N 44 10.CDE W 088 2G.HIJ
At the mouth of the Neenah-Fox River (very near the posted coordinates) there used to stand a remarkable Elm, a Treaty Elm so immense it was used as a guide by boatmen and steamer pilots on Lake Winnebago. It was also a place where chiefs of neighboring Native American tribes gathered in council.
In 1819 beneath it's massive branches, a historic conversation was said to have occurred between Four Legs, a Winnebago chief, and General Henry Leavenworth. The General was making his way up the rapids with a convoy of US soldiers. The Chief said, "You cannot go through here. The lake is locked!" The General stood up, holding his rifle in the air and commented "So! the lake is locked. Then here is the key in my hand. I will unlock it and go on." The chief proceeded to let the General pass.
The Old Council tree no longer stands. It was cut down over 100 years ago by the Federal Corps of Engineers when the river was dredged and widened. A slab of it's wood was used to form the top of a table for the Governor Doty's Cabin which now sits in Doty park across the river.
150ft south of where the tree once stood is a plaque, placed in 19(C+1)(H+2) by the citizens of Neenah to commemorate the "famous old tree". We learn from the plaque that the tree was cut down on July KL, 18GD. I = K+L+1
Without a landmark tree to guide those on the water, a new man-made navigation marker was built in 1945. That marker (near the commemerative plaque) has a number on the front of it. That number is 2(E+3)0.
Update 6-7-12: Due to trouble with the marker, E will now equal the number of letters in the fourth word of the cache page photograph.
The City of Neenah has placed a water-facing sign that now takes the place of the Council tree as a visitor's welcome while navigating the waters near the park. That sign is held up by J pillars.
Today, the Old Council Tree still stands proudly as the City of Neenah's logo.
You can check your puzzle solve on Geochecker. Cache is a micro with log and pencil only.
Winter Friendliness Rating: Findable in all seasons
Congratulations Sagasu on the FTF!