NOTE: The location of this cache's final was changed, 24 February 2019.
Therefore, you'll need to print a new hard copy of pages 6 through 13 before you start your hunt. Have fun and Happy Caching!
Back in the summer of 2002, I was visiting a cemetery in central CT, along with a very interesting gentleman by the name of Fred Chesson, who was doing some research for an article on a web page he had published. As we were walking among the gravestones, Fred pointed out one that looked a bit different from the rest. Then, he told me to go up and knock on it. I started thinking he'd been out in the hot sun too long, but did as he said. And from that day forward, I was hooked......
When you're caching in a cemetery, you'll see gravestones and monuments of all kinds. Most are granite, marble, or New England brownstone, in colors ranging from gray to black, brown, red, or white. But every so often you might run across a smooth, gently tapering grave marker of distinctive design and a beautiful blue-gray color that sets it apart from the others. It will probably show little, if any, signs of weathering, even after 100 years or more. If you see a monument like this, go and knock on it. You'll be as surprised as I was to find... it's hollow! That 'stone' isn't really stone at all... it's metal! That's right... it's made of pure zinc. The Monumental Bronze Company, of Bridgeport, CT produced these monuments between 1874 and 1914, with most of them being made and sold in the late 1880’s.
Here's an example:
'Zinkies', as they were nicknamed, were sold at prices ranging from under $2 to $5000. This was less than the cost of most stone markers and shipping charges were also less due to the lower weight. 'Zinkies' came in many different styles and in sizes from just a few inches to nearly fifteen feet tall. Most are in the shape of a four-sided pillar that gradually tapers in towards the top. The base is often finished to resemble rough stone, with the family name usually molded into the base. The unique blue-gray color comes from a substance called zinc carbonate which forms on the surface of the monument as it weathers over time, similar to the bluish-green patina on bronze statues or copper pipes. The company produced name panels that were attached to the monument by special screws with ornamental heads. This made it possible to change the panels and add names when additional family members passed away and were buried in the plot. There were also stock panels with inspirational quotes, Scripture verses, flowers, crosses, and occupational and religious symbols. These name panels are one of the easiest ways to identify a 'zinkie'; all zinc monuments, regardless of size or style, have them.
This is a typical name panel:
Note the ornamental heads on the 3 screws that hold it in place.
In the forty years of its peak production, Monumental Bronze Company turned out thousands of markers, custom effigies, and stock statues, which can be found in cemeteries all over the US and Canada. They also made hundreds of Civil War memorials, which were erected in parks and town squares in more than 30 US states. Production stopped abruptly in 1914, when World War I began and the government took control of the factory and converted it to make gun mounts and ammunition. The supply of zinc, which is used in the making of brass, was also taken over by the government to produce brass for the war effort.
After the war ended, Monumental Bronze Co. never fully recovered; they stopped making actual monuments, but kept producing name panels and zinc electrical fittings for cars until about 1939, when the company went out of business altogether. But the 'Zinkies' have stood the test of time and exposure to the elements for over 100 years, often faring better than their marble or brownstone counterparts. And 'Zinkies' are the subject of this cache hunt, as we comb the lower part of Central Connecticut for them, in yet another "heavy metal" jaunt we call.....
"Monu-Metal IV: Southern Sojourn"!
OK-- Before we start, you should know that while this is a fun caching run to do with the kids on a sunny afternoon (they'll have a blast! 
), it's not a quick "Park & Grab" caper. Also, because of the large number of stages involved, if you're a beginning cacher, this might be a bit much to take on if you're doing this type of cache for the first time. (Try 'Monu-Metal Tour #1" GC28QHW, for a shorter version of this cache hunt.) As for the cache name-- you won't be venturing below the Mason-Dixon Line (or anywhere near it); we just came up with this title because the hunt area is well south of our previous stomping grounds. But we ain't just whistling 'Dixie' when we tell you that this is our longest and grandest tour of all! You'll be visiting 5 cemeteries in 3 nearby towns and locating 19 'Zinkies' on your way to the final stage, for a total distance of about 27 miles, and there will be some driving on Rt. 91 and Rt. 9. (That's the reason we gave it a difficulty of 2.) Figure 2½ to 3 hours if you do it all at once. But you don't have to tackle it all in one shot; you can break it up and do a few stages at a time, especially if you're planning to hunt some other caches in the towns you'll be visiting. And as you travel from one cemetery to another, you'll see lots of cool things along the way; 200-year-old houses, parks, classic-style university buildings, blue lakes, green fields and some nice views of the Connecticut River Valley.
