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RECEIVED THE "BEST MULTI CACHE OF 2007" AWARD BY GEOROC.ORG
This is a very short two legged multi cache which includes only about a .15 hike, with the 1st part being just a few yards off of a foot trail and the other pretty much on the trail. Your hike will start under the water tower on the top Murray Hill, the home of the Livingston County Campus, which was once the Mt Morris Tuberculosis Hospital. NO night caching is allowed in this park.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY’S FIRST PARK TO OPEN
These were the headlines in the local section of the Rochester D & C in March of 1974. The State of NY had made a gift of 80 acres, to Livingston County, which in turn appropriated $10,000 for the development of a park to be enjoyed by the hospital patients and staff, as well as the county residence. This was to be the county’s very first park.
This cache is named and dedicated to the first superintendent of the park, who at the time was retired, 69 year old, Albert “Al” Lorenz. Some knew him as Groucho, as he was a spitting image of Groucho Marx, complete with mustache and long cigar. He liked using the phrase, “you bet your life“. Al was such a staunch Republican that he was buried with his Reagan-Rockefeller button pinned to his lapel. He was know for his ever-present cigar and flow of conversation, but more outstanding was his genius for scrounging and obtaining something for nothing, as long as it was not for his personal gain. If anything was going to be demolished or thrown away, Al was always there to see if he couldn’t use it for something or someplace. One of his favorite haunts was a rubbish heap out in the country, which to Al, was a virtual treasure house. He once found an ancient cement mixer, hauled it to his shop. “Scrubbed her off, greased her up and off she went at the first crank” Lorenz said. He then stenciled “Property of Livingston County”, as he did all of his finds.
That same mixer was used to mix cement for the foundation for what Al called, a Rolls Royce of toilets, built and donated by the Charles May Vocational Center, and brought in by flatbed with a police escort. Al,72 years old at the time, and his side kick, the only other park employee, 74 year old Harold Foley, along with some recruited Livingston County Jail trustee inmates completed the job.
In May of 1981, the Rochester D & C had coined these two as “The Dynamic Duo of Livingston Park”. Al had asked a local farmer if he was willing to come down and plow and drag a couple acres up for him, and he agreed to do so. As Al and Harold were being interviewed, they were walking along poking holes in the ground and dropping seeds for the harvest of corn for the deer. This along with planting sunflowers for the birds and oats for the four turkey, that had found a home in the park, was work that Al wanted to be done before the start of the forth year of the parks existence. Their big project for the year was the planting of 570 trees, work for which he recruited the local Boy Scouts. “I won’t be here to see them firs and spruce get way up there, but eventually someone will“, Lorenz said
Al was only paid through the summer, but he never missed a day throughout the winter months, coming to the park each day to make sure that all was OK. Being a lover of animals and wild life, he would come on the coldest of winter days to make sure that his collection of geese, two banty roosters and two hens were taken care of, along with Bessie and Mike, the two Muscovy ducks, that some farmer had given him. He would sometimes find that the geese would have their feet frozen to the ice, and would have to release them from a certain death.
In 1983 it was decided that it was time for a change of name for the park, from Livingston County Park to Livingston County Al Lorenz Park. When Al realized the cost of what new signs would be, he proceeded to go to the Auburn Correctional Facility and had them made for only $60. Al said, “I had to pay a little more because I wanted some trees painted on them, and I also had a couple of complaints, my name was too big and I wanted welcome painted on there also”.
Al passed away in 1985, leaving behind the remains of his labor of love of nature and this beautiful 80 acres that he groomed for us to enjoy.
In 1986 it was decided that homes, other than in the park, would be needed to be found for the wildlife that was so fondly cared for by Al. These included turkeys, peacocks, rabbits and several ducks and geese. But as you look around, you can see the pavilions, ball diamonds, playgrounds, bridges and even a gazebo, where many weddings have been preformed. All these remain, through the dreams and hard work of Al Lorenz and anyone else that was willing to help in fulfilling these dreams.
As you can see, most of the 570 spruce and firs have survived and are reaching to where, I am sure Al must be, scrounging around making even his mark on heaven, for others to enjoy. I wonder if his sidekick, Harold is with him. With this cache, goes my “thanks” to Al as I am sure it will from others that complete it.
The coords listed are of recommended parking coords only. From June 1st till Sept 1st you will be able to drive into the park. The park is open to hiking, snowshoeing or cross country skiing at any other times during daylight hours only. There is a roadway, that you can walk, leading into the park. It is located to the left of several dumpsters by the side of the main road.
The first leg is located at; N 42 43.974 W 077 53.289
The first leg of this cache is match container, and NOT hidden in any heavy brush. Your search only requires your eyes and not your ability to paw around till you uncover something. It can be seen from the right angle, but may not be recognized for what it is.
The longevity of this cache will depend on how it is handled and how it is replaced by its finders. So please be attentive to its placement before disturbing its resting place, and with a little patience with its replacement, it will be as good as you found it, for the next guy or gal. If you are group caching, I would like to ask that when you discover the first leg, that you just back away and allow the others the opportunity of the find for themselves.
The second and final cache is close by and is an easy find. The cache contains a box of coins and paper money form different countries around the world. You may take and add to the collection if you find one that you like, just trade one for one. The monetary value is very slight, so no need to concern yourself with that. Be sure that this decon container is snapped shut at all four corners and is tucked back into its hiding place and that any other evidence is out of sight of passersby.
If you think that you are in need of a hint, I would appreciate it if you would give me (585-943-1187) the consideration of a call before you call some kind of life line. And if you are asked to give one, please refer them to my number.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
bayl vs lbh pnyy sbe bar(585-943-1187)