How many times have you ever visited your town’s Historical Society? I have to admit that before researching a spot for this cache, my answer was zero. But in learning more about the complex I drive by almost every day, I’ve learned the Historical Society contains a wealth of information about the city’s archives, the families, the lands, and the businesses that date back to the mid-1700s. So any Tour of Portsmouth should start here. From the site’s web page, here’s some more info:
The Portsmouth Historical Society is a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Portsmouth, Rhode Island’s history.
Our long term vision is to protect and promote Portsmouth’s cultural heritage by creating a secure and sustainable facility, where, in conjunction with other local organizations, we can store, maintain and display our collection of historic artifacts, offer lectures and research assistance to the public, and stimulate the study of our town’s history for future generations. We strongly believe that the uniqueness of Portsmouth today is defined by our past.
The Society fulfills its mission by:
1. Maintaining and providing tours of the historical buildings in its possession:
a. The Christian Union Church (1865)
b. The Southernmost School (1725)
c. The Old Town Hall (c. 1850).
2. Collecting, conserving and interpreting historical documents and objects linked to historical sites, houses, farms, and families of Portsmouth.
3. Providing direction and resources to assist genealogical and scholarly research related to Portsmouth’s history.
4. Arranging exhibitions which use historical materials to enrich the public’s understanding and appreciation of Portsmouth’s rich history.
5. Presenting programs on topics that build enthusiasm for preserving and supporting our local history.
To learn more about this group, check out its web page: http://portsmouthhistorical.com/
This field puzzle brings you to the Society grounds, where there are two small memorials that you’ll need to discover to help solve for the final cache coordinates. The older tribute will help with the North, while the smaller plaque will assist with the West. Just answer the questions below and soon you’ll have the location for the nearby final. Parking is available on the grounds or in the small strip mall next door.
N41 3A.BCD W071 1W.XYZ
A=The number of letters in the Colonel’s last name – 3
B=The number of letters in the number of skirmishes being honored
C=The checksum of the year the monument was erected
D=The number of letters in the first name of the erector – 4
W=Month the plaque was donated by the Garden Club
X=The tribute honors events that occurred Oct. 2X, 198X
Y=The letters of the last name of LCPL Edward S. – The letters of the last name of LCPL Rick
Z=The number of letters of the last name of the highest ranking honoree + 2
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.