What You'll Need: You'll have to print a hard copy of pages 6 through 13 of this listing, as it contains the necessary information to figure out the coordinates for each stage. Bring a pad and pencil or calculator, too; that's an absolute 'must', as you'll be doing some arithmetic along the way (we promise: no calculus or advanced trigonometry, just grade-school stuff! ) And don't forget your camera... while it's not a required 'tool' for this hunt, there are plenty of great photo ops all around!
A Few Things To Remember: The cemeteries you'll be visiting are all active ones, so please respect your surroundings and watch for funeral traffic, visitors, and cemetery workers. Observe and follow all speed limits, parking rules, and one-way roads. Please do not attempt to do any part of this cache at night. It is illegal in CT to be in any cemetery from 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise. Some of the cemeteries are open only during specific hours; read the signs posted at the entrances and plan accordingly. Also, most of the cemeteries don't allow dogs, so keep that in mind.
You don't have to move or disturb any grave markers, plants, monuments, or other objects in any of the cemeteries. The information you need is in plain sight on the 'Zinkies'. All you have to do is read it. Of course, if you've done any of the previous "Monu-Metal" caches, you should be an experienced 'Zinkie' spotter by now! (If not, we guarantee you'll be an expert by the time you finish this multi!)
Refresher course! Here's a quick review on how to spot a 'Zinkie'--
All set? Okay, then....
Let's Head South!
Stage 1-- The posted coordinates will bring you to the start of this adventure, and your first Zinkie (BTW, you may have visited this cemetery before; if so, then you've found the geocache that's hidden in it!
) Consider this stop a 'warm-up' and an intro to some of the different styles of Zinkies you'll be seeing along the way. All set? Here we go!
The coordinates for Stage 2 are:
N41° 31.AAA
W72° 47.BBB
To find AAA, look for a star on the side of the zinkie (hint: it's above Dwight's name... look UP!) Take the number of points on that star, multiply it by 10 and add 825.
To get BBB, find a familiar object on AURELIA'S side of the zinkie-- it's associated with a very famous cartoon character.
If it's BATMAN, then BBB= 379.
If it's POPEYE, then BBB= 389.
If it's GARFIELD, then BBB= 399.
Got it punched in? Then make like those boots in Nancy Sinatra's famous song and start walkin'!
Stage 2-- Talk about a study in contrasts! As you know, zinkies came in a huge assortment of sizes and styles to fit anyone's budget. This one must surely have been in the 'economy' section of the catalog (Monumental Bronze didn't have any showrooms; they sold their monuments through catalogs and traveling salesmen.) Enough history... let's get down to business!
The coordinates for Stage 3 are:
N41° 31.CCC
W72°47.DDD
To figure CCC, take the last three digits of the year in which NELSON was born and from that figure subtract 11.
To find DDD, take the number of letters in the name of the TOWN where Nelson died and add 311.
(By the way: check out the date that he died! It's not part of the puzzle, but it's certainly interesting!)
All set? Enter those figures and follow the needle-- one more before we hit the road!
Stage 3-- This was one of the most popular styles that Monumental Bronze turned out; it was a best-seller. History Class! 'Monumental Bronze' was just a company name, and the term 'white bronze' which they used to describe their products was only a sales term. There's no such metal as white bronze; everything was made of pure zinc, which is a natural element like iron or lead. True bronze is a man-made alloy; a mixture of tin and copper first produced more than 5000 years ago; it was one of the first metals mankind learned to use!
OK, class... it's math time!
The coordinates for Stage 4 are:
N41°33.EEE
W72°39.FFF
To get EEE, subtract the last two digits of the year that HENRY W. was born from the last two digits of the year that EUGENE died. Then add 148 to that.
