The Cross, also known as The Barre Cross, God's Wisdom, or The Ten Commandments on Earth, is a large privately-created geoglyph park in Barre, Massachusetts, United States. John P. Harty Sr. started the project in 1989 and it opened to the public in 1992. Main features include a large asphalt cross on the ground with the Ten Commandments written on it, trees spelling out the text "God's Wisdom", and a holy well.
Inspiration
Tool dealer John P. Harty Sr. said that at the age of 67 when he was saying the Lord's Prayer laying in his bed around midnight on March 16, 1989, he heard a clear voice from God giving him a set of instructions to create a large monument including the Ten Commandments and "Love thy neighbor as thyself" written on a cross on his farmland. Hardy claimed that through a series of visions, he learned several details about what to create, including a pond, a well, a message made of trees, and dimensions for the construction. After completing the main project in 1992, Hardy opened it to the public saying that he expected many people would soon come to see his cross.
Features
Cross
The cross is constructed of thick asphalt measuring long and wide, with the crossbar in length. A version of the Ten Commandments are painted on the cross with white traffic paint, with each letter high and wide. The letters were painted by Hardy's daughter Noreen Mascroft over the course of eight weeks, and are visible from in the air. The crossbar is angled slightly due to a belief that Jesus was crucified with his left side higher.
Well
Following the instructions that Harty claims he received, he tapped a well which is now called Jacob's Well. Harty's granddaughter Amy Grandone said in 2025 that every day people come to the well, some with buckets, in part due to stories of healings associated with the water there. Johanna Glazier, another granddaughter of Harty, said "Some people claim they've been cured of certain sicknesses" after drinking the water.
God's Wisdom text
The words "God's Wisdom" are spelled out using arborvitae evergreen trees and white stone, so that the text is visible from the air even in the winter. According to Glazier, they grew twice as tall as normal despite no special care or watering.
Other features
An information shed that includes images of the cross's construction as well as messages of faith. A heart-shaped praying circle that surrounds the cross. A triangular monument that symbolizes the Trinity. Fruit trees. A pond. Small stone benches to allow people to sit and reflect. A small family cemetery, which includes the final resting place for Harty.
Response
Visitors from around the world have traveled to see The Cross. There has been little vandalism over the years, though they needed to restrict visiting to daylight hours so that loud groups would not disturb their neighbors. The Cross has no admission fee and is open on every day of the year for anybody to come visit. It has been the site of several weddings and baptisms.
References
Further reading
Note that this book is self-published under a pseudonym by a relative of Harty.
External links