Historic Richmond Town
Concerned with the fast development of housing and buildings in the borough, local historians prominently led by Loring McMillen, David L. Decker and William T. Davis sought to preserve and save much of Staten Island's history from the ever encroaching urban sprawl that threatened it. By 1958 Historic Richmond Town was created; 15 restored buildings occupying a 25 acre site created a village like setting reminiscent of 19th century Staten Island.
Among its highlights is the oldest still standing elementary school in America, the Voorlezer's House, dated to 1695 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The Greek revival styled Third County Courthouse (built in 1837) served as the judiciary and public business center of the island for much of its time up until it was vacated in 1919. Other structures housed here include The Christopher House (1720, has the oldest jambless fireplace in NYC), the The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House (1740, a Dutch Colonial farmhouse) and many others.
The Voorlezer's House
Third County Courthouse
The Parsonage House
St. Andrew's Church
A gothic styled building erected in 1872 after the previous church (1712-1872) was heavily damaged by a fire in 1867, and a second fire in 1872 . Founded in 1708 and chartered by Queen Anne in 1713, the site served as a the headquarters, as well as a medical center, for British soldiers during the American Revolution. The surrounding churchyard features the grave sites of several prominent early Staten Island residents such as the headstones of many from the Decker, Seton, Woods, Bedell and Charlton families. Rev. Richard Charlton, the grandfather of Elizabeth Ann Seton (the first American born canonized saint), was one of St. Andrew's first pastors. He is buried in the churchyard, as well as Elizabeth Ann Seton's father, brother and sister. The current fieldstone and red brick trimmed structure is credited to George Mersereau, who drew upon English influences for his design. In 1967 it was declared to be a New York City landmark.
St. Andrew's Church
The Cemetery
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The cache is not at the given coordinates, to find the Letterbox Hybrid Cache:
You do not need to visit either Historic Richmond Town or St. Andrew's to find this cache, but they are very close by.
The coordinates will lead you to a small dead-end side street next to St. Andrew's and very close to Historic Richmond Town. There is some public parking available, but there is a sign recommending the spots be for church members and visitors only on Sundays. For the more adventurous who bicycle, walk or jog (I often come here on my own trail runs) the dead-end is also the end of a Greenbelt Trail that connects to the Yellow & Blue trails.
At the coordinates you will see a dirt path leading into the woods; follow it uphill for roughly 200 feet until you come to a T-shaped section where the trail branches off. Go right on the trail for approximately 35 steps. On your right there should be a light foot-trail, follow the foot-trail on your right for 20 steps. Now 15 steps to your left you should spot a three trunked tree in front of you, the letterbox is nestled in that tree! Enjoy and be sure to re-hide it as well or better than found!
You can sign the log, stamp it with your own personal stamp or both. There is a stamp in the cache for you to stamp your own personal book if you'd like, enjoy!
Congrats to DawnAIC for FTF, Looking 4 Moore for STF & Rant, Schbus, Sandpbles and Junkman for TTF! Congrats to Kevroc & iggynutwood on their first finds & Looking for Secrets on FTFRL! (Ha, I totally made that acronym up... First to Find Replacement Log)