To figure FFF, subtract 31 from the last three digits of the year that LIZZIE was born.
Got it? Check your figures one more time and punch 'em in; we're heading for our next cemetery. It's about 8 miles down the road... think of an old Nat King Cole hit, and 'Get Your Kicks On Route..........' If you like, there are plenty of places along the way to grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat, if you're so inclined. And we want to remind you that there are other caches to be found in this area, also! A note about the next cemetery: it's on the side of a steep hill, so you're going to be doing some climbing; just a heads-up if you have small children with you. The good thing is that there are stone steps all over; use them whenever you can. In the meantime, enjoy the ride over there-- you've probably gone that way many times before, and once again, there are a lot of caches to be found along the route! Oh, and one final note about Stage 4: When you reach the coordinates, LOOK VERY CAREFULLY... what you find (or don't!) will come as a surprise!
Stage 4-- TOLD YA! Gotta admit, this is the first time we've run across something like this! The zinc objects you're looking at are called footers, because they're placed at the foot of individual graves in a family plot (the head faces the main marker). You've probably noticed footers at some of the other zinkies we've visited, but this is the first time we've ever seen just footers and no main marker! (on the other hand, ain't it a great view from up here? If you brought your camera, we'll wait while you shoot a picture!)
All set? OK, time to play the numbers (sorry, no Quik Piks!)
The coordinates for Stage 5 are:
N41°33.GGG
W72°39.HHH
We'll make this one easy with a 'Magic Number'. It's the total number of letters on the footers; just add 'em up.
To find GGG, add 159 to your 'Magic Number'.
For HHH, subtract the 'Magic Number' from 804.
Got the answer? Load up that GPS and away we go!
Stage 5-- Another popular zinkie size; this style was very common. Again, notice how well-preserved it is. Zinc is almost weatherproof... it resists corrosion very well. That's why most 'zinkies' are in excellent condition even after riding out 100 or more New England winters. Now: back to the task at hand:
The coordinates for Stage 6 are:
N41°33.III
W72°39.JJJ
For III, subtract the year Ezekiel died from the year that Elizabeth died. Then add 226.
For JJJ, look for a 4-digit number on EMMA'S side of the zinkie. It's bigger than the others and all by itself; you can't miss it. Subtract 1032 from that number, and you'll have JJJ.
Take those figures, git 'em in your GPS'r, and giddyup!
Stage 6-- This one's a good example of the gently sloping pyramid shape that makes 'zinkies' so easy to identify. Ready to do some more math? 
We didn't think so. OK then, how about another multiple choice? Here goes:
The coordinates for Stage 7 are:
N41°33.KKK
W72°39.LLL
To figure KKK, look for the FAMILY NAME at the base of the monument. It's the same as that of a person in a specific profession.
If that person is a COURT OFFICIAL, then KKK= 146.
If it's a MILITARY OFFICIAL, then KKK= 246.
If it's a RELIGIOUS OFFICIAL, then KKK= 346.
For LLL, look at the footers in front of the monument. There is a name on each footer. One of them, a girl's name, is the same as one of the months of the year.
If it's APRIL, then LLL= 706.
If it's MAY, then LLL= 806.
If it's JUNE, then LLL= 906.
Check your figures and load 'em up... one more to go! But by now you're probably a bit winded from all that climbing, so it's time for a short break. On your way to Stage 7, why not stop at N41°33.276 W72°39.821 and the grave of Middletown resident Maj. General Joseph Mansfield. He was born in New Haven on Dec. 22, 1803 and entered the US Military Academy at West Point when he was only 14 years old, graduating 2nd in his class in 1822. He fought in the Mexican War, where he was wounded, and was promoted to Brigadier General at the start of the Civil War. He was later given command of XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac shortly before the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. While personally leading his men in battle on Sep 17, 1862, he was wounded in the chest and died the next morning. He was 58 years old. His former house in Middletown is now the headquarters of the Middletown Historical Society. (Many thanks to fellow cacher BELCHG for telling us about Gen. Mansfield and his memorial!) All rested up? OK... on to Stage 7!
