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This
is a Micro Cache hidden in the Greenbelt area of
Ogdensburg. You will need to bring a pencil to sign the log. My
GPSr had an accuracy of 12 feet while placing this
cache.
Please place the cache back
exactly as you found it. Stealth is required as there are muggles
all around the area.
Ogdensburgh historical
information:
Ogdensburg (originally
Ogdensburgh) is abundant with history and historical buildings.
After finding the cache please take some time and go on a walking
tour of the downtown Ogdensburg area.
Ogdensburgh was
incorporated as the first village in St. Lawrence County in 1817.
It grew to be a busy shipping center for river traffic, and greeted
its first train in 1850. After the Civil War, growth continued. At
that time the community was known as "the Maple City" and a city
form of government was adopted on April 27, 1868. The spelling of
the name Ogdensburgh was then changed to drop the 'h', and is known
today as Ogdensburg.
Ogdensburg
Greenbelt:
Here
you will learn about Benjamin Forsyth and the Battle of Ogdensburgh (War of 1812). Forsyth was an
American officer of Rifle troops in the War of 1812 between Britain
and America.
Originally from Stokes
County, North Carolina, he obtained a lieutenancy in the U.S. 1st
Rifle Regiment when it was formed in 1808. By the time the War
broke out, he had risen to the rank of Captain and commanded a
company.
Based at Ogdensburg, New
York during the autumn and winter of 1812, he led the successful
Raid on Gananoque and other attacks across the Saint Lawrence
River, which threatened the British supply lines to their forces in
Upper Canada. In February 1813, the British used a temporary
superiority in strength to drive Forsyth from his positions at the
Battle of Ogdensburg.
Historical
Buildings:
The
U.S. Customs House was built in 1809-1810 as the Parish Store for
David Parish, the first industrialist of the area. Parish
contributed much to the development of Ogdensburg, and also
promoted numerous other communities throughout the region,
including Antwerp, Rossie, Parish, and Parishville. The
construction of the Parish Store, a massive stone structure that
stands today at 127 North Water Street, was supervised by master
carpenter David Whipple Church.
Stone masons from Montreal
and local indians were employed in the project. Church also built
the Parish family home, now the Remington Art Museum on Washington
Street. Parish contributed millions of dollars as a loan to the
U.S. Government to help finance the War of 1812, much of which was
fought adjacent to this building. During the Civil War the building
served as barracks for the Massachusetts Company of Union troops
protecting the northern border against raids by Confederate
partisans. The building was purchased in 1936 by the Federal
Government to serve as the U.S. Customs House. It is now known as
the Robert C. McEwen U.S. Customs House, named in honor of the
Ogdensburg native elected to Congress in 1965. McEwen served in
Congress until 1981.
The
Library Park Historic District is historically and architecturally
important as an intact collection of 19th century buildings,
encompassing 303 to 323 Washington Street and 100-112 Caroline
Street. Parish purchased the area in 1808, building his home here
in 1809-1810 as the center of an elaborate estate. Then known as
the "Red Villa" the Parish home was built in the Federal style, and
today is home to the Frederic Remington Art Museum.
Across Washington Street
from the museum was a large Victorian mansion that was remodeled in
1922 to resemble the Greek Revival residence that stood on the site
in 1840. Some interior features, such as the staircase and some
woodwork and fireplaces from the Victorian home were retained, and
the building now serves as the Ogdensburg Public Library. The
Library is surrounded by Library Park, a green space laid out in
1903. In 1905 the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was erected as a
memorial to Civil War soldiers. The monument was designed by Sally
James Farnham, an Ogdensburg native and sculptor.
The
Augsbury home on Caroline Street is the largest of several homes
built in the 1880s. It was built of a combination of Potsdam
sandstone, clapboard and shingles, and has a variety of features
associated with the Queen Anne architectural style.
A
Greek Revival style building was built at 315 State Street, the
site of the first bank in Ogdensburg. It has a rare surviving
marble facade using locally quarried white marble, featuring a
pedimented gable, cornice, corner pilasters and door with a three
light transom. Over the years the structure served as a railroad
ticket company and Express Company, law offices, a real estate
office, and is today undergoing restoration.
An
important example of 19th century civic architecture is the U.S.
Post Office at 431 State Street. It was built between 1867 and 1870
after a design by Alfred B. Mullett, the Assistant Supervising
Architect for the Treasury Department, designed to accommodate
Federal postal, customs, and court facilities. It is a carefully
proportioned neo-classical scheme based on Palladian design, with
quoins, cornice and pediments at roof line. Built of Berea
sandstone from Ohio, and blue cut limestone, it is characterized by
interior structural and decorative elements of iron. Notable
interior features are marble floors and fireplace mantle,
decorative iron doorframes and white ash woodwork. The second story
Federal courtroom is of particular significance, with its ornate
original plaster arcade and mouldings. The cost of construction was
set at $265,000, including furnishings.
On the St. Lawrence
County Register of Historic Places:
- Acker and Evans Law
Office
- Judge John Fine
House
- Library Park Historic
District
- New
York State Armory
- Ogdensburg
Armory
- Oswegatchie Pumping
Station
- U.S. Customs
house
- U.S. Post
Office-Ogdensburg
You
may want to also look for this Benchmark while in the Greenbelt:
PH1012
Congratulations to
Gringo871 for the First to Find!!
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