FindingFoundingFathers | The American Cincinnatus Mystery Cache
FindingFoundingFathers | The American Cincinnatus
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CACHE LOCATED AT N44°AB.CDE W88°FG.HIJ
One of the many challenges in creating a cache around subject matter as prolific as the Founding Fathers is to come up with something slightly different in content that what is already covered by so many existing caches. I'm hoping this series, based on some new statuary around the Valley does just that.
First, at the posted coordinates, you'll discover a plaque with some insightful historical information about Cincinnatus, particularly the part about his desire to retire to this place shortly before he was entrusted with the most influential title in the nation's young history.
To understand why George wanted nothing more than to get out of partisan politics and back to the plow, you will need to take a tour of Mount Vernon and answer one of two sets of questions. You can take the virtual tour of the Mansion to answer the first set of questions, or you can be a little more ambitious and Discover the Mansion House Farm and other sites to answer the second set of questions. Either way, you will come to understand the stately nature of our first Father and his desire to get back to a simpler life, something I think we all desire.
Mansion: As you tour the home, you'll be provided information about the rooms and artifacts in them wherein you will find the following answers. The most striking room is the Large Dining Room, because it is F stories tall. It hosted many feasts for George's copious guests as evidenced by the E knife boxes inventoried at the time. Four of these can be seen in the smaller version of this room which was painted a color he considered "grateful to the eye" and in which B urns rest on the mantle. On the other end of the house is George's study which contained GG4 books. Also found here are H original busts of George, his large collection of Spye glasses and J telescopes. Before you head upstairs, check out the "faux" finish applied to the Pine paneling to give it the appearance of Mahogany, a technique that became popular in the 1Cth Century. Upstairs accommodations are more modest by comparison. Yet a degree of simple elegance was retained, even in the crib where George's granddaughter had A children, that last born just days before George passed away. Upon his death, the widowed Martha chose to close off the Master Bedroom and instead retire to the 3rd floor where she remained until her own passing I and a half years later. One can almost see her recalling the long and fruitful life with her husband as she looked out over Mount Vernon from the Cupola which took D years to complete.
Discover the Mansion House Farm: By some accounts, Washington was one of the most enterprising farmers in history as evidenced by the existence of his distillery, and his gristmill. In some respects, George pioneered several early farming techniques like the innovation of recycling animal waste in what is believed to be the first fertilizer building in the country, excavated and rebuilt in the 19D0's. George was also responsible for introducing the mule to agriculture as a more reliable and sturdy work animal. At the turn of the century, there were B7 mules toiling on the slopes of Mount Vernon. All of that entrepreneurial spirit produced its share of sweat and labor which was laundered on the grounds F days a week. This place would not have run smooth without indentured labor, which George was respectful of, allowing them a day off and the ability to grow and sell food. Indeed, cured fish caught in the nearby river were sold in the states and exported to the Indies. It was said that when the fish were running it was not uncommon for the slaves to net J000K fish. It wasn't all work and no play and some laborer were know to relax and partake in a bowl of tobacco. With some regularity, it seems, considering the 1,1C4 ceramic pipe fragments found in the South Grove midden site. These were indeed useful for dating other artifacts given a number survived with trademarks. As was the case back then, broken stuff was usually tossed in the "Hole" by "Necessity", I of which exist today. Another innovation of his was a passive radiant heat system for his greenhouse which was kept warm with air from a wood fire on the other side of the greenhouse wall, a system that required A slaves to reside in the Stove Room. George probably started his experiments with F species of fine fibers in the greenhouse, but they never made it to the looms to produce clothing. On the other hand, many plants that started there in late winter eventually made it to the dinner table. Perhaps even some of his home-made flour from the gristmill and butter from the dairy made it into Martha's fine cake Recipe which called for a whopping G cups of the two combined!That's one fine cake. You can almost envision it sitting on Martha's lap as they rolled down the Mountain in one of their 2 horse-drawn carriages, H of which are still with us today.
There are a hundreds of worthy quotes to end this with, but my favorites from the Founding Fathers happen to do with a cash crop that could have changed the world: "Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, U.S. President quote on Hemp
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