Welcome to Cradock! This area is now part of Portsmouth but was originally its own community. In fact, it was Virginia's first planned community. If you look at a map, you will notice that it was laid out in the shape of an anchor. The town was founded during the first world war. My grandparents moved here with my father just before WWII. Grandpa used to run Cradock Pharmacy here on the square. In fact, he had it in three different locations here until he closed up shop in the early 1960's. Cradock is not the thriving little community that it once was but there are still many people who live here from the old days. I have been visiting here since 1966 and I'm pleased to share it with you. If you want to download an EasyGPS file for all of the waypoints, you can do that here. Now for your hunt!
The posted coordinates are for the first waypoint. Here you will find a marker for the historic district. The year at the bottom is going to be A B C D. NOTE: The plaque is currently missing. Use 1966 as the year. Put those in the worksheet below. Looking back over your right shoulder, you will see the Cradock branch of the Portsmouth Library. It used to be where the post office is now, attached to the fire station. When I was very little, my grandmother was a librarian there. She would take me over to see the fire trucks.
Now go to Waypoint Two, which is located at N 36° 48.051', W 76° 19.028'. Find the dedication plaque. How many 9's are on this plaque? The answer will be E. Now if you turn around, you will see the old Afton Theater. My dad used to go here on Saturdays. Eventually, his family had the first television in Cradock. The neighbor kids would all come over to watch TV on Saturday but I'm sure that they still made time for the movies. A few doors to the left of the theater is this establishment. It was the second location of my grandfather's pharmacy.
Waypoint Three is very close: N 36° 48.047', W 76° 18.977'. On either side of the little steps going up, you will see some engraved pavers. The last word on the one that is "in memory of" my grandpa has how many letters? That number will be F. Can you see the little brick Disabled American Veterans building off to your right? That was the last Afton Square location of grandpa's pharmacy.
Waypoint Four is where my grandpa first had his drugstore. I think it was then called Leary's Pharmacy. The coordinates are N 36° 48.047', W 76° 18.948'. It's the one on the corner. Look above the door and see the street address. That number will be G H. Grandpa usually went by "W.T." but back then many of the locals called him "Doc".
Another letter: 8 - F = I.
One last letter: B - A = J. You now have enough information to find the final geocache!
WORKSHEET: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A B C D E F G H I J
GEOCACHE LOCATION: N 36° 48.EJD' (N 36° 48._ _ _')
W 76° 1H.ICG' (W 76° 1_._ _ _')
UPDATE NOVEMBER 18, 2010: The geocache has been replaced twice and moved a few feet from the original location. The geocache container is no longer an ammo can but a small container. I encourage you to look at the photo of the final location before you go on the hunt. It won't spoil the multi-cache but it will be useful at the end. Please, oh please, re-hide this one very well. One more thing: the final location may be haunted. Feel free to e-mail me with questions or send me photos. Have fun!