Bolt in Stone Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache is hidden in part of the Tolland State Forest bordering
Otis Reservoir, the largest recreational body of water in
Massachusetts covering more than 1,000 acres / 400 hectares.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation(DCR)
manages Otis Reservoir and Tolland State Forest. Here's the link
for this specific park on the Mass.Gov web site:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/toll.htm
This cache is accessible year round. During appropriate seasons
bug spray and tick precautions are advised.
The subject of this cache establishes the history and existence of
Otis Reservoir. In the mid 1800's this area was sparsely populated
mostly with farmers who worked the land and grazed their animals.
Most of the property owners were situated around three ponds which
are now submerged under the reservoir: Messenger, Rand and Little
ponds. The output of Little Pond travels down the short Fall River
and into the west branch of the Farmington River.
Our story turns briefly southward - about 30 miles downstream to
Collinsville CT. Here we find the Collins Company, founded by Sam
Collins. Among other things they manufactured American-pattern
axes, hoes and machetes. They were situated along the Farmington
River and used water power for their operations - including
multiple electrical generating plants (whose excess power was sold
to the Hartford Electric Light Company).
The Collins Company was 2/3 owner in the Farmington River Water
Power Company. The FRWPC, which at one point in time actually had
an office in Springfield MA, was responsible for erecting the dam
that created today's reservoir. Back in 1860's William J. Canfield
purchased land that would be flooded by the erection of the dam
from local land owners. To determine how much land would be
transferred it was necessary to establish where the high water line
would be when the reservoir was full.
Today, everyone's deed who borders the reservoir refers back to a
deed recorded on 23 Feb 1866 from Loren Flint to William J.
Canfield (Book 190 Page 191). It states, in part:
"... containing about thirty four acres of land more or less
being all the land that shall be flowed by the water caused by the
dam already created at the outlet of the ponds at the falls, so
called by the said William J. Canfield which water when the pond is
full is on a level with an known bolt inserted in the rock easterly
of the dam on land of said William J. Canfield which bolt was
erected by A. Charnbalen ..."
Your quest is to find the bolt in the stone - and the nearby
cache.
Of course, it is unlikely that the water level has ever reached
the height of this bolt - and this is often subject of plenty of
property disputes over the years.
In the early 1930's the FRWPC surveyed the entire perimeter of the
reservoir in an attempt to establish its boundary. And in doing so,
it also recorded this with the Land Court in Boston MA. This
boundary was established as where the water would be if it was to
reach the 1866 bolt.
Although the hurricane of 1938 resulted in some significant
downstream flooding it was the floods of 1955 that may have brought
the reservoir to its highest level ever. During this storm,
something like 13 or 14 inches of rain fell - and the FRWPC
attempted for a time to sandbag the dam. The Collins Company
quickly had them abandon that due to fears that the increased
pressure could break the dam.
Eventually the Collins Company, and the FRWPC, was to be no more.
On 28 October 1966 Claire M. Elston, the company's president, sold
the reservoir to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Stanley
(Stanley Works) ended up purchasing much of the Collins Company
assets and continued to use the Collins name.
As you search for the bolt you can imagine how it may have been
back in 1866. Now heavily overgrown it is likely that at one time
this was open field and in plain sight of the dam. Nearby you may
find the foundation of a large building that is no more.
At the dam there is an old sluice gate house sitting on the east
side of the dam on a foundation from 1907. You can view the
reservoir height on the attached scale - including previous record
high levels. Notice the 1955 height as compared to the height of
the spillway under the one-lane bridge. Feel free to post the
reservoir height with your log!
During the summer season the reservoir is maintained full. For the
winter the DEM drains it back leaving much of the shoreline
exposed!
To find the Bolt in Stone cache first find the rock with the bolt
in it. Then proceed at a heading of 232 degrees (magnetic) for
approximately 6.25 meters.
Please be sure to hide the cache well again after your find! To
ensure that the cache stays dry please try to return it standing
upright. Good Luck!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
va cvyr bs ebpxf