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All the United States Massachusetts The Spite Wall
AO Edited

The Spite Wall

One man built this massive wall to keep his neighbor from complaining about working on Sundays.

Westminster, Massachusetts

Added By
kensears37
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View of the Spite Wall from across the street.   kensears37 / Atlas Obscura User
View of the Spite Wall from across the street.   kensears37 / Atlas Obscura User
Sign marking the Spite Wall.   kensears37 / Atlas Obscura User
Along the side of the wall.   kensears37 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When Edmund Proctor purchased his farm in Westminster, Massachusetts in 1852, he didn't see any issue working on all seven days of the week. Farwell Morse, his neighbor across the street thought differently.

Massachusetts still had many Puritanical traditions at the time, which included not working on Sunday as it was considered the Sabbath. Morse expressed his displeasure with Proctor's decision to work on his farm even on Sundays, however, Morse had no intentions of stopping.

In an attempt to end the dispute and perhaps irritate his neighbor, Proctor constructed an 11-foot-tall, 60-foot-long stone wall between the properties. With the massive wall, Morse would not be able to see when he was working. Proctor continued working on his wall until he died in 1890 at the age of 71. 

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Walls History & Culture Design

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The Spite Wall is right on the side of North Common Road in Westminster, MA. 

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Added By

kensears37

Published

August 23, 2021

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  • https://nypost.com/2023/10/11/morgan-state-university-to-build-wall-around-baltimore-campus-after-four-students-shot/
  • https://www.thegardnernews.com/article/20120514/news/305149747
The Spite Wall
133 N Common Rd
Westminster, Massachusetts, 01473
United States
42.569761, -71.904496
Get Directions

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