When gathering the information, you do not need to go on any private property in the neighborhood. All of the information can be gathered from the confines of your car. If you decide to ride your bike, please do not go any further than the sidewalk. Please, no trespassing onto private property. The final location is located in a nearby park. Park hours are April 16-October 31 – 7am-9pm and November 1-April 15 – 8am-6pm. Dogs are allowed in the park on a leash and please clean up after them. Please by aware of muggles and absolutely no night caching. This one should be done during the day. This is our first cache. Any feedback would be appreciated. If you have any questions or just need a hint, please feel free to send us a message. Thanks and enjoy the tour.
Stop 1: The Degraff Mansion – 273 Goundry Street
N43 01.575 W078 52.113
A large red brick house built between 1882 and 1884 by James Degraff, one of the first bank presidents in North Tonawanda. The house itself is dark with mahogany woodwork, some stained glass windows, glittering chandeliers, and eleven foot high ceilings. The home has many unique features, including the Widow’s Walk on the roof. During the 1970s, the mansion was owned by the Aurigema family. It became a stop-over for many artists and entertainers performing at Melody Fair. The mansion still contains a room in which the walls are covered with signatures of famous entertainers..
Answer ‘A’ = The number of letters in the color of the front door (minus) the number of steps leading to the front porch (not including the porch itself).
*Note: As of 8/7/11 this house is hard to see because of the overgrown bushes out front. It is still possible to get the needed information from the street.
Stop 2: The Batt Home – 303 Goundry Street
N43 01.587 W078 52.043
Frank X. Batt had this house built for his family of 13 children. He was born in Cheektowaga on November 29, 1849 and came to NT in the spring of 1868. He worked in timber mills before becoming involved with the Batt Brewing Company in 1874. He was prominent in public affairs in NT. He served as Village Trustee for four years and on the Board of Water Commissioners. The interior of the house is lined with quartered oak trim. The Pallotine fathers used this house for many years prior to founding the Infant Jesus Shrine on Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Answer ‘B’ = The number of columns on the front porch (not including the four columns framing the door) (divided by) 2.
Stop 3: The Humphrey Home – 332 Goundry Street
N43 01.607 W078 51.983
This shingle style home was built in 1889 for Paschal Smith Humphrey as a wedding present at a cost of $7,500. Humphrey was prominent in banking and real estate. He was best known as principle of the insurance firm of Humphrey and Vandervoort. At the time of his death in 1937, at the age of 86, he was the oldest native-born resident of the Tonawandas. The original stable is out back. Designed to compliment the house, it now serves as apartments. The designer of the home was Charles D. Swan of Buffalo. He was a prominent local architect who specialized in residences.
Answer ‘C’ = The green number on the green and white sign at the street (minus) the number of steps leading to the front porch (not including the porch itself).
Stop 4: The Wurlitzer Mansion – 373 Goundry Street
N43 01.621 W078 51.898
This Colonial Revival style mansion was built around 1905 for John H. Edwards, bookkeeper for the Robinson Bros. Lumber Company. Around 1916 this mansion was purchased by Farny R. Wurlitzer, who had just moved here from his native Cincinnati to run the musical instrument factory his father Rudolph had recently purchased. Wurlitzer hired NT architect Louis F. Eggert to rebuild the house into a more striking example of the Colonial Revival. Wurlitzer was fond of his gardens. When he sold the property, he did so on the condition that the side garden could not be built upon or paved. For many years this mansion was the home of the Town Club of the Tonawandas. When that organization disbanded in 1993, it reverted to private ownership.
Answer ‘D’ = The top number on the telephone pole at the listed coordinates.
The final location is:
N43 0A.BBC
W078 5A.BBD
Good Luck!
