Jonathan Barnes Lot Letterbox Hybrid

Jonathan Barnes Lot
The listed coordinates are for the trailhead. This cache can be done at the same time as "Pointing Between the Stones - Smithfield" (GC31HM7), which starts at parking.

After parking nearby, start traveling along the trail. Just past the trailhead, there is a stream that comes from the pond. At times the water may be very low and easy to cross, at other times it may be quite high and a little trickier. Please take care when crossing any water. Continue along the path along the pond. It will turn right and run between the pond and the fence for the Rte 295 on-ramp. Follow this path, keeping left along the fence at any trail splits.

After about 1/10 of a mile, you will reach the first of two cemeteries located here. This is SM44, the Lenorel Hill Lot. This small cemetery has ten burials, but both the fence and a few stones are very badly damaged. On August 25, 1919, James Arnold surveyed this cemetery and described it to be on “the Putnam Pike west side of road in meadow land on farm known as the Barnes farm, yard fenced, granite posts and iron rods, yard in fair condition.” Much has changed since then, most notably the installation of the highway very nearby.

Turn right in front of this cemetery, down a slight slope to a second, larger cemetery. This is SM47 - the Jonathan Barnes Lot. Arnold wrote that on "this same farm near the barn and fence, another burial yard, fenced with granite post and iron rods, lot in fine condition.” When he visited, this cemetery was in a different location. It was relocated in 1970 when Rte 295 was constructed. This is when the newer headstones were made to replace the original (and likely broken) stones. There are still a number of damaged stones here and scattered around the area, some old bases to headstones can be found. These are likely from the original headstones before they were replaced and are no longer needed.

Follow the fence of this cemetery, passing the gate and turning left along the east side. when you reach the back corner, turn right towards the pond. As you approach the pond, there is a makeshift bench on the right which may be an ideal spot to log the cache or stamp your book. On the left, closer to the cemetery, is a pile of rocks which clearly includes a few headstone bases. Tucked in the base of a small tree here, you will find the box.

Note: Please do not remove the stamp. Also, this is a true letterbox hybrid, so there is a log for geocache finds and a book for letterbox stamps. Please sign/stamp the appropriate logbook(s) and re-hide the container very well to avoid muggling. Bring your own black ink for the stamp.

Letterbox listing at:
http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?boxId=267815