WCG - St. Pauls Reformed Church Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

SirCrab: Unfortunately the owner did not respond to the previous note so this is being archived. Should the owner decide to repair/replace this and have it unarchived, it can be done as long as it still conforms to the guidelines.

Regards,
SirCrab
Volunteer Cache Reviewer

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Hidden : 8/29/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:


The Washington County GeoTrail

WCG - St. Pauls's Reformed Church



The Washington County GeoTrail (WCG) launched on Saturday, September 14, 2013. The Trail consists of over thirty-five (35) geocaches placed at points of interest all over the County. Caches will be found in National, State, County and Town parks as well as at museums, wineries, historical sites and places of natural beauty. A trackable geocoin was awarded to the first 500 geocachers who completed the Washington County Geotrail. The original allotment of Coins has been exhausted and new parameters to receive the updated Coin are below.

 To be eligible for the coin, GeoCachers may download the Washington County GeoTrail passport online at www.visitHAGERSTOWN.com or pick one up in person at the Visitor Welcome Center at 6 N. Potomac Street. Completed passports may be verified on site at the above address or by mail.

Please note the following Change. Washington County GeoCoins will be available for purchase at the Visitor Welcome Center for GeoCachers who log 20 or more caches on the Washington County GeoTrail. The cost of the GeoCoin will be $10. An additional $3.50 shipping charge will apply for passports redeemed by mail. For more information about geocaching in Washington County and the full complement of local amenities, the above links are your gateway to historically beautiful Washington County!

Participating in the WCG geotrail is fun and we hope that many people join in. However, it is not a requirement for logging your find on this cache once you find the container.
WCG - St. Pauls Reformed Church

Nestled amongst giant cedars and whispering pines, beautiful St. Paul's Church stands tall and proud on the north side of the National Pike, nine miles west of Hagerstown and three miles east of the town of Clear Spring. The flashing yellow traffic lights at the nearby intersection almost seem to call the attention of passers-by to this picturesque sight.

St. Paul's Reformed Church is acknowledged as the oldest congregation in Washington County. To put this into perspective, Hagerstown, Williamsport and Clear Spring did not exist when this church was established and the National Pike was just a rutted wagon trail. First recorded documentation was in 1747 when Michael Schlatter, missionary and Reformed minister who visited a like congregation at Monocacy near Frederick, wrote in his diary, “If this congregation were united with another called Conococheague lying 30 miles distant, these two would be able to sustain a minister.” One might add business man to missionary and minister.

Three corner stones are displayed on the southwest corner of the present Reformed church: 1747, the date of the first church building along the Conococheague Creek; 1795, when the stone building in which two congregations worshiped for more than a century had been built; and 1897, when the third building was constructed.

The first church was a log blockhouse built within the Concococheague Stockade Fort, which was established to protect settlers from Indian attacks during the French and Indian War. Many settlers work their farms by day and stayed in the fort at night.

The first registry of births and baptisms, written in German script, is dated 1787. Those records were placed with the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore.

In 1795 a cornerstone was laid for a new church two miles west of the stockade. Standing on the crest of a hill, it is one of the finest church sites in Washington County. The land had been deeded to the council-consistory for 7 ½ shillings, or about $1.80. The building was not completed until 1798 due to shifting footers and leaning gables. The new church design included two doors placed at the east end, one for the men and one for the women. Separate doors were used in order to discourage promiscuity.

The Washington County GeoTrail wishes to Thank the Hagerstown Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau for their timely and continuing assistance with this Washington County adventure.

The WCG also wishes to thank the following geocachers who spent countless hours in planning and deploying the caches – ALs Guide, Always Lost 00, Kitakima, LPYankeefan, nomaland, Snurt, tazscouter, and tiger77aam.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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