GC5E1RG Stage Fort Park (Traditional Cache) in Massachusetts, United States created by sisubuska

This cache has been archived.

The Seanachai: Greetings from Geocaching.com,

While we feel that Geocaching.com should hold the location for you for a reasonable amount of time, we cannot do so indefinitely. In light of the lack of communication regarding this cache it has been archived to free up the area for new placements. If you haven’t done so already, please pick up this cache or any remaining bits as soon as possible. If you are in the process of replacing or repairing your cache please e-mail me in response to this archival and, if possible, I will unarchive your cache.

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The Seanachai
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GC5E1RG ▼

A cache by sisubuska Message this owner

Hidden : 10/2/2014

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to Stage Fort Park and Half Moon Beach

Another one of several historic and picturesque caches on Cape Ann

by Sisubuska

On this site Gloucester was founded at Cape Ann by an expedition called the "Dorchester Company" of men from Dorchester (in the county of Dorset, England) chartered by James I in 1623. It was one of the first English settlements in what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and predates both Salem in 1626 and Boston in 1630. The first company of pioneers made landing at Half Moon Beach and settled nearby, setting up fishing stages in a field in what is now Stage Fort Park. This settlement's existence is proclaimed today by a memorial tablet, affixed to a 50-foot (15 m) boulder in the park.

Fort Conant, also known as Fort Gloucester or Stage Fort, is a stone and earthern fort overlooking the harbor and its entrance. The site was fortified in the 1600s to defend what was then a small fishing village and was used at various times over the years leading up to and following the American Civil War. The fort, which was unnamed prior to the American Civil War, had laid abandoned for a time. As the war began however it did see improvements and was named Fort Conant after one of the area's early settlers, Roger Conant. The threat of Confederate raiders was real for the area especially after some of the Gloucester fishing fleet was raided by the CSS Tacony during her brief use by Confederate forces in 1863, however the fort never fired a shot in anger. Following the war the fort was again abandoned but it did see limited use through the Spanish-American War. Today the site is run as Stage Fort Park by the city of Gloucester. On the site you can view various cannon as well as the remains of an old powder magazine and remaining earthworks.

This is an easy cache after a short walk. The park is open during daylight hours and has a parking lot. The cache container is small and only holds a log book. BYOP! There are also some more historic photos in the gallery for your viewing pleasure. *PLEASE DONT LEAVE COMMENT AND PHOTO SPOILERS*, Thanks.......Enjoy!