This cache is being launched in conjunction with the 34th Annual
Judy Garland Festival, celebrating the platinum anniversary of the
movie The Wizard of Oz.
One informational stage is located at the Judy Garland Museum,
and is placed with the permission of John Kelsch, Executive
Director. Much of the historical information for this cache was
provided by Mr. Kelsch.
Some of the original trade items were graciously donated by the
Judy Garland Museum. Kids, please feel free to take something Judy
Garland related without feeling the need to leave something
behind.
There is free public parking within a couple of hundred feet of all
informational stages. Please take the time to park and walk to each
stage, and do not attempt to do the figurin' while driving past. I
meant the stages to be completed from the sidewalk, not the
roadway. No deriving while d-riving.
The cache can be found at N47* 13.AB W093* 31.CD3.
Go to N 47° 13.877 W 093° 31.566, ITASCA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
This is where Judy Garland was born as Frances Gumm on June 10,
1922. The hospital was originally the brick building you will see
here, but the complex grew up around it, eventually touching up to
the clinic which is on the south end of this two block tract. In
2005 the new Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital was built, rendering
this massive complex useless. The hospital met the wrecking ball in
2008, with the exception of this original building which stands
today. The building is currently being renovated into
apartments.
While standing at the coordinates near the hospital, you will
see some words carved into the stone near the top of the building.
There are also dots around the words. Count the number of dots and
multiply this number by three. The product you come up with is
A.
Proceed to N47 14.165 W093 31.902, the intersection of 4TH
STREET AND HOFFMAN AVENUE.
This spot is now a thriving business. In the 1920's it was a
residential neighborhood. The Gumm home was located on the
northwest corner of 4th Street and what was Hoffman Avenue. The
coordinates will lead you to the location of where the home sat.
Ironically, when the current building was put in place in the
1980's, the first business to occupy this part of the complex was
the movie theatre. What would the Gumm's have thought if they knew
where their house was sitting would someday support the only
theatre in town.
When standing on the sidewalk on 4th Street near the
coordinates, you will be standing directly between two light posts.
Count the number of stanchions between the light posts. This number
is B.
Now, go on to N47* 14.047 W093* 31.694, the NEW GRAND THEATRE.
There is ample free parking around the back.
This is where Frank Gumm owned and operated the New Grand
Theatre. The original building is still intact, it is the building
with the blue awning. This is where young Frances Gumm sang Jingle
Bells for her first public performance. The number of windows found
on the top level facing the avenue is C.
Now, it is time to go on to N47 12.346 W093 31.761, the JUDY GARLAND MUSEUM.
This is the home where Judy lived while her family was in Grand
Rapids. When the family lived in this home it was located at 4th
and Hoffman. After being relocated for several years in the
northeast side of town, in 1994 the house was moved to this
location to be a part of the museum exhibit. In 2005, the home and
museum gained international attention when a pair of the original
Ruby Slippers from the movie Wizard of Oz was stolen from this site. The slippers,
insured for $1,000,000 have yet to be recovered. As you look at the
home, the window on the upper level, left hand side, was the
bedroom that young Frances shared with her parents.
Read the sign and determine the number of people who lived in
the house when Judy lived here. This number is D.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
