The Lambert Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Ohio City's first Cache
My hometown cache! Finally Ohio City will be on the map!
This is a tradition cache 4X8 Otter box with a spiritual swing. First to find is two $1 coins!
First, some history on Ohio City.
In 1890, John William Lambert, a resident of Ohio City, Ohio, built the first gasoline-powered single-cylinder automobile. Lambert purchased a three-cylinder gasoline engine for 3,300 dollars and converted it to a single-cylinder engine. He also used a seven-gallon radiator with steam vent and a carburetor in his engine. Lambert placed the engine in a buggy chassis, with two rear wheels and a single wheel off of a wheelbarrow in the front. Lambert's car could reach speeds as high as five miles per hour. Unfortunately, Lambert's automobile no longer survives today as it was destroyed in a fire in Lambert's barn on October 1, 1891.
Many scholars also claim that Lambert was involved in the first automobile accident in world history. Lambert's vehicle, which was carrying Lambert and James Swoveland, hit a tree root, causing the car to careen out of control and smash into a hitching post. There is a sign that marks this “First automobile accident” just slightly west of the only traffic light in town. Injuries from this accident were minor. Lambert proceeded to patent over six hundred inventions, mostly affiliated with the automobile industry.
Despite the “success” of the car, the vehicle was a marketing failure. Priced at $550, not a single party was interested. Undaunted, Lambert turned his attention to the manufacture of stationary gasoline engines. He selected Anderson, Indiana as the site for his Buckeye Manufacturing Company. During this time he developed the friction transmission that would be a feature on all of his cars. He made an unsuccessful attempt to buy out a model called the Buckeye in 1895. Lambert’s first marketing success was a model called the Union which was released in 1902. In 1906, he produced the first Lambert. With this line, Lambert established himself as one of the more successful automobile manufacturers of the era. In addition to cars, Lambert produced auto fire engines, trucks, gasoline engines and Steel-hoof farm tractors. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company produced the Lambert automobile through 1917, with a maximum production of an average 2000 cars from 1907-1910.
The Smithsonian Institute does recognize Lambert as being the first to produce a gasoline powered automobile in 1890. This is one year ahead of what the history books will tell you.
I grew up here, got into trouble here, went to school here (most of it) until the consolidation between Van Wert and Ohio City and actually worked on the grounds that houses the cache!
After you find the cache, if you turn and look slightly southeast, you’ll see a statue of a confederate soldier. If you walk in front of him his eyes will appear to follow you.
If you look directly east from the cache you see a gravesite stone with two figures, a man and a woman. The woman is holding scissors and the man is holding a rope.
Local lore says that if you feel the hands of the two figures resting on the tomb, one will feel warm while the other will feel cold.
At one time there used to be a “sword” in the bow of a tree that was supposedly left by a soldier during a battle. “Don’t ask me which battle, it’s just a story!” My last visit I could not find this. Maybe the ghost returned for it!
Anyway the cemetery has some very old tombstones to the back that make it quite interesting. Good luck!
I have made arrangements to maintain this cache with my brother Thunder76 and frequent visits myself.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng rlr yriry