GC1TQ6C Cushman's Kingdom (Traditional Cache) in Virginia, United States created by Lego Fans

This cache has been archived.

offline.cacher: On Sept 2, 2010, Jim Bowman, Wildlife Biologist Manager for the Virginia Wildlife Management Areas sent me this email...

"Thank you for your inquiry. Virginia's wildlife management areas (WMA) were purchased using funds derived from hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, as well as contributions made by the Federal Assistance in Wildlife Restoration Program. As such, WMAs have been purchased and are managed for the purposes of habitat management and production of wildlife. Certain wildlife-related recreational acitvities are consistent and compatible with this objective, but not all outdoor recreation can be accomodated. As geocaching is not related to, nor does it support wildlife or habitat management, this activity is not allowed on our WMAs."

Unfortunately, this cache will have to be moved from the area.

GC1TQ6C ▼

A cache by Lego Fans Message this owner

Hidden : 6/12/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

A paddling cache along the Virginia Barrier Islands.

This geocache is hidden near the ruins of a lodge on Mockhorn Island, one of the inner barrier islands off the Virginia coast that consists of 7,000 acres of tidal marshland.

This island was first settled by Europeans in the 1600s for the purpose of salt-making using evaporation ponds. In the early 1800s tracts of the island were sold to individuals, presumably to be used as pastures for life stock. After the Civil War the Virginia barrier islands experienced increased recreational use and several extensive sporting retreats were built. The club on Mockhorn Island was started by Nathan Cobb, Jr. in the mid-1800s and it was one of the most long-lived compounds. In 1902, Larimer A. Cushman, the retired owner of the Cushman Bakeries in New York, bought Mockhorn

Island. He expanded the existing dwelling (shown on the left), built a barn and a smoke house, cleared off fields and planted alfalfa. He also kept a herd of Angus cattle confined within a 4-feet high concrete wall along the perimeter of the farm. In the early 1900s, the Cushmans lived year-round at the farm and called it their "Kingdom."

Even though the Cushmans were nearly self-sufficient, life was not easy. Biting flies caused the cattle to stay over their backs in the water. Noreasters and hurricanes must have resulted in flooding after breaching the berm and retaining walls. Eventually the attempt to farm the land failed and after Larimer Cushman's death in 1948, the widow sold the island to T.A.D. Jones, a government contractor. He used the compound to entertain military and political leaders who were flown in by helicopter for fishing and hunting trips. The Commonwealth of Virginia acquired the island in 1959 as a Wildlife Management Area.

Today you can still see the overgrown ruins of the once splendid Cushman house and the out-buildings, as well as the crumbling concrete retaining wall, dyke and moat on the perimeter of the compound. The vegetation has turned again into saltwater marsh grasses; the biting flies are still there.

References:

Badger, Curtis J. and Kellam, Rick (1989). The Barrier Islands: a photographic history of life on Hog, Cobb, Smith, Cedar, Parramore, Metompkin, & Assateague. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.

Badger, Curtis J. (1991). Mockhorn Island: A Different Place in Another Time, Virginia Wildlife 52, 4-8 (July 1991).

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