The Mason Dixon Line was established to end a boundary dispute
between the British colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania/Delaware.
Maryland had been granted the territory north of the Potomac River
up to the fortieth parallel.
In April 1765, Mason and Dixon began their survey of the more
famous Maryland-Pennsylvania line. They were commissioned to run it
for a distance of five degrees of longitude west from the Delaware
River, fixing the western boundary of Pennsylvania.
However, in October 1767, at Dunkard Creek near Mount Morris,
Pennsylvania, nearly 244 miles (393 km) west of the Delaware, their
Iroquois guides refused to go any further, having reached the
border of their lands with the Lenape, with whom they were engaged
in hostilities. As such the group was forced to quit, and on
October 11, they made their final observations 233 miles (375 km)
from their starting point.
The stones—huge blocks of limestone between 3.5 and 5 feet
long and weighing between 300 and 600 pounds—were quarried in
Southern Great Britain and shipped to America.
Carried by wagon to their final resting place on the line, the
stones were placed at one-mile intervals. Mile markers were
decorated with vertical fluting and a P on the north face and M on
the southern face; every fifth mile along the line the stones were
engraved with the Penn coat of arms on the Pennsylvania side and
the Calvert coat of arms on the other.
The Short Marker with a P and M located at the Cache site was
Placed 246 years ago, what a Great sport/hobby that can bring you
to an “actual” American History site.
The Tall Marker located beside the Original M&D Marker was
placed by the Pennsylvania DOT when they resurveyed the Line.
The Micro Cache you seek is hidden in Plain site, No Room for a
Pen so BYOP.
Caution must be used if Caching with Children, These Markers are
right beside the roadway so know there where about’s at all
times. Stealth must be a high priority as well but a true interest
in History will aid you in your hunt.
Congratulations to Branicty for the FTF !!!!