****UPDATE 08/02/2009 Park ONLY at the parking coords listed in the
cache description. Even though they're clearly listed on the cache
page, I'll re post them here. 40.08.525 N 85.26.846 W Do NOT drive
in the grass to search for the cache. Do NOT remove the chain for
easier access. PARK AT THE PARKING AREA AND WALK TO THE CACHE. Walk
the path up the hill to the cemetery, which is the ONLY public
access.
I grew up just about 1/2 mile from here, and this was one of my
favorite areas to explore as a child.
When I was a child, none of the houses near the cemetery were
here, it was a dead end road, and quite remote. My parents, and
others, warned me to stay away from here, telling me that it was a
gypsy camp.
But, being the adventuresome sort...that only made me more
curious about this place. I often rode my bike as close as I could,
then hiked the rest of the way to explore the old stones, and look
for any sign of "old man Heath" that was said to haunt these
woods.
I never saw a ghost. However, in the early 60's, a group of
gypsies DID come through, and set up a tent in Muncie for fortune
telling and selling trinkets, and did, in fact, camp in the woods
behind the cemetery. I was about 9 or so, and hung out with them
for a couple of days, listening to their stories and their music. I
was warned that they were people to fear, but, I found them to be
quite cordial and they seemed to enjoy me hanging around. They were
there for 3 or so days, and one day, they suddenly were gone, and,
to my knowledge, they never came back.
As the area near the cemetery became more developed, the
cemetery feel into disrepair...tombstones were toppled over and
vandalized, trash was all strewn all over, and all kinds of
questionable activity took place here.
Spring forward to 2008. I made my first trip up here in many,
many years, and to my surprise, the cemetery is being restored!
Everything is mowed and trimmed, and the tombstones are being
righted and renovated. I just knew I had to place a cache here
now!
SInce the cemetery is being actively restored, I'm going to ask
if you visit, and restorers are at work, come back and try to find
the cache another time. Please do not distract them by searching
for the cache.
As with any cemetery cache, be respectful, and no caching after
dark.
This is the Heath Cemetery,and it is located in Salem Township,
Delaware County, Indiana. I was told my a couple I ran into while
placing the cache that the Daleville American Legion is in charge
of the restoration, but I've not confirmed that at this point.
The cache itself is a rubbermaid type container, with a few
trade items, and a DulcimerGuy pathtag as a FTF prize.
Parking is available at 40.08.525 N 85.26.846 W. There is a
short, but uphill, hike to the cemetery. The cache is not in or
near any graves, but is located in the woods near the cemetery.
Thanks for exploring one of the places that made me growing up
on No Name Creek so special!
