For my Girl Scout Gold Award Project, I will be placing 27 caches throughout Hunterdon County, NJ. Hunterdon County celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 2014. (The Gold Award is the highest award that can be earned in Girl Scouts).
This series GS GA/TC: (Girl Scout Gold Award/Tri-Centennial), when complete, will consist of Alexandria, Bethlehem, Bloomsbury, Califon, Town of Clinton, Clinton Township, Delaware, East Amwell, Flemington, Franklin, Frenchtown, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Holland, Kingwood, Lambertville, Lebanon Borough, Lebanon Township, Milford, Raritan, Readington, Stockton, Tewksbury, Union, West Amwell and Caching For The Gold. There is no set order or any clues to collect.
The cache is hidden in Schick Park. Consisting of 311 acres of rolling hills, fields, and woodlands, this was the site of dairy and farming operations for the Apgar and Schick families for over 150 years. In 1844, Philip Apgar, a blacksmith, and his wife, Rebecca, acquired the first 126 acres. To meet the needs of an expanding farm and family of 13 children, they built several barns; including a Pennsylvania-German style bank barn which still stands (can be seen near the GZ). A complex interior of posts joined to one or more tie beams called a bent, with large hay wagon or boxcar doors. Two sets were constructed at opposite ends of the barn to provide light for the threshing and drafting as well as to establish a breezeway. The lower level of the barn housed the stables for livestock while the upper level was used for storage of hay. Along the southern breast board of an oak beam, Mr. Apgar’s two eldest children, Sarah and Frederick “Wilson” simply inscribed, “1855 S.A. W.A.”.
The farm remained in the family until 1917, when a neighboring farmer, Herman Schick, bought 160 acres, farm equipment, and livestock. He added another 120 acres to the farm in 1932. Herman Schick died in 1997 at the age of 101.
Schick Reserve is an undeveloped park. No formal trail system exists within the reserve. The general public can hike along the edge of the fields and the farmer’s service roads. The trail system adds up to about eight miles. Be prepared for hiking in occasional brushy or muddy areas. Long pants and waterproof shoes are recommended if you plan on hiking the entire trail. Please be considerate and do not walk on the crops.
Visitors during hunting season are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange or confine visits to Sundays.
PLEASE DO NOT POST SPOILERS OR PICTURES OF CACHE CONTAINER…………
Note: This cache is home-made and all materials used were owned by me.