Steps of Fire Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Galena, Illinois
The Steps of Fire Cache will take you to historic downtown Galena, Illinois. This is a two stage multi-cache with the posted coordinates being the first stage. On street parking is available near the first stage. Discover what is believed to be the oldest firehouse of its type in Illinois at the posted coordinates. An example of Italianate architecture, Old No. 1 Firehouse is owned by the City of Galena and was most recently restored in the early 2000s. Through a viewing door at the front of the building, you will see an 1854 Agnew hand pumper fire apparatus. The Agnew is one of the oldest and most well preserved hand pumpers in the country. This pumper was used by the Galena Fire Department for fire fighting in the mid-1800s and has been continuously owned by the Galena Fire Department for more than 150 years. The City bought 2 of these hand drawn pumpers. This one is the Liberty. The other was named Neptune. They were the finest pumpers available at that time. They could shoot water 85 feet. This pumper was restored to original condition and is in working condition. It takes 12 men to run the pump. Each pump needs a 26 man crew so they can trade off from the exhausting work.
Next to the firehouse you will see an incredible staircase rising to the streets above. This historic staircase was reconstructed in the mid-1990s by the City of Galena and the Galena Foundation with grant funds from a federal surface transportation program. During construction, a large backhoe actually operated on the grass hillside where the free span meets the hill. The backhoe could have reached out and touched the roof of the adjacent church! These steps will take you to Grant's pre-Civil War home at 121 S. High Street.
Grant attended this church next to the Fire House. His pew was number 31. This church was built by another of the 9 Galena Generals, John Corson Smith.
On the front of Old No. 1 Firehouse you will find a historical plaque listing the date the building was built. Substitute the numbers in the date for the following letters: A B C D
Solve the following equation by substituting the above numbers for the letters: (B X D) – (C X A + 3) = E
Go to the front of the church to find the date it was Founded - The earlier date Carved in stone above the entry door.
That date will be the following letters. F G H I
Grant's pew number will be J K
Now use the information gathered to complete the coordinates for the final cache.
N.42.24.(B + F) I E W.090.25. G C ( K - F )
All stages of this cache are on public property! Please respect the property rights of the homes and church adjacent to the caching area. The final cache is packed with the usual goodies. Please watch for muggles at all stages of this cache! Enjoy
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cyrnfr ernq gur yvfgvat pnershyyl.
Gur pbagnvare vf oevtug lryybj; naq vf nggnpurq gb n ergevriny gbby.