This is a unique monument in Becket. It was originally a stone cairn, a pile of rocks, bricks and engraved dressed stones which stood over 15 feet in height. Now it has been set in mortar in a pyramidal shape and trimmed to a monument approximately one foot thick and eight feet wide. The stones have been painted brown. Included in the monument are commemorative stones beginning with the cap stone which says "Albany, N.Y. September 24, 1910." Another advertises "Lerner Waists" from New York City. A third has the logo of the Anheiser/Bush Brewing Company and several have names of soldiers inscribed on them.
The Jacob's Ladder Trail stone cairn was begun on September 24, 1910 at the dedication of the newly constructed one and a half mile section of state highway in Becket which avoided the treacherous Jacob's Ladder. Celebrators brought stones from their towns and it was later reported that stones were"acquired from all of the original American states and various historic spots." (Line Harger. Berkshire Eagle, 9/22/50.) Symbolic of the impending importance of the automobile, local automobile clubs contributed stones. These clubs recognized the importance of the automobile to travel and tourism which was now made more accessible across the Berkshires. The cairn was originally set on the north east corner of the Trail and Fred Snow Road. In 1930 it was moved across the road and set in mortar; and sometime after 1946 it was moved to its present location east of the Summit House. At that time the monument was scaled down, boulders were sheared off, the principal one having been the entry stone to a nearby farm.
