GC2WNNY Pignataro Castle (Traditional Cache) in Texas, United States created by beinlause

This cache has been archived.

Vertighost: Cache Owner (CO) has not responded, so the cache is being archived to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking new cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace this cache sometime in the future (not to exceed 10 days from the date of this entry), contact me via email (vertighost@yandex.com), and assuming it still meets the current Guidelines, I will consider unarchiving this cache.

Please be advised this is not a guarantee that this geocache will be unarchived. Many factors will go into my decision, the most important of which is how you responded to geocachers who tried to communicate with you regarding the problem(s) with this geocache hide and how you communicated with me.

Vertighost
Geocaching HQ Volunteer Reviewer

GC2WNNY ▼

A cache by beinlause Message this owner

Hidden : 5/21/2011

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

What’s that in front of you? No, beyond the bush. Squint if you have to. Yes, it’s the Santa Fe Castle!

The castle's history began with a man from Denmark by the name of John Christensen. Christensen came the United States in 1891 with assets totaling $16 and no knowledge of the English language. He worked on the Galveston docks and saved as much of his money as possible. In 1899, he bought a bicycle shop which eventually became the first Ford automobile dealership on the island, John Christensen and Co., later known as A.J. Rasmussen and Sons. Christensen's obituary in the Dec. 15, 1934 edition of The Galveston Daily News states that his hobby was farming the 70-acre tract of land in Alta Loma that is the present site of the castle.

He is credited with contributing a great deal to the betterment of working conditions on the mainland. It is said he invited farmers from all over the county to his Alta Loma farm for a demonstration of the first Ford tractor.

In 1930, he retired from his business and devoted most of the remaining four years of his life to farming.
Christensen had been a widower since the death of his first wife in 1912. In 1930, he married Meska Vogel, to whom his left his beloved farm. It was she who would build the castle. Many people believe Mrs. Christensen built the castle intending to give it to the Catholic church as a retirement home for
aged nuns. When the church did not desire the property for that purpose, she elected to make it her home.

In 1954, she sold the castle to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meir. There is little information about the Meirs, except that he worked for an oil company in South America and that the family was seldom in residence at the castle. The castle changed owners again in 1966, when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. H. Dane Harris.

They only kept it a short time before selling to the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Franco Pignataro, in 1970. For a while, the 26-room mansion was converted into several apartments, but Pignataro admits that was a grave error. Along with his wife and three daughters, Pignataro made the castle his home. To learn more about the Pignataro family history, stop by the GC1NJ9J cache and have lunch. When you notice the architectural similarities, tell the staff you're a geocacher who wants to know more about Pignataro Castle.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

srapr

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)

This cache has been archived.

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Pignataro Castle Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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