Prophet's Rock & Historic Hebron

Many people acknowledge Hebron with the large eagle rock that sits on Route 66. I once blogged about this in the past and have over 10,000 views on that story, so it could be said that the popularity of this landmark is unmatched in Hebron’s history. However, what if I told you that the eagle rock wasn’t the first major “rock” to represent Hebron, Connecticut? Within the woods along Burrows Hill Road sits arguably Hebron’s most historic site, Prophet’s Rock, though some historians have acknowledged the rock as Prophet Rock or Prospects Rock. 

Pictured above is Prophet's Rock from historical documents (left) and Prophet's Rock pictured in 2026 (right). While they are different angles of the historical site, notice how the amount of trees and growth has drastically increased.

Unlike the eagle rock, which is the result of a Hebron resident creating his own famous landmark, Prophet’s Rock is a natural landmark that goes back to Hebron’s origins. At first sight along Burrows Hill Road, one wouldn’t ordinarily notice this rock. It is tucked up into the woods along a winding road, and the only part visible of the landmark is a sign and a very small parking lot that is nearly nonexistent. This rock is 12-feet high and sits on the original property of Edith Smith. I believe the signage and small parking lot was created as Boy Scout project (though I may be wrong on that), as it was intended to make Hebron residents aware of the historic landmark. That being said, the visibility isn’t great when driving, so it is easy for anyone to overlook this historic site and drive on by, unaware of the historic landmark. 

So where is the rock located from the street? If someone drove up to the sign and parked there, one could follow the trail up into the woods and up to the rock. The path isn’t too long, but it does go uphill and as of recently, the trail is getting smaller and smaller due to surrounding forest overgrowth. Nonetheless, if one were to make the trek through the woods, past some stone foundations on the ground, and up to the rock, they would notice Prophet’s Rock on a raised section of the woods, with a table installed next to it. This is a large 12-foot high rock that looks like it is split into two halves (although it could be two separate rocks). At first sight, this is nothing extraordinary. 

I must say that I am a little disappointed that the site of Prophet’s Rock is not as well kept up as it should be. Today, I find that there is much more forest overgrowth than there should be. If you look at the photographs from then and now, you will notice that there is a huge change between how much the woods have grown around the rock. I feel there should be a happy compromise where there is some forest around the rock, but not too much to surround the walking paths up to the rock. The rock, today, sadly, looks like a piece of deserted history. It would be nice if Parks and Recreation and the Hebron Historical Society (and/or other groups) can help to maintain the area around the rock formation and preserve our town’s history. Today, it just looks like a normal rock tucked away in the woods of Hebron, though when one understands the history surrounding the rock, there is much more to be told. 

According to John Sibun’s 1958 book, Our Town’s Heritage, Hebron, Connecticut, the first white men to settle in Hebron, Connecticut were Timothy Phelps (one of my former relatives) and William Shipman, who arrived from Windsor in 1704. Sibun indicates that before Hebron was a town, it was a hunting ground for many of the Native Americans. Previously, colonists had traveled through Hebron to scout the area and reach other more accessible locations, but the town had not fully become a town until 1708. The Native Americans, most notably Joshua, also known as Attawanhood, had accepted the “white man” and his ways, like his father, Uncas, the great Sachem of the Mohegans. A peaceful transaction was made between the Native Americans and the colonists, and this is how our beloved town came to be, and why the image of the “Sachem” was used to honor our town’s heritage. John Sibun mentions these details in his historic book, Our Town’s Heritage, Hebron, Connecticut. 

Pictured above, Martha Crow Phelps seeks her husband (Drawing by Susan Comire in John Sibun's 1958 book titled Our Town’s Heritage, Hebron, Connecticut) 

Pictured above are two additional photos of Prophet's Rock. On the left is a photo by Tennat from John Sibun's book, Our Town's Heritage, Hebron, Connecticut written in 1958. On the right is a picture by Time Martin from an article in the Regional Standard from February 20th, 1993.

Prophet’s Rock is part of Hebron’s origins. The rock was named even before Hebron was established as a town. There is much speculation and lore as to how this rock fits into the origin of Hebron, Connecticut, but one widely told legend is when Phelps and Shipman first came to Hebron and were separated by their wives. The men’s wives, with the name of Martha Crow Phelps being mentioned, used the hospitality of the rock to call out to their husbands in order to be reunited as families. It is said that Martha Crow Phelps clutched her Bible as she set into the woods, distraught from being away from her husband. John Sibun had indicated that the two male settlers (Phelps and Shipman) heard “strange sounds echoing across the valley.” While this is speculation, as no one knows if the men truly heard their wives, Prophet’s Rock served as the place for reuniting the families. Another account from the Rockville Leader, in 1932, indicated that the women might have feared the wolves in the area, so they hid beneath the overhang of Prophet’s Rock and cried out to their husbands (Regional Standard, February, 20th, 1993). 

Yet, Prophet’s Rock goes even further back in history. In a 1932 article written by Susan Pendleton, she speculated that the name “Prophet’s Rock” came from a legend where an elder Native American was “chanting a prophecy about the future of the town.” Whatever the case may be, it was recorded by the reporter from the Regional Standard in this 1993 article that “noise from the rock on the hill seems to carry longer than sounds anywhere else in the Burrows Hill Road area.” There is further lore regarding the rock- John Sibun mentioned that the rock was a place where Native Americans often hid during storms as a place of refuge, and Pendleton acknowledges that if “one were to look at the rock with the light just right at just the right angle, the silhouette of George Washington lying in state is evident" (Regional Standard, February 20th, 1993). Is George Washington really watching us all or extending his gratitude to Hebron, Connecticut? The local newspaper writer indicates that if this folklore is true, it is not easily evident. Obviously there are urban legends surrounding Prophet’s Rock, and it is recommended that you see it for yourself in order to determine which stories you believe. 

Pictured above is an image taken by Tim Martin in the Regional Standard, which was published in a story from February 20th, 1993.

Do these stories hold true about Prophet’s Rock being the foundation for our town Hebron, Connecticut? While many of these stories seem like urban legend, I find it reassuring that Prophet’s Rock stands as a symbol for hospitality, whether it was Martha Crow Phelps calling out to her husband or the Native Americans taking refuge in the rock during storms. The rock is also a symbol of peace; the founding of our town Hebron was a peaceful transaction between the Natives and colonists, and Prophet’s Rock was accounted as a hospitable symbol for both. Nonetheless, the name itself (Prophet’s Rock) derives back to a religious heritage and this is referenced on the sign itself outside the historic site. The sign reads: “The Prophet’s Rock refers to the Bible passage when Moses strikes a rock with his staff, and water flows out, saving the Israelites in the desert.” Whether you find the folklore about Prophet’s Rock true or not, it is evident that the rock’s name was founded based on religious principles. Prophet’s Rock is a symbol representing the founding of Hebron (also a biblical name) under peaceful terms between both the Natives and colonists. 

The sign outside the Prophet's Rock historical site on Burrows Hill Road, in Hebron, Connecticut

So, have you been out to Prophet’s Rock? What are your thoughts about the urban legends and folklore surrounding the rock and do you believe more work needs to be done to preserve Prophet’s Rock history in our future? I sincerely hope someone from Hebron will visit the rock and cut some of the forest brush away from the path, build a bigger lot (if possible) for parking and find ways to promote Hebron’s history. After all, we shouldn’t forget that the most historical landmark of our town is a legendary rock tucked away in the woods of Burrows Hill Road.