Stage 7-- Whoa! Take your finger off that panic button and calm down... unless you're surrounded by water or dodging speeding vehicles, you're right where you're supposed to be! We were so impressed by this structure that we decided to make it part of the tour! Massive, is it not? And what a view from up here-- worth the climb, we think. Middletown, having been an important railroad and manufacturing center, major port for traffic on the Connecticut River and site of Wesleyan University, was the home of many prominent families. Most had impressive burial plots and masoleums in the local cemeteries. This one's a very good example. That concludes today's lecture; now to new business!
The coordinates for Stage 8 are:
N41°32.MMM
W72°39.NNN
VERY IMPORTANT-- The first digit of MMM is a ZERO-- remember to add a zero at the left when you figure out the numbers for this one! (for example: if you come up with a figure of 35, add a zero to make it 035.) Otherwise, you may end up as that fabled "voice crying in the wilderness"!
To get MMM: take the number 22 and multiply it by the number of doors in this structure. Then add 4. When you get your answer, remember to put a ZERO as your first digit!!
For NNN, take the number of letters in the name above the door on the left and multiply it by 90.
Got it? Dynamite... let's head to Stage 8 and another crop of Zinkies; yep, you're heading south, for about 3 miles. BTW, depending on which route you take to get to the next cemetery, you'll either pass by the campus of Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, or else near a group of abandoned State of CT-owned buildings. That's the site of the former Long Lane School, a state reformatory which was closed in 2002. Wesleyan University later acquired the property from the State and there is now an administration building, athletic field, and a student-operated organic farm on the site of the former detention facility.
Stage 8-- Time to get down to some serious Zinkie hunting. Look at all the footers at this one! Quick reminder: if you're not sure if a footer is zinc or not, the most foolproof way to tell is to knock on it and listen for that metallic ring! OK-- quiz time---
The coordinates for Stage 9 are:
N41°32.OOO
W72°39.PPP
Find OOO by adding 30 to the last two digits of the year SARAH was born. NOTE: IF YOU GET A 2-DIGIT ANSWER (AND YOU WILL!) REMEMBER TO PUT A ZERO AT THE BEGINNING, OR THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS. (CO will not be responsible for math errors that cause cachers to end up in southeastern Botswana).
Find PPP by subtracting 300 from the last three digits of the year SARAH was born.
Got it? Lock, load, and let's check out the grave site of one fascinating lady!
Stage 9-- How about that! Interesting shape, no? Remind ya a bit of a wood-burning stove? But what really caught our attention was the life of Julia, whose name you'll see here. Look at the year of her birth and the year of her death and think a bit about all that happened in between. At the time she was born, there were no such things as: electric lights, radio, automobiles, motorcycles, traffic signals, nylon, aluminum, vacuum tubes, vacuum cleaners, X-ray machines, antiseptics, penicillin, ocean liners, skyscrapers, steel suspension bridges, Major League Baseball, record players, washing machines, voting machines, adding machines, cash registers, subways, Diesel engines, airplanes, the Empire State Building, the Panama Canal, the Statue of Liberty, aircraft carriers, radar, sonar, loudspeakers, telephones, microphones, movies, aspirin, elevators, escalators, refrigerators, machine guns, plastics, stainless steel or rubber tires, just to name a few. At the time of her death, all were in common use. Julia was born before a war that was fought with horses, single-shot cannon and muzzle-loading rifles, and she died after a war that was brought to an end by two atomic bombs. MIND-BLOWING! A fascinating bit of history, wouldn't you agree? OK... back to business.
The coordinates for Stage 10 are:
N41°32.QQQ
W72°39.RRR
For QQQ, subtract 1763 from the year Julia was born.(REMEMBER TO ADD THAT ZERO!)
For RRR, subtract the year Julia died from 2443.
All set? Forward.... March!
Stage 10-- Crane your neck and check out the detail on this zinkie... those craftsmen at Monumental Bronze knew their stuff! As a result, this is a fitting monument for a Civil War officer. And now, to use a military command: "By the numbers!"
The coordinates for Stage 11 are:
N41°32.SSS
W72°39.TTT
For SSS: Capt. George M. was a Civil War veteran. Take the number of the regiment in which he served (f'rinstance: if it's the 27th Regiment, your number is 27) and add 61. (Don't forget that ZERO we talked about!)
