WSQ Dodge County #2: Salem Mystery Cache
WSQ Dodge County #2: Salem
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Small, Quiet Cemetary. The listed coordinates are for parking.
This is the second in a series of caches I plan to place in a circuit through Dodge County. I have researched and studied these cemetaries for interest and sometimes a little history along the way.
Cemetaries hold a great wealth of potential for the geocaching public. I hope that my series will inspire you and get you thinking about life, death, traditions, honor, sadness, beauty, nature, and craftsmanship.
The WSQ indication is in the title to let you know that this is a special Wisconsin Spirit Quest cache. This tells you the cache is located in a cemetary. A higher level of reverance and care is required when searching for these caches. Please be considerate of mourners and monuments. The cache is not placed by any gravesite. Enjoy the hunt. The caches in the series can be done in any order or started in order at any place. Chronological order will get you the best gas mileage.
This cemetary is small and quite old, but very well maintained. Here is where I discovered two civil war veterans who are buried here. In my reasearch I discovered a website: suvcwdb.org. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is an organization dedciated to memorializing all Civil War Veterans. In this cemetary you will see a star symbol made of metal that has the letters GAR and years of service listed on it. These years are the years the deceased was enlisted.
Another fascinating attribute about this cemetary is the beautiful "tree" headstone. These were popular memorials of the era. Especially with families from European decent. The Sadowskifamily has done some great caches bringing attention to these monuments. See their series WSQ Petrified Wood.
Now on to finding the cache! After parking at the listed coordinates, find the "tree". Examine it for the number of ivy leaves. Leaves + 7 = A.
Walk approx 20 paces towards the star marker I spoke of. This is the marker of Owen Owens a Civil War Veteran. Take his first year of service - 1076 = B.
Near Owen is a relative Edward. Approx 11 paces towards another star marker. Edward's middle initial is what number in the alphabet? Add 39 to this number for C.
Final Coordinates: N43 A.B W88 C.997
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Uvag: Vil, sbe erny.