Middleville Cemetery Traditional Cache
HAYLO-NPT: No longer at site.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Middleville Cemetery, originally known as Sammis Hill Cemetery, was established in the late 1700’s as a non-sectarian burial place for the Sammis and other local families. The earliest surviving and identifiable grave marker here dates from 1794. As you walk through the cemetery, you will see many of the names of the founding families of Northport, Fort Salonga and Middleville such as Fleet, Hudson, Ketcham, Longbothum, Platt and Gildersleeve. The cemetery primarily served the rural hamlet of Middleville, which had its own post office and Methodist church located at the junction of Bread and Cheese Hollow, Middleville and Old Bridge Roads. The cemetery is the final resting place for at least 120 people. The north end of the cemetery was once proposed to be a “Potter’s Field” or burial ground for the indigent; however this never came to be.
The grave markers reflect various styles and materials of each era; from sandstone, to marble, granite and even zinc. The cemetery is no longer used for burials.
Beginning in 2002, the New York Alumni Branch of McGill University (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) initiated a six year long restoration project with Huntington Town Historian Robert C. Hughes, and supported by the Fort Salonga Association, the Northport Historical Society, students from Northport High School and local scout troops and neighbors.
As would be expected with any cache located in or around a cemetery, there is no need to disrupt any of the graves or monuments – the cache is placed, not buried. Please have respect for the area and obey the posted hours -- sunrise to sunset -- no night caching. The cemetery is between two homes so you may experience a muggle or two -- but you will not be on those properties.
Take the time to walk around and enjoy the history of this sacred ground. A waypoint has been added for parking near the Northport VA Center as there isn’t any immediate parking available at the location or the side of the road. A little bit of an uphill walk.
The cache itself is a small, round Ziploc container with screw-on cap – not its original color. There is room for small trackables and tradables. The cache contains a log book and pencil (although always safe to BYOP in case it goes missing), some usual swag and a prize for the FTF and STF. FTF will have the choice of grabbing a brand new, unopened nano cache (to encourage more geocaching, of course) or a lucky buck. Please leave the other for the STF. A trackable will also be included to begin this cache.
Don't let Google Maps fool you. These are the coordinates; although some search engines make it appear that you would need to be on someone's private property.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orgjrra vivrq fghzcf.