Fall Into Geocaching:
Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon Lake SRA):
"Hoosier Pioneers!" |
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This cache was created by the Indiana Department of Natural
Resources, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs to promote
geocaching in the Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs during the
fall of 2006. It was a part of the larger contest. Each cache in
this series had a special word(s) in bold on the top of the log
sheet. There were a total of 22 different caches located in 22
different state parks, recreation areas, or reservoirs. The first
team to successfully find and log online 10 of these caches and
email the 10 words (with their corresponding park) won. All other
teams completing also went into a drawing for other prizes. The
contest period ran from Labor Day until Dec 31, 2006.
Welcome to Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon Lake
SRA)! Cecil M. Harden Lake is located on Big Raccoon Creek in the
rolling farmland of Parke County. Named for Benjamin Parke, the
first judge of the U.S. District Court in Indiana, Parke County was
officially organized on January 9, 1821. As with most of southern
Indiana, Parke County was inhabited by several Native American
tribes, primarily the Delaware, Shawnee, and Miami. The Native
Americans lost the area following the signing of the “10 O’Clock
Treaty” in 1809 and the Treaty of St. Marys in 1818.
By 1840, the settlement of Parke County was complete. The Native
Americans gave the name “Pun-goso- co-nee” to the largest stream in
Parke County, meaning “Stream of Many Sugar Trees.” Early settlers
translated that as Sugar Creek and followed the Native Americans in
collecting sugar water from the trees each spring. They boiled the
water down to syrup or granulated sugar for use as a sweetener
during the rest of the year. Today, several active sugar camps
still operate in the hard maple groves along Sugar Creek. Equipment
has been modernized, but the technique and spirit is the same as
that of the pioneers over 150 years ago.
Many of the early pioneers to this area can still be found. Dead
and buried, of course. Trail 1 starts at the main boat ramp and
goes around the south shore of the peninsula to the Payne Shelter.
Along the way, hikers will pass the Payne Cemetery, an 1800's
pioneer cemetery.
Be sure to explore everything Raccoon Lake has to offer. Many
hiking trails show off this area's great scenery, with its dense
forests and large rock outcrops. Seek out the Interpretive
Naturalist on site to explore our natural resources that Raccoon
Lake has to offer! Enjoy!