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Furnace Brook Finders Keepers Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Team DragonMoon: This area is waay to busy even on the off season, so it's just a matter of time before it goes missing again. Thanks everyone for the finds! It had a good run!

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Hidden : 5/21/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

ELMWOOD PARK, 204 Glenwood Ave., of 25 acres, is a natural beauty spot with a deep gorge through which Furnace Brook runs, so called because the furnace of Nicholas Mickles, in which he cast shot for use in the War of 1812, once stood on its bank.

On one occasion an order from the Secretary of War demanded that a vessel be dispatched from Oswego to the furnace to carry away a large quantity of this necessary ammunition. The reader will readily see the laughable mistake the secretary committed.

The history of Mickles Furnace was celebrated by the unveiling of a new historic marker in Elmwood Park near the creek that was named after the foundry, Furnace Brook. Officiating at the ceremony was Mayor Matthew Driscoll along with Executive Director Gregg Tripoli and staff of the Onondaga Historical Association Museum and Research Center (OHA).

After Dennis Connors of the OHA delivered a talk about the history of the furnace and the reason behind the marker, about 50 fourth graders from Elmwood Elementary School in the audience turned to watch a black powder firing of a light three-pounder cannon from the late 18th century. The crowd gasped with delight as the cannon erupted then wildly applauded at its conclusion. The cannon was manned by costumed members of the Royal Irish Artillery of New York, representing a British military unity that originally existed until 1801, just about the time that Mickles began his furnace operation.

Nicholas Mickles died in 1827 and is buried in Valley Cemetery not far from where his furnace once was. One of the foundry assistants, Thurlow Weed, grew up to become a powerful Albany newspaper publisher and the state political boss for the Whig Party before the Civil War.
The Mickles Furnace Marker was prepared by the OHA with the support of a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Pomeroy, the founder and chief executive of CXtec, has an ongoing grant program to encourage the placement of historic markers within Onondaga County. He was also present for the ceremony.

Small container holding a logbook small trade items, and some pens. Please re hide the container better than you found it so it is not visible from the road or ballfield which receives regular foot traffic. Be aware that this location is frequently used for baseball games. Please use common sense when searching.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN LOG THIS CACHE IS BY TAKING A PICTURE AT THE FURNACE BROOK MARKER OR SIGNING THE LOG OR BOTH! Post your pics! (Current finds are grandfathered in as of 6-2-08) Even if you can't get to the cache cause of a ballgame, take a pic at the marker and it will still count! All others will be deleted!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

GUR 2 JNLF LBH PNA YBT GUVF PNPUR NER OL GNXVAT N CVPGHER NG GUR SHEANPR OEBBX ZNEXRE, BE FVTAVAT GUR YBT BE OBGU!. Frrzf znal pna'g ybt gur pnpur pnhfr bs npgvivgl ng gur fvgr. Cbfg lbhe cvp!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)