For TTT: Take the last three digits of the year that WILLIE died and from it subtract 348.
Done? Excellent... now take a stroll in the sunshine!
Stage 11-- Talk about the 'long and the short of it'! How could we stoop so low? Well, we had to, in order to see this one! Enough of the 'pun-fest'.....
The coordinates for Stage 12 are:
N41°32.UUU
W72°39.VVV
To get UUU: Find George's age at the time he died (years, months and days) and add them up. Then add 47 to your answer and don't forget that ZERO on the left!
To get VVV: Look for a four-digit number on the base of the zinkie. Subtract it from 2388 for the W coord.
Got those numbers? Punch 'em in and you're ready for #12!
Stage 12-- Let's head for the footers again! Take a good look at them; there's info that'll get you to the next stage.
The coordinates for Stage 13 are:
N41°32.WWW
W72°39.XXX
To find WWW: Look at the names on the footers. One of them is not that of a PARENT. Take the number of letters in that name and add 43 for WWW (again... don't forget that ZERO)
To find XXX: Take the total number of letters on the footers, multiply it by 4, and add 398.
Done? OK! One more zinkie to find before the journey continues!
Stage 13-- Our last stop in this cemetery is once again a very common style of zinc monument. As you know, economy was one of main reasons that 'zinkies' were so popular; most cost about half of what a stone monument of the same size would cost. But Monumental Bronze Co. did NOT sacrifice quality for price; all 'zinkies' standing today are at least 100 years old! Says something about pride in workmanship, doesn't it? Ooops... there's the bell; Economics 101 will resume tomorrow. Here's your homework assignment:
The coordinates for Stage 14 are:
N41°32.YYY
W72°38.ZZZ
To get YYY: Find the family name on the monument. Take the number of letters in that name and subtract it from 145.
To get ZZZ: Find the youngest family member buried here (kinda sad, isn't it?). Take the number of letters in his first name, multiply it by 50 and add 45. Your answer is ZZZ.
Got it figured out and punched in? Let's saddle up, then... more zinkies await a couple miles up the road!
Stage 14-- NOTE: the roads in this cemetery are only partially paved and some are unpaved; you can park in the cemetery, or you may find it easier to park on one of the side streets and walk in. OK: This 'zinkie' is another good example of how skilled the Monumental Bronze Co.'s artists were. Check out that detail! It's going to help you figure out some coords!
The coordinates for Stage 15 are:
N41°32.aaa
W72°38.bbb
To find aaa: Count the number of human faces sculpted on this monument. (Make sure you check all sides, and don't forget to look UP as well!) Add that number to 104 and you'll have aaa.
To find bbb: Take that same number and add 510.
Now that was pretty easy, wasn't it? Follow the pointer to #15!
Stage 15-- The interesting thing about old cemeteries like this one is the variety of monuments and grave markers you'll find in them, from 200+ year-old sandstone slabs to New England brownstone pillars to polished marble and granite gravestones, and of course, 'zinkies'. On just the walk from the last stage to this one alone, you'll have passed by a group of grave markers that span a period of almost 250 years. This cemetery, BTW, is the 'newer' of the two; you'll be visiting the older side shortly. But to do that, of course you're going to have to get some information here!
The coordinates for Stage 16 are:
N41°32.ccc
W72°38.ddd
To find ccc, find how many children JOHN and MARIA had, as shown on the monument (look carefully!). Then multiply that number by 16. (HINT: if you did it right, your answer will be a two-digit figure, so once again, don't forget to add that all-important ZERO at the beginning!)
To find ddd, add MARIA's age at the time she died (years only, not months or days) to JOHN's age (again, years only). Then add 400 to your answer.
Got it? OK... your next stop is 'next door'. But Please.... DO NOT CLIMB THE FENCE!! (We know responsible cachers like you wouldn't do that, but the temptation is strong, nonetheless.) There's a gate to the street only a few yards from where you're standing; then it's just a short walk to the next zinkie. (In fact, we're gonna bet you won't even need your GPS'r to find it. ) Thank you for your cooperation!
