Newtown's Revolutionary War History Multi-Cache
OReviewer: As there's been no cache to find for a long time or has had no owner response for at least 30 days, I'm archiving it to keep it from showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
Newtown's Revolutionary War History
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a four stage offset multicache, with only one container at the final coordinates (other coords are for clues only). To determine stages 2, 3 and 4 (final) coordinates, you will need to make calculations based on information located at the first three locations. A calculator is suggested because there is arithmetic to be done on the fly.
Thanks to "BikeBill" for pointing out the area where the container was ultimately hidden and emailing the mayor of Newtown!
Newtown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was the site of important revolutionary war events. Probably the most important of these occurred during the last week of December 1776, when George Washington returned victorious to Newtown with Hessian prisoners in tow. Washington and the army had just saved the revolution at the first battle of Trenton. Later in the war, actual combat took place in Newtown.
Walking this cache is encouraged (in good weather). Parking recommended either on State Street or the parking lot between State and Sycamore (N40 13.721 W074 56.272), but at stage 1 works fine too. Note that business/formal footwear is suitable except perhaps right at the container location. The only place you need to leave pavement is at the cache, but watch out crossing those streets.
Wheelchair users: all stages including the final are wheelchair accessible (though some curbs may need to be navigated), except the exact spot/area where the cache is hidden; please email me with the final coordinates and the suspected hiding spot and I will of course give you credit.
To find this cache you will need to answer the following questions and make calculations at the first three stages:
1) STAGE 1 is at N40 13.662 W074 56.173. While the start location does not showcase a specific Revolutionary War event, it does bring you to a beautiful and historic part of town that features quaint buildings (including this one, which stood here during the Revolution). To calculate stage 2 NORTH coordinates, take the number of (either) building’s street address, reduce the last digit to zero, and divide by 5. Subtract this number from the north coordinates (i.e., 13.662 – AA = 13.BBB). To calculate stage 2 WEST coordinates, take the year in which this building was originally constructed. Divide that year by 43.325. Add the result to the W coordinates (i.e. 56.173 + CC = 56.DDD). Proceed to stage 2.
2) AT STAGE 2: Look for three signs and plaques commemorating events and describing the history of buildings. You will need to read more than one of these to calculate the next stage’s coordinates. For Stage 3 NORTH coordinates: Find the building in which one of Washington's generals stayed during those fateful days a the end of 1776. Take the year in which this house was built. Divide the year by the number of letters in that general’s "real" first and last names (not his assumed name). Drop any numbers/digits after the result’s decimal point. Then add the number of defenders killed in the action described by the two other signs/plaques. Add this result to the Stage 2’s North coordinates. For the next stage’s WEST coordinates: Find the number of Loyalist raiders. Add the number of Americans captured. Multiply this sum by two. Add this to the current stage’s West coordinates.
3) AT STAGE 3: You are now at a very important site, but the one most changed since the Revolution. You are also almost finished, with only the final cache location to go. For the final NORTH coordinates: 3a) use the two-digit day of the month in which the first of the famous letters was written here. Multiply by two. Subtract 1. 3b) Sum up the four digits of the year in which the letters were written (as if they were four separate numbers). Add 3a + 3b to the current stage’s North coordinates. For the final WEST coordinates: Subtract 1,700 from the year in which the letters were written. Subtract this result from the current stage’s West coordinates. Proceed to the final stage to find the cache.
4) STAGE 4: The cache container is here. Look for the nearby interesting etched sign describing the location and watch for muggles when retrieving! The container is a 4” x 6” snap and lock box. Just off the edge of grass, VISIBLE under rectangular stone. NO NEED TO STEP ON STONES! STAY ON GRASS! IT'S PHYSICALLY EASY!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgntr 2: Gur uvture, zber abgvprnoyr cyndhr vf zber urycshy guna gur ybjre bar.
SVANY: Fyvtugyl zbirq qhr gb pbafgehpgvba! Whfg bss gur rqtr bs tenff, haqre erpgnathyne fgbar. AB ARRQ GB FGRC BA FGBARF! FGNL BA TENFF! VG'F CULFVPNYYL RNFL!
Treasures
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