This cache is part of a series of caches dedicated to the reminiscence and admiration of Roseville’s early dwellers. It is part of a series of caches called: “CACHE OUT IN ROSEVILLE”
The story of the Woodbridge School Bell goes back a long time – when the community was one vast wheat field surrounded by numerous small farm houses. There were many children who lived in these houses, but there was no school for them to attend. In 1863, a farmer offered his barn for use as a school. His offer was gratefully accepted and a school teacher, Edwin J. Schellhous, was hired. The makeshift school worked out just fine except there was no school bell that could be rung to tell when it was recess, lunch, or when to go home!
Soon after the school first opened, the town of Roseville came into being. There was the railroad, the depot, then stores, a hotel, a livery stable and a blacksmith shop. By 1866, Roseville had 200 residents and everybody thought it was about time they had a real school. A one-room school was built on Atlantic Street, but it had no belfry to hang a bell. More years went by – all eight grades were jammed in one room with one teacher. Finally in 1879, a second school was built right in front of the older one. The old school was used for grades 1 thru 4, while the new brick school was used for grades 5 thru 8. AND IT HAD A BELFRY FOR A SCHOOL BELL !!!
The town continued to grow, a bustling railroad city of over 3000. Two new schools were planned, both quite large by 1910 standards. However, neither of them had a belfry for the school bell. When the old school was closed and torn down, the bell was moved to a spot near Lincoln Street and used as a fire alarm bell. After awhile, the Southern Pacific Railroad whistle replaced the school bell as the town’s fire alarm. The old bell was taken down, thrown into a box, and left to gather dust. Many, many more schools were built, but none had a belfry.
In 1935 Roseville needed a school to replace an older school, and Woodbridge Elementary School was built. As opening day approached, they realized there was a belfry, but no bell. Then someone remembered the old bell. A search was hurriedly conducted and it was found buried under a pile of rubbish in some dark storage room. It was quickly dusted off, given a new coat of polish, and now it hangs proudly to this day. Hand-rung school bells have long since been replaced by modern electronic systems. However, the bell at Woodbridge is still rung for special occasions. Each Third-Grader gets to ring it as he/she graduates. This cache pays tribute to the history of the early Roseville schools. (”The Story of the Woodbridge School Bell” by Leonard M. Davis)
When you arrive at the beginning coordinates, you will be on the sidewalk in front of Woodbridge Elementary School where you will be answering questions to get the numbers to find the final stage, which is within walking distance and NOT on school grounds. Office personnel are aware of this cache, and they were most helpful in giving me information about the bell. They even opened a closet on the ground floor and showed me the rope hanging down from the bell. Check out a geocaching picture that goes with one of the early logs on Aug 22, 2008 – it shows student Kira (Small-Fry), an early geocacher, ringing the bell as part of her own graduation.
Answer the questions below to get the final coordinates, which are:
4 5 . A B C 1 7 . D E F
A ~~ At the street corner, there is a big blue “W”. The blue bracing originally held up an old flagpole, which is now gone. How many octagonal steps of concrete are below the old flagpole support? ______
B ~~ Looking again at the blue bracing, how many bolt holes are still remaining that used to hold the old flagpole in place? (There used to be more) _______
C ~~ In the nearby rose garden, there is a plaque mounted on a rock, dedicating the garden to “Audrey”. Look for the year that the plaque was dedicated. Add up all four numbers ________
D ~~ How many black benches in the garden? _______
E ~~ On the south side of the school building, find the name of the school (in turquoise letters). Counting only the top row, how many letters are there? ________ (minus) the total number of white lights on either side of those letters. _________ = (the answer for E) _________
F ~~ The triangular garden contains how many tall trees? ______
CHECKSUM: 24