Today, Stony Brook Reservation is known for its thick woods, hiking trails, biking, fishing and bubbling brooks. But over 150 years ago, the forest was home to a mysterious hermit, who went by the name James Gatley (sometimes spelled Gately). A few newspapers called him a “second Thoreau.” Today, he rests at Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham, where a simple stone marks his grave with the word “HERMIT.”

For nearly 30 years, Gatley lived in a small hut/cabin, spending his time studying birds and local wildlife while creating taxidermy specimens. Despite his nickname, Gatley was well-known in the area and acquainted with many famous ornithologists.

Gatley was born in Cheshire, England in 1810 to wealthy parents. He was well-educated and had a strong interest in birds, reptiles, and taxidermy. Gatley studied at the University of Oxford but left England in the 1840s and sailed to Australia. Parts of his early life are shrouded in mystery. There were rumors that he left England after having a son out of wedlock; while others claimed he was heartbroken after a failed romance. Some newspapers reported that Gatley had grown disillusioned with ordinary society. He returned to England a year later then sailed to the United States, settling in Roxbury.

While living in Boston, Gatley’s savings quickly dwindled. He tried to make a living stuffing birds and crafting bird cages, but he was offered very little money for his hard work. Gatley was later robbed of his remaining savings in Charlestown.

Down on his luck, Gatley set out into the woods with his gun. Around 1847, he decided to settle down and create a shack near an area known as Pine Garden, located in present-day Hyde Park. Today, this area is known as Crane’s Ledge. Gatley lived here for many years, under four wooden boards propped up against the ledge. His closest companions in his hut were snakes, rats, and lizards. Life as a hermit was extremely difficult. Gatley hunted for food, earned little money selling animal skins and stuffed birds, and had almost no protection from the rain and snow. He nearly starved to death multiple times and caught hypothermia. His bed was made of rocks and he cooked his food over a small fire. Word of the eccentric hermit quickly spread, and Gatley attracted many visitors. While some offered him money, which he refused, others brought him food and clothing.

Over the years, the population of the town grew, so Gatley decided to move elsewhere. According to the October 1874 Norfolk County Gazette, Gatley purchased an acre of land in 1855 from Joseph Williams of West Roxbury for $100. He lived in a 10-foot-by-12-foot hut on this land for nearly three decades, surrounded by hundreds of acres of forest. His abode was located in Grew’s Woods, an area that is now part of Stony Brook Reservation and the George Wright Golf Course.

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Gatley was interviewed by the Norfolk County Gazette in 1874. The front-page article was titled “James Gatley, the Hermit of Hyde Park.” The article described the interior of his humble living space, which served as a “museum.” The walls were lined with cases of birds and animals that he had stuffed over the years. Visitors could pay 10 cents to view his collection, which included swans, owls, squirrels, skunks, a porcupine, and a leopard. At the time, Gatley had two live pets in his hut: a parrot and an alligator.

In the interview, Gately revealed that he was taxed, but only had to pay $5.41 on his real estate. Gatley also discussed his past as a talented and successful dog-trainer. He recalled the deep bond with his dog, Nero. He taught the dog to fetch woodcock, and Nero slept beside him every night. “When he died, years after, I felt as though my best friend had been taken from me. He was the best dog that ever lived; and when I think of how faithful and how devoted he was to me, you cannot wonder that I mourn for him,” Gatley stated.

The hermit’s story was published in multiple newspapers across the United States, including in The Maine Farmer, The Pittsburgh Commercial, Leslie’s Weekly in New York City, and The Homesteader in Nebraska.

Gatley died in February 1875 after falling ill due to the extreme cold. His funeral at the Christ Church in Hyde Park was very well-attended. The hermit’s legacy lives on at the Hyde Park Library, where several of his specimens are on display.