Hacienda Santa Rita Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Hacienda Santa Rita in Guánica is a representative example of a
19th century sugar plantation. More than 1,800 cuerdas (1,750
acres) in size, it was one of the most prosperous sugar operations
in the southern part of the island. Hacienda Santa Rita was built
in 1800 by Mariano Quiñones. It remained in the family until 1893,
when Juan Domingo Mariani acquired it and changed its name to
Hacienda Desideria. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, the
plantation served as the headquarters for Spanish forces commanded
by Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Puig. Following a battle on the
grounds of the plantation between the two armies, it was occupied
by the U.S. troops of General Nelson A. Miles. In 1901, ownership
of the plantation passed to the Guánica Central sugar mill. In
1953, the owners gave the land temporarily to the Dominican Order
of Our Lady of Fatima. The religious order officially acquired the
property in 1962. Currently they continue to administer the estate.
The original house was spacious and rectangular in shape with
masonry walls. It was one level with numerous latticework doors on
its four sides. The exterior was elaborately decorated with stucco
adornments around each door and a cornice that crowned the
structure. In 1850, a second level was added with a roof of four
gables that extended to cover a balcony around the building, which
showed French influences that were common throughout the region for
much of the 19th century. The banisters and columns of the balcony
were made of forged iron and were the dominant visual element of
the structure. The balcony is supported, in part, by its elegant
iron work. The structure that housed the plantation's slaves is
known as the "lot south of the batey" and is built of masonry.
After the emancipation of the slaves, it housed sugar cane workers.
Later, the Guánica Central mill used it as a garage. In view of the
deterioration of the estate, the Comité Pro-Restauración de la
Hacienda Santa Rita (a committee for the restoration of the
Hacienda) undertook a project to rehabilitate and restore its
structures. In 1993, the project was completed, returning the
plantation to its past appearance while taking into consideration
the needs and uses of today. About the cache: You are looking for a
medium-sized yellow container with a logbook and some goodies.
Please BYOP.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
V fzryy yvxr wnfzvarf!