This geocache is located in Ravenswood Park in Gloucester, MA, a Trustees of the Reservation property. There are 53 geocaches hidden on Trustees of the Reservation properties throughout New England.
Mason A. Walton (1838-1917) was born in Maine. He became an accountant in Bangor at an early age. He lost his wife and child early in his marriage and at some point he became ill with a respiratory infection. His doctor, fearing tuberculosis, suggested moving to a pine grove in the woods.
Mason thought the salt air would be better for his health and boarded a steamboat in 1884 for Gloucester, Massachusetts to seek employment on a fishing schooner. With no skipper having him, he pitched a tent at nearby Bond Hill. After losing the tent in a storm he asked the landowner if he could build a small log cabin for shelter, which he did. It was here that he regained his health and would spend the next 33 years as a conservationist dedicating his life to the study of flora, fauna and ornithology. He died peacefully in 1917.
Unfortunately, due to a fire that spread through the forest in 1948, the cabin was burned to the ground and no traces exist. Walton contributed many articles over the years to such publications as Field and Stream and others, which he signed "The Hermit", and wrote several books, including The Hermit’s Wild Friends or Eighteen Years in the Woods, published in 1903, . His friends included Satan the raccoon; Bismarck the red squirrel; Triplefoot, a three footed fox and many others. He lived a long life in what is now called Ravenswood Park passing at the age of 79. Much more information about "The Hermit" and his work can be found at the local library for those who may be interested or are looking for something to do on a rainy day.
The cache is a large plastic container with a twist off top. Line up the arrows to remove the cover. Contents include a logbook, pen and lots of fun trading items! It is a nice easy walk on smooth terrain but is close to a mile. The park is dog-friendly. Best parking is N 42' 35.504 by W 070' 41.905.
Post photos of your adventure but please no spoilers!
Thanks........Enjoy!
If this feels like a familiar site, you may have found the original "Hermit of Gloucester" cache that was placed here years ago. Unfortunately, the cache owner could not maintain the cache any longer so the original cache was archived. Since I love the story of Mason Walton and hiking in this park, I decided to place a new cache here at the site to keep the tradition going.
Also note that the cache should not be confused with a nearby Trustees of Reservations treasure box called Hermit's Haven Quest which also has information about Mason Walton.
*** FTF *** Congratulations to Geo-Knot for being FTF! He's right. There were a few signatures in the book by members of the Cape Ann Photography Club who met up to hike together to the site of the cabin with me. They all helped pick the perfect hiding spot so I thought they should sign the log, also. But Geo-Knot gets credit for the FTF!