Prairie Winds - Haunted or Not? Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

EO-LETH: Having a cache at this location doesn't work.... we have lost so many containers. Watch for a new multi PW cache starting at this location. EO-Leth.

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Hidden : 2/10/2011
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is part of a series called the “Prairie Winds Adventure Trail” which roughly follows the Canadian Badlands Ltd. “Prairie Winds and Badlands Driving Tour”. Enjoy the hidden secrets of Southern Alberta by getting off the beaten trail to sites seldom visited, scenic views and historic sites and buildings. Prairies are not flat and there is a reason for calling our trail “Prairie Winds”.

A new fence, a fallen tree, a missing cache disguise location - we need to relocate this cache. It is now outside the fence, away from the tree and it has a new disguise! Check for the cache at N49 30.044 W112 31.590

The Ogden Mansion is one of the original landmarks of Stirling. The house was constructed by W.T. (William) Ogden between 1910 and 1919, at a cost of $15,000 - a huge sum of money at that time. The house is a total of 7000 sq. ft on 3 levels including 28 rooms of which 6 are bedrooms. There was also the all important outhouse out the back door.

William Ogden was a family man who married for a second time after the deaths of his first wife and two of his young children. The second wife came from Iowa and didn't want to move to Alberta unless she had a home like the one her family had. W.T. built this one for her, or so the story goes. The sad part is he lived there for only 12 years before his own death. Over the years the home has been owned by many people, and used in many different ways. In March 1934, after there was a fire at the school, the grade 1 and 2 students went to school at the Ogden house. In the 40's it was used as a rooming house for refugees, and as a pool hall. In 1958 the house was sold to F.W. Morris who owned a carnival and kept a Ferris wheel and go-carts on the property. At one point when the owners abandoned the property it came into ill repair with broken windows and doors left open for wildlife to come & go. People in the community believed the mansion was haunted. It has been sold by the village to new owners for the cost of taxes several times. The current owners have a deep appreciation for history and maintaining the architecture of the home. The only addition to the home is a set of stairs to the attic, the rest remains the same as when it was first built. This site is no longer “home based business”featuring the haunted mansion.

NOTE: You DO NOT need to enter the property to locate the cache but watch out for ghosts, spooks and muggles - whatever may be around. Even though the haunted attraction has been closed, the cache celebrating the building itself is still active.

With the owner’s permission, this information has been collected from (visit link)

Community history:
The Village of Stirling is a National Historic Site. The village, which was incorporated in 1899, was built on a plan called the Plat of Zion for a Mormon Agricultural village. The design featured blocks of 10 acres, broken down to 2.5 acres for each lot with the family home, barn, out buildings, fenced areas for livestock and garden space and orchards included on the property. The original settlers of Stirling were sent here on missions from the LDS (Mormon) church in Salt Lake City through an agreement with Elliott Galt the owner of the Alberta Railway and Irrigation Company. Their role was to develop an irrigation system to bring water from the mountains to the dry prairie. Galt would then be able to sell the prairie land that he received as payment for building the railway from Lethbridge to Great Falls. Water was also delivered to villagers by irrigation cannels throughout the village. Stirling has identified many of the original buildings with markers along a walking trail. The wide streets are part of the original street layout. They were 100’ wide so that two teams of horses could be turned around at the same time but now the road runs down the center with a 30’ wide green space on either side that the home owners maintain. More information about the village can be found at the Kiosk located at 1st street and 4th avenue, or check out cache GC155F9 Just Visiting – Stirling for coordinates.

To receive a Prairie Winds Geocoin, you must have logged, as found, at least 40 of the Prairie Winds caches and then send an e-mail to lthbridge@gmail.com. We will check your profile and contact you for mailing arrangements. There are 100 geocoins available.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Cyrnfr or qvfpergr!

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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