 MA Ghost Town
A cache by w1qa Hidden: 5/29/2004
Size:  (Regular) Difficulty:  Terrain:  (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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Welcome to the MA Ghost Town
Cache!
In seeking this cache you will explore some of the wilderness areas
of the Quabbin Reservation and the old town of Dana - now a ghost
town!
Background
 In the early 1900's it was
determined that eastern Massachusetts was going to need a long term
reliable source of water. Legislation was passed that called for
the building of two large dams that would block the Swift River and
flood most of the former towns of Dana, Greenwich, Enfield and
Prescott. This cache is dedicated to all those who sacrificed their
homes and way of life.
Dana MA was one of the four towns that was lost in the creation of
the Quabbin Reservoir. Unlike the other towns of the Quabbin, the
center of Dana was never submerged and today remains a ghost town.
The Town of Dana was incorporated on 18 February 1801 and was
dissolved on 28 April 1938. Although the buildings have long since
been removed the foundations, roads and even sidewalks remain for
you to explore.
Access
Dana (and the cache) is located in the Quabbin Reservoir watershed
system, which is maintained by the Mass Department of Conservation
and Recreation (formerly the Metropolitan District Commission or
MDC). Please abide by all rules and regulations which are posted at
access gates. Information is also available at the visitor's center
(see info below).
Access is allowed from one hour before sunrise to one hour after
sunset. Bicycling is allowed on the paved roads (including those
around this cache). Animals are NOT allowed. A
temporary restroom has been placed a short walk in from the parking
location for this cache, near one of the multi-cache locations as
well as near the reservoir west of the cache (see MDC Quabbin map).
During appropriate seasons bug spray and tick precautions are
advised. National security conditions may require the temporary
closure of the watershed to all public access. Notices will be
posted at all access points if closure is necessary.
To visit Dana proceed to the Gate 40 parking area (N 42 26.457 W 72
12.570) on Hardwick Road (Route 32A) in Petersham MA. This area is
also known as Nichewaug; many maps may still indicate this name.
(Quabbin gates are sequentially numbered in a clockwise location
around the reservation).
The Cache
Navigate to the cache coordinates and find the cache. The cache
contains the coordinates of two additional locations further to the
west. To claim this cache you must reach at least the second set of
coordinates. Photos are strongly encouraged! If you do not have
your own camera please take a camera from the cache with you on
your exploration of the ghost town of Dana and take a photo of
something interesting on your journey. (Please replace cameras in
zip-loc bags to keep them dry.) You'll also find a map and some
additional instructions in the cache - there are multiple copies,
feel free to take one with you (but please return them on your way
out).
 Dana Common
As you venture into the center of Dana you will find on the north
side of the common Dana's town hall and school - today only the
foundations and memories remain. In the field behind the school's
foundation was the town cemetery. Now all that remains are the
granite posts that once lined its borders. (The people interred in
the four towns' cemeteries were moved to other facilities; many
ended up at Quabbin Park Cemetery located at N 42 16.750 W 72
18.333)
At the west end of the common was the Eagle Hotel. Opened in the
early 1800's this facility boasted 15 rooms - quite something for a
small rural town who never had more than 900 inhabitants.
 On the south side of the common, along a road that leads
out into a field and eventually the reservoir, is the foundation of
Edgar Vaughn's home. It is unique in the fact that it is
constructed of small stones most likely from nearby streams.
See if you can find the foundation shown in the lower right hand
corner of the picture!
To appreciate what it may have been like please see the photos and
maps that can be found in the first note logged for this cache (you
may need to click on the View them all on one page link and
scroll all the way to the bottom to see that log). The cache
description photos can be found there as well.
Duration
Please allow enough time to fully experience this cache: your
journey will take you 4 to 8 miles round trip (6 to 13 km return)
most of which is on old paved roads - an easy hike except for the
distance. This cache is suitable for year-round visitation and
family friendly - its a beautiful place. Of course, the best time
may be in late fall when foliage is gone and more of what has been
left behind is evident. And speaking of left behind, please
remember to cache in - trash out!
Additional
Information
Quabbin Visitor's Center
285 Ware Road
PO Box 628
Belchertown MA 01007
413.323.7221
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily
emergencies / violations: Mass State Police 413.323.7561 (cell:
*MSP or 911)
rangers: 413.323.0191
Mass DCR East Quabbin Reservation Bicycle Access map:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/watershed/documents/eastquabbike.pdf
Friends of Quabbin: http://www.friendsofquabbin.org
WBGY Under Quabbin documentary: http://www.wgby.org/localprograms/pages/quabbi
n.html
Good Luck!
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20 user(s) watching this cache.
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Additional Hints (Decrypt)
1) evtug ng fvta - nabgure evtug - oruvaq ovt ebpx
2) zbahzrag - ab pbagnvare
3) oruvaq gur obk - onfr bs gerr - pbirerq jvgu fgvpxf(Decrypted Hints)
Find...
101 
2 
17 
1 
1 
1
Warning. Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Cache find counts are based on the last time the page generated.
 October 29, 2009 by w1qa (431 found)
** Coordinates Changed From **
N 42° 26.447 W 072° 12.663
Distance From Old: 62.7 feet
New coordinates for the first stage / waypoint for this cache.
View This Log |
 October 29, 2009 by w1qa (431 found)
The DCR has requested that caches in the Quabbin not be hidden in stone walls and other areas. That required this cache be moved which was accomplished today. Please note that the coordinates in the cache on the laminated card are now incorrect - please use the ones in the front of the log book. When I have a chance I will create new cards and replace them with the updated information.
View This Log
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 October 29, 2009 by w1qa (431 found)
Making changes per request of DCR
View This Log |
 September 26, 2009 by 4_Ever_Green (585 found)
Find #400! I visited the crash site earlier this summer and liked it so much I brought the kids back to bike this multi. We were pressed for time so were happy the stages were on trails that allowed bikes. It took 16 minutes for the kids to bike back to the parking from the final. At stage 1; T-Rubber bracelet & ring thing L-Paddle ball, sling shot; At final T-bounce ball & dinosaur; L-money bounce ball, ear plugs , finger traps and traded pathtag for GC. Thanks for this fun multi.
View This Log
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September 2, 2009 by DMSpen (35 found)
Thoroughily enjoy Gate 40 exploration...Took some time to locate the second cache, but eventually found it. While I was there, I sought out the jet plane crash site for the first time. It very much reminded me of a similar site I have visited many times of a B-52 Bomber crash site on Elephant Mountain in Greenville, ME. in the Moosehead Lake region. That wreckage is of a much larger magnitude, spread out over a mountain side. It has now become a designated tourist landmark. Google it on line for an interesting story. Thanks for the fun cache. TNLNSL
View This Log
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Current Time: 2/9/2010 3:05:02 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (11:05 PM GMT)
Last Updated: 11/8/2009 9:18:00 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (5:18 PM GMT)
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum
