As the story goes there is a rocky cliff on the Chicopee river where during colonial times a group of Amerindians fatally jumped from its top into the river in order to escape an armed colonial militia on their pursuit . Some variations of the story tell that Amerindians were thought to be responsible for a previous attack on a settlement but may not necessarily those that regularly used the river island downriver from the Ludlow Falls for tribal meetings. The militia didn't pause to ascertain the culpability of those assembled when they came upon their gathering, and chased them to the cliffs after crossing the river. Rather than being caught or because of being forced, the leaping of the Amerindians into the rushing waters took place.
The Leap is actually found on the Ludlow side.
It is a popular area especially in summer time.
It was connected to the Indian Orchard side by a railroad bridge for the Athol branch of the Boston Albany Railroad Co.
After many years of low or no usage and a fatal fall by illegal pedestrian crossing in the
early 1990s it was demolished.
The bridge stumps on each river side can still be seen , but the middle or river support is gone.
Earlier demolished was a pedestrian bridge just downriver from it.
Looks good
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