NOTE: The purpose of this cache is to encourage you to
become familiar with these unmarked cemeteries even though most
cannot be visited. Therefore, you must solve the letterbox per the
instructions below. No fair wandering around Woodlawn for several
days hoping to come across the cache. Any logs to the effect of
"Couldn't solve the puzzle but found the cache anyway" will be
promptly deleted. You know who you are...
Finally, this letterbox puzzle is not as hard to solve as the
length of the description might lead to you to believe. It just
takes a little research and some plat maps.
The Shawano County Unmarked Letterbox-Hybrid
Cache
Years ago when traveling a few miles meant spending a day away from
home, burials were often performed on farms and homes. Over time,
some of those burial sites expanded and became public or church
cemeteries. However, some burial sites were simply forgotten over
time.
There are records for about 118 burial sites in Shawano County. The
large majority of those are marked cemeteries with signage and
public access where visitors are welcome.
However, there are 19 burial sites that are in backyards and woods.
The records of these sites are sketchy. Some can still be located,
but others are virtually lost to time.
While it is possible to find a few of these places, and while we
have found property owners willing to let you have a look around to
visit, it isn't feasible to make them public geocache sites.
Therefore, we have wrapped up these “unmarked” burials
into a letterbox hybrid cache.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO VISIT ANY OF THE LISTED REFERENCE POINT
COORDINATES. You are welcome to try to find these places on
your own if you wish, just as anyone pursuing genealogical or
historical interests would be. However, please be respectful of
private property and get permissions. Many of the coordinates are
"best-guestimates" or even dummy coordinates to mark the general
area. Read the descriptions for details.
Photo at Sheldon Family Burial thanks to Lander &
Lancelot
Mailahn Cemetery
Cemetery Information
Here is the list of cemeteries and some information about them. Use
the Additional Waypoints list below for the needed
coordinates.
Adams Family Unmarked Graves
There are records of unmarked graves for the “two daughters
of Chris Adams.” The coordinates mark the approximate
location according to old plat maps.
Bastil Family
There are records of a “private burial.” The
coordinates mark the approximate location according to old plat
maps.
Ehlert Burials
There are records of graves “on Ehlert land.” The exact
location is unknown and these coordinates mark a random point in
the section only.
Frank Family
There are records of graves for the Frank Family. The coordinates
mark the approximate location according to old plat maps.
Hahn Burial -
This is also known as Old town hall cemetery. There are no longer
any stones, and there are no markings for the cemetery. Coordinates
mark an approximate spot in the section according to old plat
maps.
Holms Family (unmarked/unknown)
There are records of “several burials behind the barn of Tom
Holms.” The location is unknown and these coordinates mark a
random spot in the section only.
Kunzak
Also referred to as “Bielke” burials in the records.
Coordinates mark the approximate location.
Lathrop
Little information on this burial; only the section is known and
the coordinates mark a reference point in the township section
only.
Mailahn Cemetery
So named because the land was owned in 1898 by Charles Mailahn. The
cemetery is located south of the farmhouse and is very overgrown.
Many of the stones have fallen and are buried under roots. You may
freely visit the cemetery but it requires crossing active pastures
and navigating barbed and electric wire fence. Check at the
farmhouse first.
Mietke Family (sometimes spelled 'Miatke')
Approximate location.
Reisenuber Burials
Approximate location in section only.
Sander (sometimes spelled Sandler) Burials
Approximate location according to old plat maps.
Sawyer Family (graves relocated)
This marks the approximate spot of the Sawyer Family burials. As
part of Indian Treaty negotiations, the graves in this cemetery
were relocated elsewhere and there is no longer a cemetery at the
location marked by the coordinates.
Sheldon Family
This is a single stone burial. The remains of a home and farmstead
are on site. Check with the property owner before attempting.
Unmarked Grave of Thomas Jefferson Lessor
From whom the township of Lessor is named. Exact location of the
grave is unknown; coordinates mark only the approximate
location.
Unnamed/Unmarked in Navarino
A grave is recorded in this section but the location is unknown.
Coordinates mark a random spot in the section.
Weikel Family
The coordinates mark the approximate location according to old plat
maps.
William Norton Home
In the records, this is recorded as “Two children buried
behind the William Norton Home on Old Lake Drive.” Ownership
of the property has long since changed. Approximate location.
Raymond Whitewing Family Cemetery
The cemetery is down a private lane and contains 11 family graves.
Please obtain permission before attempting to visit.
To find the cache:
The cache is located at N 44 AB.CDE/ W088.FG.HIJ
Using the coordinates, locate the township SECTION number for the
burial sites shown below, then subtract the number as shown.
In order to find the section numbers, you'll have to find a way to
map the coordinates to a township/sectional map, and there are
various ways to do this. You might be able to find a detailed topo
map on your GPSr, you might find county township/sectional maps
online through one of the many mapping websites, or you can match
up the locations against hard copy township maps. Trust us, it can
be done, because we've done it. The trick is finding the right
resources, then it's pretty straightforward.
A = Mailahn Cemetery - 27
B = Ehlert - 16
C = Thomas Jefferson Lessor - 13
D = Unnamed/Unmarked in Navarino - 29
E = Hahn - 11
F = Lathrop - 33
G = Frank - 25
H = Sawyer Family - 10
I = Adams Family - 12
J = Kunzak - 16
You can check your answers for this lettterbox
HERE.
About Letterbox Hybrids
Letterbox hybrid caches contain a stamp for letterboxers. If you do
not letterbox, simply sign the logbook and claim your find as you
usually do. DO NOT TAKE THE STAMP from the box. Please do not place
any trading items in the box. We're not really the artist type, but
here's what the stamp looks like. It's not actually crooked, it's
just tilted on the scan:
About the WSQ-SCC Series
WSQ stands for "Wisconsin Spirit Quest, which is used by many
Wisconsin cemetery cache owners. SCC stands for Shawano County
Cemeteries, and the number between the two represents the location
of the cemetery on a master map, which you can find by clicking
HERE.
The name after SCC is the name of the Township, then comes the name
of the cemetery.
There are many rural cemeteries in Wisconsin. Geocaching is a great
way to get out and see some of these remote places, discover some
interesting and unique markers, and to help ensure that those that
have gone before us are not forgotten. With cemetery caches, the
cache container is not hidden on or connected in any way to any
grave site or marker. Occasionally, some information from a marker
may be used to obtain final cache coordinates. Please be respectful
of the cemetery and anyone visiting it.
There are over 100 cemeteries in Shawano County, and nearly all
have geocaches in them, bringing new visitors to these places to
remember those who have gone before us. You just might find a
long-lost relative or two.
These caches are designed to be easy to find, are usually a
container and log only, and focus on “forgotten,”
out-of-the-way, rural cemeteries. Also, any multi-stage caches are
designed to bring you to special features of a particular
cemetery.
More Mailahn Cemetery Photos:
It is easier to see the cemetery in fall because it is quite
overgrown.
Many of the headstones are buried. Others are broken.
It's uncommon to find a "ledger"--a grave slab cover--but here one
is.