Stage 16-- Check out the interesting combination of footers around this one! They were probably added over a long period of time, which might explain the difference. But to get the info you'll need for the next stop, we're going to stick to the main marker.
The coordinates for Stage 17 are:
N41°39.eee
W72°38.fff
For eee: Find the year Martha Scott was born. Then subtract it from the year she died and add 500.
For fff: Add up Mary Ann's age (years + months + days). Then subtract your answer from 408.
All set? Check those figures, lock 'em in, and hit the highway (may we suggest Rt. 9 north to I-91 north to Exit 23 off I-91 and follow your GPS from there)... you're closing in on the final!!
Stage 17-- You're moving into striking distance of the prize! But there's still some more work to do, so let's get down to it!
The coordinates for Stage 18 are:
N41°39.ggg
W72°38.hhh
To find ggg: We'll keep it easy. Subtract the year Martha was born from the year Collins was born. Then add 627.
To find hhh: Subtract the year Collins died from the year Martha died. Then multiply it by 336.
You shoulda BREEZED through this one! Race ya to Stage 18!!
Stage 18-- This gentleman was a Civil War veteran. To get to the next stage, you'll have to figure out some information about him.
Note: There's recently been some serious damage to this Zinkie; as you see here, the headpiece has broken off and is missing. This is the result of a stress fracture,, which is a crack that sometimes develops from the strain put on the zinc by the pull of gravity as the monument settles over the years. This crack occurred at the bottom of the narrow headpiece, and grew until the weight of the headpiece (about 40 lbs.) caused it to break off and fall. Thanks to fellow cacher MathAdams for reporting this to us!
The coordinates for Stage 19 are:
N41°39.iii
W72°38.jjj
For iii: Add William's age at his death to the number of the unit in which he served (example: if it was the 21st Cavalry, the number is 21, etc.) Then add 512 to that for iii.
For jjj: One last multiple choice! What was William's RANK in the military?
If he was a PRIVATE, then jjj= 320.
If he was a CORPORAL, then jjj= 330.
If he was a SERGEANT, then jjj= 340.
Figured it out? OK, then! Lock and load... Only 1 more Zinkie left between you and the final!
Stage 19-- Well, you've trudged up and down hills, swished through tall grass, and braved the perils of our fair State's highways and byways in pursuit of the prize. Now, it's about to pay off; you have but one more hurdle to clear ere you savor the sweet taste of victory and your finest hour! (By now, you're probably muttering, '...whaaat-- this guy think he's Winston Churchill or something?')
OK, OK!! The coordinates for the final are:
N41°39.$$$
W72°38.!!!
To find $$$: Add the day of the month in which Samuel was born to the year in which he died. From that, subtract 1351. (Interesting facts: this gentleman was a deacon in the local Congregational Church, had served as Town Assessor and Justice of the Peace, and, at the time of his death, he was this town's last surviving Civil War veteran.)
To find !!!: Take Elizabeth's age at the time of her death and multiply it by 4. Then add 54.
Got it? Check your math, punch in those numbers, and feast your eyes on the prize!!!
Note: The final is in the cemetery. If your coords put you elsewhere, recheck your math!
You're looking for a camo'd 4"x4" lock & lock with a log book and the usual swag, as well as room for trackables or geocoins. NOTE: After you sign the log, please remember to put the cover back on securely, to keep water out, and re-hide the container carefully, back where you found it, so it's out of sight of any beady-eyed muggles... many thanks for your cooperation!
We hope you enjoyed "Monu-Metal IV: Southern Sojourn". This has been our biggest and boldest Zinkie adventure to date, so any comments, corrections, or suggestions you may have are always welcome. Send us an e-mail through this cache page (you can use the new Message Center... click on "Messages" the top right corner of this page)-- we'd love to hear from you!
Kudos to KDubs--
He takes the FTF crown! Aug 26, 2013
The silver medal goes to MessSGT for 2TF! Aug 26, 2013
And my thanks to you BOTH for your help with a critical set of coords... you guys saved the day!
Rounding out the Winners' Circle:
The team of Ron131 and AmieLPW gets the (Monumental?) bronze! Aug 27, 2013
Thanks again and HAPPY CACHING!
