Mason Dixon Across the Brandywine Traditional Geocache
MikeOtt: This has been problem on and off with no good solution so time to put it to rest.
Mason Dixon Across the Brandywine
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The 4th of the Mason-Dixon series.
In 1763, Frederick Calvert and William Penn needed to correctly set the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Charles Mason from the Greenwich Observatory and Jeremiah Dixon a highly competent surveyor were hired to settle the dispute.
Based on a prior 1732 agreement, the north/south boundary was supposed to be 15 miles south of Philadelphia. After determining that the southern most point of Philadelphia, Mason-Dixon went due west for 31 miles to avoid the Delaware River that was due south. They established an observatory on the site of the Harlan farm to exactly measure the latitude. The "Stargazers stone " markes this location. (see reference waypoint).
On April 2, 1764 Mason Dixon started to measured due south for the prescribed 15 miles. Almost immediately they hit their first difficulty and had to cross the Brandywine River. They would later have to re-cross this river 2 more times as they headed due south. At the end of the 15 miles they established the "Post Marked W" (GCF18F) which was the start of the famous Mason Dixon line .
This cache is hidden exactly on Mason Dixon's path south as they used 88 feet long measuring chains to count off the 15 miles south. You will have a nice old stone bridge to cross the Brandywine to look for this cache. Also don't forget the nice multi-cache that starts on the bridge.
Take a look at the Star Gazers Stone, but be careful since ther is no good parking. The Harlan house is still there at Corner of Stargazer Raod and Embreeville Road, but is privately owned.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Purfg uvtu xabgubyr va 1' qvn onexyrff ybt bire n irel ynetr onexyrff snyyra gerr