR
NEXT SPOT.
IN THE WOODS OF LYNNFIELD, JUST FOLLOW THE CRUDELY PAINTED SKULL.
>> IT IS A MURAL THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE, SEVERAL ARTISTS HAVE BEEN VISITING.
>> SKULL CLIFF, A MASSIVE WORK THAT APPEARED MYSTERIOUSLY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AT THE HANDS OF SOMEONE CALLED "ICHABOB." -- "ICHABOD." >> AS FAR AS THE ARTIST, I HAVE
NO IDEA WHO ICHABOD IS.
>> SKULL CLIFF AND THE NOTORIETY IT HAS BROUGHT GETS MIXED REVIEWS.
>> WE WOULD PREFER THEM NOT DOING THIS, BUT NOW THAT IT IS HERE, I GUESS IT IS BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE AREA, SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A WIN-WIN.
HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL BRING A TRASH BAG NEXT TIME THEY VISIT.
I NOTICE A LOT OF DEBRIS HERE THAT SHOULD NOT BE HERE.
>> HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CAME FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA TO