Ikie's Tomb Night Cache Traditional Cache
cachepoorcouple: We really hate to do this, but due to the Haunted Series Cache nearby, there are now problems with the increased traffic. This was our favorite cache of the 92 caches we have placed. And we hope we made the cachers happy to experience this different cache. Thanks to all who came to visit! Thanks, we had fun!
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A spooky night cache
First, you must read the story about the location.... it will make the trip so much more fun!
One of the more popular tales of Pleasants County, WV is the story of "Ikie's Tomb".
A family tragedy occured in the spring of 1905.... 7 year-old Ikie Mooring and his four siblings traveled to town for iced milk, which was a popular treat at that time. However, the milk was spoiled and within days all five children had died.
The distraught family built a tomb.... a concrete basin to put Ikie and two of his sisters in. They wrapped up the children like mummies, with only their faces showing.
The basin was filled with formaldehyde and the bodies floated inside. Ikie was placed in a small concrete coffin between his sisters. A concrete slab was placed over top with a small window over top of Ikie's face.
The two infant children were placed into two stone crocks, which were filled with formaldehyde to preserve the bodies. Folks who visited the tomb said you could take the lid off the crock, remove a layer of cotton and see the babies bodies.
The parents put toys inside the tomb in rememberance of their departed children. Those items included a tricycle, wooden train, wagon, and several books.
The family moved away a few years later and the mausoleum became abandoned. The formaldehyde evaporated and the bodies deteriorated. The tomb became a popular spot in the 60's and 70's and one story indicates the bodies were exhumed and properly buried in the graveyard.
Another story says dogs broke into the tomb and drug out the bodies that were later found and properly buried.
Research done by resident John Tice for Goldenseal magazine states that he had a conversation with Harvey Hatfield, former funeral director, that Ikie's body had been exhumed in 1979 after vandals had broken a small hole into the roof of the tomb. Hatfield found only the bones of a small boy and they were buried nearby. He also found a rocking chair believed to belong to Ikie's mother, Emma Jane Mooring.
Mrs. Mooring reportedly visited the tomb often. Local residents reported watching as she rocked Ikie and then gently placed his body back in the crypt. Her white apron would be stained the color of the little blue sailor suit Ikie was buried in.
The tomb still stands today, although its remains are faint in comparison to the original mausoleum, which was regarded as a beautiful piece of masonry for its time.
The door has been concreted shut, but the window opening is still intact... although no glass remains, and the top is gone. You can see through the window opening on the back side. Take time to look around... who knows what you might see!
After we placed this cache and spoke to some friends, I found out another story of the body of Ikie. In the early 70's, a New Martinsville teenager and his many friends raided Ikie's tomb. He removed the skull and it was placed in his vehicle and taken to each performance.... he was a member of a local rock band. Ikie's skull was placed on top of the piano or in some other prominent place for each performance.
This is a night cache consisting of 13.... yes, 13.... trees marked with reflectors. YOU MUST PARK AT THE LISTED COORDINATES IN ORDER TO GET TO THE CACHE!..... and be sure to mark your parking coordinates just in case you become LOST! The road... I guess you could call it a road.... is not passable and by trying to get up the hill, you will only damage your vehicle and confuse yourself with the following of the reflectors.
The reflectors can be seen from tree to tree..... if you begin with the first tree, seen from the parking coordinates. Go stand under the first tree with the two reflectors and hold your flashlight at eye level. All reflectors are located on trees about 8 feet off the ground. Scan the neighboring trees and you will find the next tree with two reflectors..... mostly the distances between reflectored trees are at about 75 feet. Walk to that tree and repeat the process each time till you reach the 13th tree marked with 4 reflectors. The cache is an ammo can about 15 feet away marked with 2 reflectors.
This is rated a 3.5 terrain simply because of darkness and tripping hazards. In daytime it would be rated a 1.5 or 2 terrain...it''s mostly a flat hilltop area.
When placed the cache contained Glow-in-the-dark skeletons!, "Bob" TB, Ninja figures, carmel cream candle, Crazy Eights card game, emergency rain poncho, Harry Potter cards, Care Bears pencil, coin, FTF prize, and wooden nickel.
This area is popular with muggles... PLEASE re-hide the cache well.
FTF Congratulations go to redhandruthie, ruthiessister and ruthiesrighthandman! Glad you enjoyed it!!!!!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)