The SQ in the cache name above signifies Spirit Quest, a project
to distinguish those caches that are set in cemeteries or memorial
gardens. This is a good distinction to put on this type of cache
and would like to see it used here in Michigan. Please be
respectful of the area, and observe their rules and posted hours,
Only visit cemeteries dawn to dusk through out the state unless
other hours are posted, so that we do not end up like other states
that do not allow any caches placed in any cemeteries!
The Michigan Historical Marker, First Jewish Cemetery, here
reads;
Beth El, the first Jewish congregation in Michigan, was organized
in Detroit on September 22, 1850, by 12 families. This half-acre
cemetery, dedicated on January 1, 1851, was known then as "The
Champlain Street Cemetery of Temple Beth El" because Lafayette was
formerly called Champlain Street. The first interment was in fall
of 1851, and in 1854 Samuel Marcus, the first rabbi of Beth El, was
buried here. The cemetery, containing many graves of Jewish war
veterans, was in active use until the 1950's.
This is a small yet very interesting cemetery to visit. This cache
will have you taking a few minutes to take a look around to find
the information you will need to find the final container. Once you
have gathered the required information you will return to the
Michigan Historical Marker to do a waypoint projection.
To find the distance you will need to find “The Tablet”
from Congregation Beth El. Here you will find 2 dates on this
tablet. With the date to the left you will need to rearrange the
numbers to find the distance you will need to travel. Follow close!
Remove the third digit (you will not use it at all), now with the 3
remaining digits flip the middle digit with the last digit.
Example would be 2009, remove the third digit and you have 209,
flip the middle and the last and you then have 290 feet, this is
just the example!
To find the degrees that you will head in, find John and Rebecca
Morris. The Morris stone can be found in 1 of the long lines of
headstones. Once you have located the Morris stone you will need to
count the stones in that row from, and including Morris, to the
front of the of the cemetery. This number is the degrees needed to
find the final container.
Access to this cemetery is only gotten by entering Historical
Elmwood Cemetery. The hours are 8:30 to 4:00.