Take Me Out to the Ballgame Traditional Cache
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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If your sport is t-ball, baseball or softball, you're going to love this geocache. It's located at a popular Chadbourn, NC area ball field. So, while you're out caching next time, do as the title says, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Just don't get hit by a home run while you're grabbing this cache. ;-)
"And it's one, two, three strikes you're out... at the ole ball game!"
Chadbourn, NC has only a couple caches, so I decided to add a few more to draw traffic through this quaint little town. Chadbourn sees a lot of beach traffic, so none of these caches will be out of your way -- especially if you're traveling to/from Myrtle Beach.
This magnetic cache should yield a quick P&G smiley for your log. Beware of the little green lizard guarding the cache container. 
Actually, he's harmless -- and you can even take him with you, if you like. Have fun and stick around to catch a local little league game during the spring/summer.
A bit of Chadbourn Trivia for you...
According to information given by Mrs. D. C. Clark, the area that became known as Chadbourn was once mostly owned by Colonel Smith of Whiteville, NC.
Col. Smith leased over 2,000 acres in the Chadbourn area to the Bellamy brothers of Wilmington, NC. They set up a turpentine distillery on the spot where the O’Neil house now stands. This happened before civil war days.
As “naval store” industries declined in North Carolina, Colonel Smith’s heirs leased the land to the Chadbourn family of Wilmington. The Chadbourns erected a sawmill in the area. Their names were Messrs. James, George, and William Chadbourn. An interesting aside -- the town of Loris, SC was named after one of the Chadbourn family dogs.
The town of Chadbourn was incorporated by the North Carolina Legislature on March 7, 1883 - 130 years ago. Its growth was steady for more than a century. Colonel Smith wanted to name the town "Timberville". Thankfully that name did not gain much traction. Chadbourn was eventually named after Mr. James H. Chadbourn. He made much progress in the lumber industry and in railroad building. Credit must be given to the entire Chadbourn family, NC State Senator J. A. Brown, and the Sunny South Colony members for putting Chadbourn, NC on the map.
By the early 1890’s, most of the timber had been cut by the Chadbourn brothers and it seemed that the town might retrogress. But again, fate stepped in and kept the little town thriving. In 1892 and 1893 respectively, the Midwest had a severe winter and drought. To assist readers suffering from the
weather and panic of 1893, a Chicago magazine known as Farm, Field, and Fireside ran an article asking information on inexpensive land in more hospitable climates. That article attracted the attention of Senator J. A. Brown, a resident of Chadbourn. He made trips to Chicago and negotiated necessary contracts to persuade people from the Midwest to settle in this area. He had already seen the opportunity of clearing, draining, and farm cut-over timber land. Senator Brown also had made a successful experiment with strawberries - which became another claim to fame for the small town.
After the proper contacts and arrangements were made, people from the Midwest moved to Chadbourn. Some came to investigate, some bought all of their belongings, and others returned and brought their families back with them to make Chadbourn, NC their home. These settlers, who were known as the “Sunny South Colony”, were energetic and thrifty citizens. Their main work was farming strawberries and other crops. Through their efforts Chadbourn became a great strawberry center.
Other items of special interest:
1. Chadbourn was once the largest strawberry market in the world
2. Chadbourn once led the world in the production of plate ice.
3. The oldest churches in Chadbourn are the Methodist, Baptist and Fuller Memorial Presbyterian, which was organized in 1886.
4. The main industries now are farming, lumbering, processing, and textiles.
5. Its longitude is 78.54° W; its’ latitude is 34.18 degrees N and the town's elevation about 99.75’ above sea level.
6. It is the only town by the name "Chadbourn" in U.S.A.
The cache you're looking for is a small magnetic near the ball field.It should be a quick P&G for most everyone. PLEASE replace as found, so the cache can stay dry and out of sight from muggles. Please BYOP. ENJOY!
Chadbourn Trivia compiled by the
Eighth Grade Chapter of the Tarheel
Junior Historian Association of
Westside High School
Chadbourn, NC
1961-62
FTF goes to...will136
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cynfgvp terra yvmneq thneqvat gur pnpur naq gur vapyhqrq Gra Pbzznaqzragf pbyyrpgnoyr pbva (abg n genpxnoyr). Teno rz dhvpx orsber gurl'er tbar!