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This cache can be handicap accessible, but may need help reaching to get the find. You are looking for an ammo-painted match container with just a log. Please bring a pen or pencil.
**CONGRATS GEOCACHING GRANNY 3 FOR THE FTF!!!**
I placed this cache in honor of my parents who are buried just a couple miles east of the cache location. I named this one "The Old Stomping Grounds" because I grew up just a short 1/2 mile from here. As a youngster, I road my bike, go-cart, motorcycle and eventually my first car on this road thousands of times. Although I live in a bigger city now, Vernon and the surrounding area will always be my "home". While some family still remain in the area, most have moved on. If you've never been to Vernon, let me tell you a little bit about it.
Vernon was established in 1892. The Vernon name was a compromise by the townsite committee after several other favored names failed to gain approval. Supposedly it came from the name of a traveling minister that several of the committee members knew. Other sources credit the name to George Washington's home at Mt. Vernon, VA. This rural post office and crossroads community is located four miles west of US 385, at a point eight miles south of Wray. It sits about eight miles northwest of the site of a famous 1868 Indian/military battle (Beecher Island).
The town, as you can plainly see, is not big. The 2000 census population was 29. The rolling prairies, dotted with farm houses, checkered with fields of grain, corn, milo, etc., stretch away
from the town for miles on every hand, and in the clear, pure air the view is beautiful.
In it's heyday, Vernon had two general stores, two hotels, and
three churches : the Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Christian. They did (and still do) have a top-notch volunteer fire department.
The new town of Vernon didn't have a school in town until 1905 when the District 43 School Board voted to build a new two room school house in town to replace an outdated school located 1½ miles west of town. By 1911 the Vernon grade school population was crowding the two-room building. An extension was added to the south in 1913 and a third teacher hired. After renting a building and buying an old church building, Vernon's first high school classes began in 1921.
As you drive into town, you can't help but notice a city square right in the middle of town. Vernon school athletic events were held in this town park. Vernon's school mascot was the Bobcats, and the colors were Purple and Yellow.
Shortly after the high school was started, residents decided to build a community building with an undersized court for the school basketball team. In the late 1920's the Vernon Grade School and Yuma County High School boards voted to fund a new building to house both the Vernon grade and high schools. Construction was started in 1927 and classes were held in the new brick building that fall. In 1949 funding to build a gymnasium, school kitchen and lunchroom, indoor restrooms, lockers and a school stage was approved. The gym and a two story cement block extension (half-flight up to the lunch room/kitchen and a half-flight down to restrooms, lockers and stage) was completed in time for the 1949-1950 school year. In the new gym west of the two-story extension, Vernon had the the first regulation basketball court in the league with the playing floor about three feet lower than the stage.
The class of 1959 marked the end of Vernon High. Declining student population (six seniors that year) had lead to a county-wide consolidation of high schools into just two districts, east and west. Today the school building is on the State Historical Register and is owned by the Vernon Community Center board. This building hosts many events for clubs and organizations. The local 4-H group is ACE HIGH, which was established in 1937, and is still running and has many youth from the area involved.
So, if you see folks watering their flowers, sitting out on their porch, walking down the dirt streets or just out and about, say hello. Most of these folks are life-long residents and can take you back in time with even more history of my hometown of Vernon, Colorado. While you're in area, make sure to check out Beecher Island and the beautiful community of Wray, which is 15 miles or so southeast of Vernon on Highway 385.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vagrefrpgvba. Ybj.