Griffin Junction - HHS#8 Traditional Cache

Cache is a large vitamin bottle at the top of the hill near the junction of the Griffin trail and Headwaters trail. There are a couple of benches to sit down and rest if you need one. The container has a logbook and a card you will need to read for the final. Please return the container as you found it. It should be hanging. WATCH FOR THORNS. Approach counterclockwise from benches.

Please make note of the clue written on my green caching card. You will need this information to complete the final cache: "Hermitage History Series - Final" GC69FMP

HISTORY LESSON: The Hermitage and the Sulphur Springs Hotel are not the only noteworthy building in this area. The Griffin House was built circa 1827 and was purchased, along with the surrounding 50 acres, by Enerals Griffin in 1834. He and his wife, Priscilla, crossed the border, probably in the Port Stanley area in 1829, to escape slavery in the United States, possibly making use of the Underground Railroad [we don't know where they were from 1829 to 1834]. For the next 150 years, their descendents lived and farmed here. The property was sold to the Hamilton Conservation Authority in 1988. In 1991, the Griffin House was designated by the Ancaster Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee for its unique historical and architectural significance. Archaeologists have unearthed over 3,000 artifacts on this small site including stoneware, porcelain, clay pipes, and masonry. Between 1992 and 1994 the house was restored to its early 19 century time period and in 1995 it was officially opened to the public. An official plaque unveiling ceremony is expected to take place in late 2009.

THE GRIFFIN HOUSE

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Series Overview (identical for all caches)

Welcome to the Hermitage History Series. It composed of 9 traditional caches and 1 final mystery cache. While finding these caches, you will visit some beautiful spots, including the Hermitage ruins, and in each traditional cache you will find some details that you will need to collect to complete a field puzzle for the final. You can do the caches in any order despite the way I have numbered them. The numbering does not have any significance for the final puzzle.

Your adventure will take you along Dundas Valley Trails near the historic Hermitage ruins and its Gatehouse Museum. You will travel short sections of the Headwaters trail, the Main Loop (part of the Bruce Trail) and the Homestead trail which is a short loop. All trails are relatively wide, and on fairly even ground suitable for family outings. I’ve seen people with rugged strollers on these trails. Note that there is a significant hill to get to caches HHS #1 and HHS #2, but the view is definitely worth it!

You can see a map of the area below. Note: the Hermitage itself is located near the top right corner of this map on the north side of the road labeled ‘Private drive”. Don’t worry, you won’t be trespassing. The private property is further to the east and is marked. Entrance to parking is at the bottom of the map where it says ‘Hermitage Cascade’

I hope you enjoy these trails and learning about the history of this area.

Note: Parking is available at the Gatehouse Museum on Sulphur Springs Rd in Ancaster and has been waypointed in the cache listing for the final (link is above). Please note that there is a self-service fee policy in effect of $10 per car.