Fall Into Geocaching: Fort Harrison State Park Traditional Cache

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Pokagon Nature Center: This one is done.

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Hidden : 8/30/2006
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Fall Into Geocaching: Fort Harrison State Park:
"War and Peace!"

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 this fall. It is part of a larger contest. Each cache in this series (search "fall into geocaching") has a special word(s) in bold on the top of the log sheet. There are a total of 22 different caches located in 22 different state parks, recreation areas, or reservoirs. Though not needed to log the cache, the first teams to successfully find (and log online) 10 of these caches and email to the profile above the 10 words (with their corresponding park) will win. All other teams completing it will also go into a drawing for other prizes. The contest period goes from Labor Day until Dec 31, 2006.

Participants can look for caches anytime during the contest period; however, the first geocacher who finds ten of the 22 caches, reports to the contest coordinator and is verified as a winner will be awarded a $100 gift certificate to Indiana State Park inns. Only one gift certificate will be awarded. All other prizes (annual passes, campnights, daily entrance admissions) will be awarded at the end of the contest in a drawing for participants who have located at least 10 of the 22 caches. One hundred free “Fall into Geocaching” t-shirts will be also be awarded in a drawing for anyone who participates and reports finding at least one cache. The usual State Park admission is required ($1.00 bicycle, $4.00 in-state weekday, $5.00 weekend, or $7.00 out of state vehicles).
Whether you visit our great State Parks and Reservoirs for a day or an entire weekend, we hope you get out and see all that Indiana has to offer. Be sure to also check out some of the geocaching events going on at various State Parks this fall! Good Luck!!!

You can find other "Fall Into Geocaching" caches at:
· Brookville Lake: GCY8VY
· Brown County State Park: GCY5NA
· Fort Harrison State Park: GCY1VM
· Indiana Dunes State Park: GCXYQ7
· J. Edward Roush Reservoir: GCY5XR
· Mansfield Mill: GCY5FP
· McCormick’s Creek State Park: GCY29G
· Mississinewa Reservoir: GCY31P
· Mounds State Park: GCY8VD
· Ouabache State Park: GCY24C
· Pokagon State Park: GCXWHP
· Potato Creek State Park: GCXZYK
· Prophetstown State Park: GCY5WR
· Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area: GCY5F0
· Salamonie Reservoir: GCY5DP
· Shades State Park: GCY16E
· Shakamak State Park: GCY22T
· Spring Mill State Park: GCY6T4
· Summit Lake State Park: GCXYR2
· Tippecanoe River State Park: GCY2TZ
· Turkey Run State Park: GCY13M
· Whitewater Memorial State Park: GCY8W1


Welcome to Fort Harrison State Park! Landscape and history blend in a unique setting in northeast Indianapolis at Fort Harrison State Park. The 1700-acre park features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek and two national historic districts. The former Citizen's Military Training Camp, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and World War II prisoner of war camp is preserved at the park headquarters location.
The first POWs started arriving in Indiana in 1943, by January of 1944, 250 Italians from Camp Atterbury moved to Fort Harrison. The Camp Edwin F. Glenn site, used for the Citizens' Military Training Camp in the 1930's, was fenced off and converted into a compound for POWs. Originally, two of the three mess halls were turned into living quarters for the prisoners, and the third became their mess hall.
After September of 1943, the Italians had switched sides and became our allies, so by the time they came to Fort Harrison; Italian soldiers were already reclassified as "co-belligerents." This made their internment somewhat paradoxical, since they were enemies when captured, but remained prisoners even after these circumstances changed.
The Italians performed Post maintenance, clean-up, and made improvements to the prison compound. They were at Fort Harrison only four months when they were transferred to Fort Hays, Ohio.

In May of 1944, 300 German prisoners, from Rommel's elite "Afrika Korps" moved into the camp. The Germans were extremely proud and patriotic. They arrived still wearing their worn and faded German military uniforms. They left a lasting impression with people who witnessed them goose-stepping in formation to their work site.
One story tells of the Germans assigned to put a new roof on the canteen. They carefully divided two shades of shingles and placed them to form a large swastika on the roof. The staff did not discover their handiwork for several days, after which time the job had to be re-done.
German prisoners were responsible for much of the work on the new Officers Club, now the Garrison Restaurant. They also maintained and repaired other post buildings, performed road work and assisted the quartermaster with laundry, equipment and motor pool duties. Some even waited tables at the Officers Club.

Fort Benjamin Harrison was closed as part of the 1991 Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service - Indianapolis is still located at the former post, as well as several U.S. Army Reserve and Indiana National Guard units, and a PX and commissary.
Today, the site of the base has been largely redeveloped, and includes residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and of course, Fort Harrison State Park. Take a walk at Fort Harrion, and enjoy one of the largest tracts of undisturbed forest in Central Indiana while finding this cache! Enjoy!

Note: Please park in suggested parking. There is no vehicle access down the closed road! Do not attempt to drive down there, walk only!

The "Fall Into Geocaching" series meets all guidelines set forth in the IDNR Geocaching Policy. If you are interested in placing a geocache in an Indiana State Park or Reservoir, please review our policy at: Link

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vg hfrq gb fgnaq gnyy ohg abj vg znxrf n frng sbe nyy.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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