Easton Replaces Infamous ‘Satanic Imps’ Sign at Mill Pond

EASTON (WBSM) — One of Massachusetts’ most unique historic sites has undergone a significant change, taking away its dark history and replacing it with a more colorful design, but a far less colorful story.

The Mill Pond Sign That Drew Attention From Legend Trippers

Along Mill Street in Easton, in the heart of the mysterious vortex known as the Bridgewater Triangle, is the site of a former 18th-century sawmill. The mill pond is still there, and in 1999, the Easton Conservation Commission acquired the 66-acre site and erected a sign that pays homage to the legend around the mill.

“Site of the sawmill built by John Selee in the 18th century and continued by his son, Nathan, a wizard who purportedly used satanic imps to mill at night.”

The sign became a point of curiosity for those interested in all things strange and unusual, getting mentioned in everything from books and podcasts to websites such as Atlas Obscura and Roadside America.

READ MORE: What Is Massachusetts' Bridgewater Triangle?

This past week, however, the Town of Easton removed the celebrated sign and instead replaced it with a very plain version that only reads “Mill Pond” and “Easton Conservation Commission.” No more wizards, no more satanic imps.

Why the Town Decided to Replace It

WBSM reached out to the Town of Easton to find out why the sign was replaced.

“A few years ago we had a student evaluate our wooden signs. A number of the signs were breaking down and in need of replacement,” said Jennifer Carlino, Land Use and Environmental Planner for the Town of Easton.

“As part of the town’s wayfinding project, it was conveyed to the conservation commission that all signs should be adapted to this new sign format,” Carlino said. “The Community Preservation Committee and Town Meeting approved the expenditure of 12-14 new signs and they were installed in the past few weeks.”

READ MORE: Inside Easton's Borderland State Park

While adapting all of the town’s signs to one format certainly makes sense, it also means the Mill Pond sign has lost its unique tale that made it such a popular tourist destination. Perhaps that was by design.

However, the big question remains: is the legend of Easton’s Mill Pond and its long-gone sawmill actually true?

The Legend of the Wizard and the Sawmill

The story of the sawmill and its “satanic imps” was covered by the popular New England Legends podcast, hosted by Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger. As told in the podcast, Easton resident John Selee opened the sawmill in 1755 to take advantage of the construction boom happening in his growing town.

Selee planned to turn the sawmill over to his son Nathan, but legend has it the son was a brooding young man who was more interested in the dark arts than a day’s work. It was rumored that he made a pact with the devil in order to profit off the mill without having to do any of the work himself.

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As the legend goes, a resident of Easton named Tam O’Shanter was walking down the road late one night when he heard the sawmill running. The idea of the sawmill – which was dangerous work even in the light of day – running in the pitch black darkness frightened him. The scuttlebutt around town was that Nathan Selee was a wizard, and that his deal with the devil was fulfilled by a team of imps working the sawmill at night, allowing Selee to make all the money without doing any of the work – and all it cost him was his eternal soul.

Around 1792, the sawmill closed down, and over the years it rotted away, leaving just the site that exists today. Nathan Selee died in 1815 at the age of 82, and was buried in a nearby cemetery.

As pointed out in the New England Legends podcast, that meant he was buried in consecrated ground – something that would not have happened if there were townsfolk during his lifetime who believed he was into dark magic or had anything to do with the devil. The tale probably came about after his death.

READ MORE: A Hidden Gem of Healing Inside Easton's Borderland State Park

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What Will Become of the Original "Wizard" and "Satanic Imps" Sign?

A local resident has taken possession of the original sign and plans to have it restored. We will keep you updated on where it ends up in the future.