F.D.N.Y. - Fathers Day Fire Multi-cache
ChiefGeocacher: Hello Spungebob -
As the issues with this cache have not been resolved, I must regretfully archive it.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
ChiefGeocacher
F.D.N.Y. - Fathers Day Fire
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is a regular sized cache hidden in a special park. All the stages of this cache are very easy to find. The final can be very busy, day or night, hence the difficulty rating. You should have no problem locating it, however getting it is the problem. Leave some time to wait, if needed.
This cache is in honor of John Downing, Harry Ford, and Brian Fahey (all fathers), who gave their lives at a fire on Fathers Day in 2001. It will take you to two beautifully painted murals, and a small but special neighborhood park. It is a 3-stage multi-cache that starts out at the above coordinates. I recommend that you take a car. It’s about 5 miles, and parking is not much of a problem.
If you take the subway:
One transfer is required to get to from Stage-1 to Stage-2, but the last two stages are within walking distance of one another. You can expect to walk about ½ mile between stage 2 and the final, and the final is right at a subway stop.
Stage-1:
The above coordinates bring you to the site of the fire. The fire was in the basement of a hardware store. During their attempts to extinguish the blaze, the store violently exploded and partially collapsed burying Ford, Downing, and another firefighter Joe Vosilla on the sidewalk. Fahey was trapped inside. Vosilla was badly injured along with many other firefighters that day. You will see the mural painted on the wall across the street in honor of these three brave men who gave their lives protecting others. On the corner there is a F.D.N.Y. pull box that will give you the coordinates to stage-two. It is an original style mechanical pull box that needs to be rewound every time it’s pulled. Just add the four-digit pull box number that’s on the front plate to this:
Hint: The first box number ends with an 8.
40 37.178N -- 073 46.756W
--+ x.xx8 ------- + x.xx8
---------- -- -----------
40 xx.xx6N -- 073 xx.xx4W
Stage-2:
The second stage is another beautifully painted mural. It is on the outside wall of a very Irish pub. Stop in for a pint of Guinness if you like but take a look at the mural and you will see an amazing likeness of the three men along with some other beautiful American and Irish themes. Next, walk to the corner near the entrance to the pub, and get the four-digit number off of the front plate of the pull box and add it to these coordinates:
Hint: The second box number also ends with an 8.
40 37.381N -- 073 47.527W
--+ x.xx8 ------- + x.xx8
---------- -- -----------
40 xx.xx4N --- 073 xx.xx8W
Final Stage:
Now that you have the final coordinates, it is just a short drive away. As you head over, take a look around you. This was John Downing’s hometown. When he was a boy, this was still very much a neighborhood that was full of Irish immigrants. Although New York is constantly changing, you can still see the traces of it’s Irish past as you head over. Since John grew up here and also became a firefighter here, he is very much a proud part of that history! The final coordinates take you to a nice little spot that seems to be always crowded, even at all hours of the day. When you get there, you will see why this is your final destination. Take a load off your feet, sit on a bench and think for a minute about someone you love.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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