ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Per the National Park Service:
The Gratz Park Historic District is one of the most beautiful areas in downtown Lexington, comprised of a city park and several large residences. In the words of Kentucky architectural historian Clay Lancaster, "the park has charm, atmosphere, a sense of tranquility and of history, and it provides an oasis of planting tucked into the cityscape." Gratz Park occupies a tract of land that was established in 1781 outside of the original boundaries of Lexington when the town plat was prepared that year by order of the Virginia Assembly. In 1793 the park was purchased by the Transylvania Seminary as the site for its Lexington campus. In 1816 a large three-story structure (see historic image below) was built in the center of the park to serve as the main building for Transylvania Seminary. Designed by Matthew Kennedy, Lexington's first architect, it was erected near the center of campus. Following the destruction of that building by fire in 1829, the Transylvania campus was moved across Third Street to its present location. Only one building from this original campus remains--the Old Kitchen Building. Now, grand 19th-century townhouses built for Lexington's prominent and wealthy characterize the district.
Gratz Park is named after early Lexington businessman Benjamin Gratz whose home stands on the corner of Mill and New streets at the edge of Gratz Park. The historic district consists of 16 buildings including the Hunt-Morgan House, the Bodley-Bullock House, the Carnegie Library, and several other private residences. Typical of residences in the district are the three consecutive row houses along Mill Street (239-247) erected by Mrs. William Cassius Goodloe, widow of a former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, around 1901. At the northern edge of the park is the "Fountain of Youth," built in memory of Lexington author James Lane Allen using proceeds willed to the city by Allen. The park was deeded to the city of Lexington during the mid-20th century and is still used as a public park today. It is a wonderful place for a picnic or to examine the beauty of this historic district.
FINDING THE CACHE
The posted coordinates will place you at the first stop but you are welcome to do the stops in any order you wish. Travel to each of the stops to collect information to calculate and then locate the final location.
The answers collected need to be plugged into the coordinates in the format as follows:
N 38° 03.XYZ W 084° 29.ABC
Checksum of X + Y + Z + A + B + C = 30
| Waypoint Prefix |
Answer |
Description |
| S1 |
A |
Stop 1 (S1) takes you to fountain with statues of two children. Find the dedication plaque in front and located the date erected. A is the sum of the third and fourth of the year. For example, if the date were 1823, A would be 5. |
| S2 |
Y |
Stop 2 (S2) takes you to a marker beside the Old Kitchen Building. Find the year that this person moved to NYC, and Y is the decade digit of the year. For example, Y would be 2 if the year were 1823. |
| S3 |
Z |
Stop 3 (S3) takes you to the cornerstone of a building. Z is the last digit of the year displayed. For example, Z would be 3 if the year were 1823. |
| S4 |
X |
Stop 4 (S4) takes you to marker in front of a doctor's office. X is the decade digit of the year a vaccination was introduces. For example, if the year is 1823 feet, X would be 2. |
| S5 |
C |
Stop 5 (S5) takes you to a marker in front of a law office. C is the last digit of the year that the office was first occupied. For example, C is 3 if the year is 1823. |
| S6 |
B |
Stop 6 (S6) takes you to a marker in front of a home. B is the last digit in the year of death for the builder of the home. For example, B is 3 if the year is 1823. |
ABOUT THE CACHE
Once you have collected the necessary information (and verified the checksum answer), please proceed on to the cache. The cache can be accessed without leaving the sidewalk. The cache is a camouflaged, plastic tube with log only. As always, bring your own writing instrument. Enjoy!
This cache placed and maintained by a Geocky member.