The "Monu-METAL" Tour, #1 Multi-Cache
Hidden : 5/17/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

It's"heavy metal" for sure, but (sorry, headbangers!) don't expect to find Ozzy, Soundgarden, or Megadeth. However, on this tour, you do get to see the Stones... gravestones, that is! This easy multi takes you to the city of New Britain, in central Connecticut.

The posted coordinates of this two-part cache will take you to New Britain's historic Fairview Cemetery. You’ll be looking for a bright clean gravestone of a beautiful blue-gray color. When you find it, knock on it. Surprise…it’s hollow! That’s because this "stone" is really metal. It’s made of what was called ‘white bronze’, which was just an advertising name, since it's actually pure zinc. The Monumental Bronze Company, of Bridgeport, CT produced these monuments between 1874 and 1914, with most of them being made and sold in the late 1880’s. That means that any Zinkie you find is more than 100 years old! Here's an example:

(sorry-- this ain't the one you're looking for! )

“Zinkies”, as they were sometimes nicknamed, were sold at prices ranging from under $2 to $5000. This was less than the cost of most stone markers and shipping charges were also less due to the lower weight. "Zinkies" were made in sizes from just a few inches tall to nearly fifteen feet high. Many are in the shape of a four-sided pillar that gradually tapers in towards the top. The base is often finished to resemble rough stone, with the family name usually molded into the base. The blue-gray color comes from a substance called zinc carbonate which forms on the surface of the monument as it weathers over time, similar to the bluish-green patina that forms on bronze statues or copper pipes. The company produced name panels that were attached to the monument by special screws with ornamental heads. This made it easier to change the panels when additional family members passed away and were buried in the plot. There were also stock panels with inspirational quotes, flowers, crosses, and religious symbols. The name panels with their ornamental screws are the easiest way to identify a 'zinkie'; all 'zinkies', large or small, have them.

Here's a typical name panel:


Note the 3 ornamental screws that fasten it to the monument.

In the forty years of its peak production, Monumental Bronze Company turned out thousands of markers, custom effigies, and stock statues, which can be found in cemeteries all over the US and Canada. They also made hundreds of Civil War memorials, which were erected in parks and town squares in more than 30 US states. Production stopped abruptly in 1914, when World War I began and the government took control of the factory and converted it to make gun mounts and ammunition. The supply of zinc, which is used in the making of brass, was also taken over by the government to produce brass for the war effort. After the war ended, Monumental Bronze Company never fully recovered; they stopped making actual monuments, but continued to produce name panels until about 1939, when the company went out of business altogether. But the ‘white bronze’ monuments have stood the test of time and exposure to the elements for over 100 years, often faring better than their marble or brownstone counterparts. Look for one, the next time you’re in the older section of your local cemetery.
And now, let the hunt begin!
This is a two-part cache. The posted coordinates will bring you to Stage 1-- a genuine “Zinkie”! (OK, go ahead and knock on it.... you know you want to!) There’s nothing hidden here, and you don’t need to move or disturb anything in or around the monument. You only have to read the name panels for the information you’ll need to figure the coordinates of the final stage.
The final is located at:
N 41° 40.A-B-C. and W 72° 45.X-Y-Z.

To determine A-B-C, find ROBERT SR.’s age at the time of his death (years only, not months) and add it to ELIZABETH'S age at the time of her death (again-- years only). Then add 472.

For X-Y-Z, take the last 3 digits of the year in which BESSIE died and subtract that from 1872.

The final is a camo’d bison tube with with just enough room for a log sheet, so you'll need to bring your own pen or pencil. You'll also have to use a bit of manual dexterity to get it out of its hiding place (not to worry; it's easy.) Please don't try to remove the container from where it's hanging... leave the top in place, unscrew and remove the bottom section to retrieve the log. When you're done, please close the container securely (DON'T over-tighten it, though!) and make sure it's hidden correctly...beady-eyed muggles abound! While the cache itself is well-concealed, YOU will be in plain sight, so stealth is very important!

NOTE: Fairview Cemetery is open between 8 AM and 5PM daily, so plan your visit accordingly. It is illegal to be in any CT cemetery between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise. Please do NOT attempt to do this cache at night or after the cemetery is closed. While you're always welcome to visit in the daytime, no one is allowed in the cemetery after hours, and this rule is enforced by the New Britain Police Dept. Also, Fairview is an active cemetery, so be alert and watch for funeral processions, visitors, and maintenance workers.


Props and kudos to happyhelpr for FTF!
May 18, 2010

After you find this cache, you might like to check out some of the many interesting grave markers and monuments in Fairview Cemetery. One is the grave of TEDDY WILSON in Section 8A at approximately N41° 40.453 W72° 46.053, just past the main entrance to the cemetery on Smalley St. Wilson, a pianist known as the "Mozart of Jazz", was an original member of the legendary Benny Goodman Quartet. As part of that group, he became one of the first African-American musicians to break the color barrier of the Big Band Era of the 1930's.

At N41° 40.614 W72° 46.015 is the grave of JOSEPH WHITE, the youngest person to serve in the Civil War. He joined the Union army at the age of 9 and served as a drummer boy. His grave is in an area reserved for Civil War veterans. Here also stands a stately oak tree which is the 'grandson' of the famous Charter Oak.

The obelisk at the PHILLIP CORBIN family plot is located at N 41° 40.568 W72° 46.005, but you probably won't need your GPS to find it! At 50 feet tall, it's the second-highest private family grave marker in the country. Mr. Corbin was a founder of the American Hardware Corporation, which for many years was one of the largest manufacturers of locks and related hardware in the world.

The cemetery office is open until 5PM on weekdays and is located a short distance from Stage 1 of the cache. There you can get a free map of the cemetery which includes a historical description and points out the locations of the grave sites of many notable and prominent people. Enjoy your visit!

NEWS FLASH!!! If you liked “Monu-METAL Tour, #1,” then you're invited to try “Monu-METAL II-- The Grand Tour” (GC2CNMN), a 25-mile jaunt that covers four towns, four cemeteries, and lots more "heavy metal”!

and now UP AND RUNNING...
"Monu-METAL IV: Southern Sojourn"!
Check it out!

If this is your first caching trip to Fairview Cemetery, why not make it a 'two-fer' and check out our other nearby cache, "Fairview Cemetery -- The Learned Blacksmith" (GC103J)

Have fun, and happy caching!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

FGNTR 1: Cbcrlr'f gnggbb SVANY: Chg ZBGURE ba lbhe yrsg, Naq RZZN ba lbhe evtug.... Jura SNGURE vf va gur zvqqyr, Gur uvqqra fcbg'f va fvtug! (pnzb'q ovfba ghor, nobhg rlr yriry... ybbx pnershyyl!)

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)


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