Searching for this cache will entail a scavenger hunt, or more significantly a historic tour of Marblehead, that requires you to visit a number of the historic sites. It will require a walk of some distance (less than a mile unless you backtrack), but you also have the option of doing your search at one end of town and then driving to the other end of town for the remainder of your search. The above coordinates take you to a central area, close to three of the sites, where you might be able to find a place to park. Be advised that Marblehead is a popular place and parking may be difficult, but seldom impossible.
The scavenger hunt takes you to ten historic places in the town and requires that you find numerical answers to the questions below. (HINT:- You may want to ask a passerby for information as to the location of some of these. Besides, you may make a new friend.
PART 1 - Latitude
1. In addition to serving as the seat of Marblehead's town government, Abbot Hall contains the original of the widely-reproduced Spirit of '76 painting by Archibald MacNeal Willard, a 1684 deed from the Nanapashemet tribe of Native Americans and other significant artifacts and memorabilia. The hall was named after Benjamin Abbot who was born here in Marblehead in the year _______.
2. A ship owner and merchant, Colonel Jeremiah Lee was one of the most affluent men of the English North American colonies. His vessels, laden with salted and dried fish, sailed to ports around the Atlantic Ocean and returned to Marblehead with wine, fruit, textiles, flour and other commodities. In 1766, at the age of 45, Col. Lee began building the Mansion. The Lee Mansion was completed in the year _________. Visitors to the mansion included George Washington, James Munroe, Andrew Jackson, and the Marquis de Lafayette. The three-storied mansion measures about 10,000 square feet, and the sixteen rooms of various dimensions contain twelve working fireplaces and eleven closets. There is a full attic and a large cellar of brick and granite.
3. Click on the Gallery below to see a picture of the home of Major John Palmer. Note the removal of a significant portion of the first floor corner of the house. Legend holds that the corner was cut away to allow passage by the carriage of the Marquis de Lafayette who visited the town in 1824. The removal of the corner was necessitated because of the very narrow streets in this section of town. Begun for merchant George Minot, this home was finished for Major Palmer in the year _______.
4. St. Michael's Episcopal Church was established in the year ______
a. Add the above numerical answers:_____________
b. Now add that number to 42.23.331 to determine the North coordinate N_________________
PART 2 - Longitude
5. The Old Town House was build by the local citizens as the center for their town government. It is a rare example of a public building that has been in continuous use since colonial days. The Town House was built in the year _________.
6. This small, stone monument was dedicated to all those who have sailed from the harbor since the area was first settled by Fishermen in the year _________.
7. When you arrive at this spot, near the Crocker Park flagpole, you will have a magnificent view of the Marblehead harbor. Note the plaque for GEORGE WASHINGTON's NAVY. It is from this harbor that the vessel HANNAH, part of a fleet of Marblehead schooners (commissioned by General Washington) sailed on 5 September _______. They were the first American vessels to engage in Naval operations against an enemy. Across the harbor you may locate the Eastern Yacht Club as well as the Corinthian Yacht Club on "The Neck." As you are reading the plaque, the large, ivy-covered building behind you was once the home of the famous Marblehead yacht designer and author L. Francis Herreshoff. Known locally as "The Castle." It is a reproduction of Erik the Red's tenth century Viking castle in Greenland.
8. Old Burial Hill is the oldest graveyard in New England. Some 600 casualties of the Revolutionary War are buried here. It was established in the year ______.
9. This hill, formerly known as Bailey’s Head, was used as a fortification during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. On July 22, ______, the "Ramparts" were conveyed to the inhabitants of Marblehead. Take the time to walk up to the park area and enjoy the view.
10. Sir Charles Henry (Harry) Frankland, Collector of the Port of Boston, while supervising the erection of Fort Sewell here in Marblehead, met Anges Surriage in the year ________. Agnes was 14 years old. He sent her to Boston to receive a proper education, which she actually does receive. Leading others to believe Surriage is his ward, Frankland and Surriage continue this arrangement of living together for 13 years.
a. Again, add these numerical answers (5 thru 10): ___________
b. Now subtract that number from 70.61.336 to determine the West coordinate W___________
You will know the coordinates are correct if your geocaching deducting of the encoded HINT is logical. The cache is an official geocache container that will accept TB's and trade items. Beware of muggles. Take your time in retrieving and replacing the cache. The cache has been placed here with permission of the owner of the establishment.
If you should find a Travel Bug or Geocoin in this cache, or any other cache, please be sure to log it electronically TWICE - once when you retrieve it and again when you place it in another cache. This must be done so that its travels can be tracked. Questions?? - log onto geocacheing.com home page and select "Play" with your curson and then click on "Trackables."
First-to-Find certificate and $1 coin for the FTF geocacher. Coin is dedicated to Sacagawea. Sacagawea was the Lemhi Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States. She traveled thousands of miles from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean between 1804 and 1806.
Congratulations to Chief Turtles for being the First to Find. In spite of a driving rain the search went on to a successful conclusion.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
