General rules: Anyone may log the caches in this
series, but kids (12 years old and under) can earn special awards.
Kids logging any 4 of the 6 caches in either the Long Ago But
Not Far Away - Spring Mountain series or the Long Ago But
Not Far Away - Fairview series and emailing the answers
to the
Kids' Answer Sheet will receive a certificate and a
special prize for each series.
Kids earning both the Spring
Mountain and the Fairview certificates will receive a special geocoin. Cachers
over 12 years old will not receive a prize, certificate, or
geocoin. Multiple children in a family may each receive their own
awards, but each child requesting an award must have been present
during all the cache hunts. Make sure you print out the
Kids' Answer Sheet for Spring Mountain before beginning
this project!
To claim your
award(s), click “Spring Mountain Community Club” just
below the cache title and send an email including:
(1) the names of the caches you found along with the answers to
their questions,
(2) your name and caching name, and
(3) your age.
(Information will be used to verify your qualification and print
your certificate and will then be deleted. Parents, please contact
us if you prefer not to share this information.)
Other caches in this series:
Davy Crockett
Fawn Nicks
Mountains to Sea
Rolling Stones
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Bag of
Gold
Permission has been graciously granted by the landowner, so please
treat the property respectfully and do not block the road or
driveway.
Special thanks to Bruce Whitaker, historian and great, great, great
grandson of William Whitaker, Sr., for the following
information.
William
Whitaker, Sr. (1772-1860) acquired a large amount of land in this
area between Flat Top Mountain and Fairview. In addition to being a
farmer, Whitaker also owned a sawmill. Apparently Whitaker was also
a gold miner. He never told even his own family where he obtained
it, but he used a chunk of gold as a doorstop at his house and was
known to have access to gold whenever he needed it. Bruce Whitaker
writes, "Every time Whitaker began running low on money he would
slip away from home... and return with a small bag of
gold."
William
Whitaker’s home in Spring Mountain
Over the
years many, many people have searched high and low for the source
of William Whitaker's gold. So far, everyone has "posted a Did Not
Find." Perhaps now with the availability of GPS, present-day
searchers have an advantage. The above coordinates may
help!
If you
happen to discover his bag of gold, help yourself. No need to
trade, but only take one or two pieces and leave the rest for
someone else.
Although the
landowner has granted permission for this cache placement, other
local folks notice "foreigners" in the community, so be very
stealthy. Park at the coordinates below and be VERY careful
crossing the road.
If you are
working toward the kids' Spring Mountain prizes, be sure to write
down the color of William Whitaker's bag.