Echoes Of St. Helena Etched In Stone Mystery Cache

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malonefamily: Thanks to everyone who has found this cache over the years. It is time to archive it now!

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Hidden : 4/25/2010
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


Park permit: LSP-36

Suggested parking coordinates are: N 42° 37.169 W 077° 59.670.

When you arrive at this parking area, you will notice a beautiful place where you can have a picnic lunch and enjoy the beauty of this park with fellow cachers! At these parking coordinates, you will want to be sure to check out the informative plaque about St. Helena. You will also see a sign indicating Trail 13 that is labeled St. Helena Trail. This trail will take you directly to the cache and it is about .34 each way. While taking this stroll, you will be walking along what was once the Main Street of St. Helena! There may be other trails and locations that you can start at that may get you to the cache area, but the trail located at the parking coordinates location will take you to the most direct way to the cache. Our family enjoyed a picnic lunch and this hike as we placed the cache.

We received the ammo can used for this cache as an FTF prize from finding Dehgewanus’ “Higher Education in LSP” (GC24M86) cache. After receiving this awesome prize, we soon embarked on a mission to learn more about the history of this amazing park, and in turn wanted to place a cache that will bring people to another great location where you can learn about the rich history that abounds in Letchworth. Right away we were intrigued by the history of the Letchworth’s own forgotten or “lost” village, St. Helena.

This cache will bring you to St. Helena, an area of land once given to Mary Jemison after the Revolutionary War. The piece of property was originally called the “Gardeau Reservation,” which is where the name Gardeau Overlook has come from that you can find to the north. The Gardeau Reservation was six miles wide and 3 ¾ miles long, with the Genesee River running through it. St. Helena became a bustling town in this Gardeau Reservation. Now, trail 13 in Letchworth is a reminder of this ghost town, as it is has been created by one of the roads that led to the St. Helena village. For a map of St. Helena and more information, you can visit (visit link) or check out the book “St. Helena Ghost Town Of The Genesee 1797-1954” written by Mildred Lee Anderson and Marian Piper Willey that can be found in local libraries.
As you stand among the giant trees and occasionally might hear the chirp of a bird or the rustle of leaves as a tiny creature passes through the woods, try to imagine that this area once held a bustling village (1797-1954). The noises in the 1800’s included two working sawmills, a grist and flour mill, two general stores opening, a school bell calling the children to start their day, and farmers working their land. A covered bridge with wooden lattice work was even constructed in 1835 to allow people to go across the river. The bridge was replaced several times and was used until it was demolished in 1950. Today, visitors who travel on the river by canoe often exit at one of the original stone bridge abutments.

Another note of interest is that the original schoolhouse in St. Helena was built in the valley on the West side of the road leading towards Castile. The first school building was used until 1856. After 1856, a larger building was erected on the south side of Main St. The outside was white and the blinds were painted green. Students ranged in age from 5-21. In 1895, the average weekly wage for teachers was $8.75. The district only received $100 dollars from the state. Teachers needed to be at least 16 years old. The school bell would ring twice each day to beckon the children to come. This school was used until 1920. The desk from the St. Helena schoolhouse was purchased by the late Harold Harrison, district superintendent of schools. Mrs. Harrison and her sons later donated the desk in memory of Harold Harrison to the Castile Historical Museum.

ABOUT THE CACHE: At the posted coordinates, you will need to retrieve information that is on the bridge abutment to gain access to the cache. A local caveman had once told us a story about this area, and as we explored this amazing location we were in awe finding this piece of history! We found the names of people from the original St. Helena community, and you may also find this history of St. Helena etched in stone interesting and helpful in your search today! At this location, you may want to have some fun and listen to your echo in the distance too!

*PLEASE NOTE: To get the needed information, you do not have to touch or move any stones in this historic area. You only need your eyes! Please also be sure to watch any young children near the water areas. As with any cache in Letchworth, please use caution and remember that you do not need to enter the water or do anything dangerous to retrieve the cache.*

Once you have the needed information, you can begin the short journey to find the final location. Coordinates to the final are: N 42° 37.251 W 077° 59.555. You will be looking for an ammo box full of SWAG. Be sure to etch your name in history by signing the log book! Original SWAG contained 2 Letchworth hiking stick medallions, a Letchworth Park stationary set, 3 Letchworth pins, a wooden Letchworth pen, and 2 Letchworth vehicle stickers.

On your way out, you may also want to take the other “fork in the road” on the trail and check out the beautiful view at N 42° 36.940 W 077° 59.608. We had a great time coming out here and skipping stones.

A very special thank you to Paleoman52 and Dehgewanus for giving us this cache mission and to Roland Beck, park manager, for approving the placement of this cache!

Congratulations to Dehgewanus on being first to etch her name in the log book and on her first FTF!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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