Before it acquired its present name, the twelve-square-mile area which contains it was know as NAQUAG?  At first a gift to the Rev. Thomas Prince, on September 24, 1734, (for whom Princeton was name), the southerly half of the hill after his death was sold by daughter Sarah through her husband, Moses Gill, to Caleb Mirick for 100 pounds, two shillings, and eight pence: "well and truly paid by Caleb Mirick of Princeton in the County of Worcester" reads the recorded deed.

This Caleb Mirick while salting his catled pastured on the slope of the hill, came upon a bear cub with no evidence of a mother. Thinking to take it home as a playmate for his children, Caleb scooped it into his arms and sped for home with his prize hoping to reach the cabin before the old bear discovered her loss. The cub entertained different ideas and called lustily for his mother, who heard her offspring's cries and took after the kidnapper in hot pursuit. Man and bear reached the cabin at about the same time. Realizing that the jig was up, Caleb dropped the cub on the doorstep and dove headlong into the cabin slamming the door in the bear's face.

Believe it or not, that same doorstep is now used at the Fay farm, having been taken from the cabin site by Caleb Mirick II for his house, which was once used as a tavern and recently owned by the Fay and Yagloo families. When they moved the house to the present location, the old door stone accompanied it.


Copied from Princeton News, Vol 1, #4, dated 6/1/1952