STGT: BNF 11: Lockport, William R. Kenan Traditional Cache
BarbershopDru: So sorry, ST. I thought that I had actually archived it long ago. I have heard nothing from the folks at Seaway Trail HQ, so am archiving it now.
STGT: BNF 11: Lockport, William R. Kenan
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Welcome to Lockport, where the Erie Barge Canal meets its first set of “locks” if you are going from West to East!
Permission to hide this cache has been granted by the Kenan Center Organization. Please respect and appreciate the beauty around you while you search for the cache. It will not be difficult to find and the staff is aware of it’s location.
The home that you see here was built in 1850 and completely rebuilt by 1859 after a terrible fire. At that time it was owned by George W. Rogers, who had come to the area in the early 1820’s and set up shop as a blacksmith. His business thrived and he soon became a merchant and shipper once the Erie Canal was completed.
But it was in 1912 that the house began to take on the beautiful persona that you see here today. For that is when Mr. & Mrs. William R. Kenan purchased the home and its acreage. He came to the area and set up a plant that would produce calcium carbide and later acetylene. Mr. Kenan’s worked for Union Carbide for 4 years. It was because of a business, and later family, relationship with wealthy industrialist, Henry Flagler, that Mr. Kenan achieved real wealth. Flagler hired him to work on many of his real estate ventures in Florida and later married Mr. Kenan’s sister, Mary Lily. Mr. Kenan was made a trustee of Flagler’s estate after Henry passed away in 1913, and took over running the many Flagler companies after Mary Lily’s death in 1917. This, in addition to his own business enterprises, is what contributed to his own estimated wealth at the time of his death being in excess of $100 million. He was most noted towards the end of his life as being a businessman, scientist, and philanthropist.
His love of horticulture is still reflected throughout the 25 acres that remain with the house. The Kenan estate, itself, was gifted to the First Presbyterian Church of Lockport with the provision that they use of the estate for community benefit, and Mr. Kenan provided an initial endowment.
As you stroll around the grounds, you will see an orchard, an herb garden, a perennial garden, the formal East and West gardens and pond garden. Next to the house you can find one of the oldest Wisteria vines in Niagara County, having been planted when the house was rebuilt in 1859!
This cache is placed as part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Geotrail, located within the geocachers finding 10 or more Great Lakes Seaway Trail Geotrail caches within this region can earn a free Buffalo-Niagara Falls Region geocoin. If you are interested in participating in the Geotrail, please visit www.seawaytrail.com/geotrail for a list of locations where you can pick up a free copy of the official Great Lakes Seaway Trail Geotrail Logbook.
This cache contains a unique hole punch which must stay with the cache. Use this hole punch in space #_11_ on the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Region page of your Official Great Lakes Seaway Trail Logbook. This hole punch is NOT a trade item.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
HAQRE!
Treasures
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