GC1P74A Dark Shadows - The Heriot House (Traditional Cache) in South Carolina, United States created by Fraidy Cat

This cache has been archived.

gpsfun: This cache page is being archived due to the lack of a timely resolution. If you wish to repair/replace the cache in the near future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the current guidelines, we'll consider unarchiving it.

-Brad
Geocaching Volunteer Reviewer

GC1P74A ▼

A cache by Fraidy Cat Message this owner

Hidden : 3/27/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The Heriot House is one of the most beautiful houses in Georgetown. It is now a B+B called Harbor House. It is on the corner of Front St. and Cannon St. The cache is a small Lock-N-Lock which is one block farther east. After finding the cache walk over and look at the house. It is gorgeous.

There are several ghosts stories associated with this beautiful house. Built circa 1770, it has been the home of many wealthy and influential Georgetown residents.

In the era of opulence and southern gentility that preceded the Civil War the already historic Heriot House was occupied by a golden haired girl and her family.

One afternoon the girl was strolling along the waterfront with her ever present canine companions. Her beauty and grace caught the attention of a young man aboard one of the ships docked at her father's wharf. The young man wasted no time in making the acquaintance of the young lady. The two had an instant rapport and began to rendezvous daily. The girls father discovered that she had a beau off a Yankee ship and told the captain of the ship to keep the man away from his daughter or dock elsewhere. The captain chose to move his ship but as this was a very busy time in Georgetown there were no other tie-ups available. The captain anchored out in the harbor much to the dismay of the girl and her beau. The determined young man sent a message to the girl to signal when her parents were asleep by placing a light in the third floor window and he would know it was safe to come ashore and meet her. That very night the couple used the signal to meet in the gardens and stroll hand in hand without fear of discovery.

As time drew near for the ship to leave port the couple agreed to meet whenever his ship was in the vicinity. For nearly twenty years the girl, now woman, used the signal to meet her beau. They never married even long after the issue of parental consent was irrelevant.

For unknown reasons the man stopped coming. His fate was unknown. The woman became bitter and reclusive. She continued to place the light in the window but started doing so less and less.

The beloved dogs of her youth had given way to a pack of faithful dogs, the woman's only companions.

During the Civil War the union blockade of Georgetown Harbor deprived the town of needed supplies. The woman once again used her signal so that the blockade runners would know it was safe to enter the harbor. By doing so the woman saved many lives.

When the war ended the woman became more and more reclusive. Her only companions were her much loved dogs. Her neighbors were used to the barking of the dogs especially on nights with a full moon. So they were not concerned one night when the barking and howling were louder and more persistent than normal. However, as the din continued well into the next day they became alarmed. With no answer to their knocking and calling out, the neighbors were finally able to break in. They found the woman dead on the floor guarded by a half dozen of her faithful companions.

At first the next occupants of the house were baffled when they saw a light shine from under the door of a unused third floor room. The source of the light was never discovered but the residents gradually grew used to it. What they didn't get used to was the sound of dogs' nails clicking across the hardwood floors.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vg'f gbb urnil gb zbir. Ernpu haqre vg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)