SHARP - Stearns Mill Dam Mystery Cache

Welcome to “Sudbury's Historic And Revolutionary Places”... a.k.a. the SHARP Series!!!  This installment will bring you to the historic location of one of several mill sites located along the priority heritage landscape of Sudbury’s Hop Brook. The coordinates will bring you to the parking area, where you will need to complete a quick field puzzle in order to locate the final container.

Hop Brook begins its journey in Marlborough and winds its way through town as the largest tributary of the Sudbury River.  Since the Sudbury River itself was essentially too wide for siting mills, Sudbury’s early colonists selected Hop Brook for at least seven known mill sites.  Stearns Mill (also known locally as Pratt’s Mill) was located right here on Stearns Mill Pond and operated until the mid-1900’s.  That mill was first erected by Daniel Woodward in 1677 and was designed as a sawmill.  Over the years, it went through several ownership changes – as well as several functional changes, which included uses as a bolting mill (flour sifting), grist mill (flour grinding) and a shingle mill (wooden shingles for houses).

Over the last 100 years of its existence, it continued to grind corn meal.  But, simultaneously, it also played a major role in supporting America’s various war efforts…  During the American Civil War, powder kegs for the Union Army were made here.  During World War II, it fashioned ammunition boxes and during the Korean War, wooden shell casings were a key product.  Ravaged by a fire in the 1960’s, the old mill building is now long gone…  However, its dam and mill pond still speak to the area’s storied past.

To find this cache, you will need to solve a quick field puzzle.  All the information you will need can be found on the nearby educational sign that was put out by the Sudbury Historical Society.  Just fill in the blanks below to start your calculations.  When you are finished, the final coordinates will lead you on a short walk.

Find the answers to the following questions at the nearby educational sign:

1. A = _____  Col. Moore got involved in the operation of the mill around the 18A0s.  Solve for A.
2. K =  _____ There are K posts supporting the educational Stearns Mill sign.  Solve for K.
3. B =  _____ The yellow house across the street (now 5B0 Dutton).  Solve for B.
4. J =  _____  In 18JE, a grist and bolting mill was put in by Ephraim & James Moore.  Solve for J.
5. C =  _____ By 179C, the Perry family purchased the mill.  Solve for C.
6. H =  _____ The mill was used to… grind corn until the Hth World War.  Solve for H.
7. D =  _____ Stearns Mill was erected in 1DEE.  Solve for D.
8. G =  _____ Painting courtesy of Natalie Eaton Stearns’ Mill Building circa 1G58.  Solve for G.
9. E =  _____ In 18JE, a grist and bolting mill was put in by Ephraim & James Moore.  Solve for E.
10. F =  _____ In 18F5, S.B. Rogers purchased the Moore Mill.  Solve for F.

FINAL - N 42 KA.BFC, W 71 HD.GJE

The final is hidden about B feet off the ground.  Enjoy your visit!!!

SIDE NOTE: The original plan was to use the number of ounces on the Corn Meal package to get one of the above numbers… but you have to have REALLY good eye sight for that!