About this cache:
Welcome to the historic and haunted Frank Mansion! Before you solve the puzzle, we want to give you a little history about this beautiful structure.
This Italian-style villa was built in 1850 by Dr. Augustus Frank and his oldest son, Augustus Frank, Jr. Dr. Frank was an early member of Warsaw’s Anti-Slavery Society and a delegate to the conventions forming the American Anti-Slavery in Philadelphia in 1833 and the New York Anti-Slavery Society in Utica in 1835.
Dr. Frank’s oldest son, the Honorable Augustus Frank, Jr. also supported the abolition of slavery, and served in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1858 to 1865. While in Congress he became close friends with Abraham Lincoln and was integral in writing and passing the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. He also used the Frank Mansion as a stop on the underground railroad which enabled escaped slaves to flee to free states and/or into Canada.
The historical significance of the Frank Mansion grew in 1963, when Charlotte Smallwood-Cook purchased the property. Mrs. Smallwood-Cook was an incredible litigator and in 1950 was the first female-elected District Attorney in New York State. Mrs. Smallwood-Cook practiced law out of the Frank Mansion, winning numerous awards over her lifetime including the Woman of Distinction Award, New York State Woman of the Year Award, and the Distinguished Career Award by the New York State District Attorney’s Association. Mrs. Smallwood-Cook passed away in 2013, and her historic career and contributions to the County were celebrated in 2016 when October 9th was proclaimed Charlotte Smallwood-Cook Day in Wyoming County.
The Frank Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1962.
Finally, as an added bit of intrigue…multiple ghost hunts have been conducted on the property – and several spirits have been discovered. One is a man dressed in late-1800’s garb, while another is a caretaker in the carriage barn that appears to be a free slave. This is unique, because in the barn there are “trap doors” in the horse stalls that could/would conceal people as they traveled along the Underground Railroad. When you visit the house, stop in and ask the caretakers about some of the spooky things they’ve seen – and maybe have a supernatural experience of your own!
To solve the puzzle and find the cache:
At the posted coordinates, you’ll find a small plaque. To solve the puzzle, substitute the numbers as described below to find the final:
N 42 44.ABC
W 078 07.DEF
A = Number of letters in the last name on the 4th line
B = Last digit of the year established
C = 1st digit in the 4th line
D = Number of letters in 2nd word on the 7th line
E = Number of letters in 2nd word of the 10th line
F = Number of letters in the 2nd word of the 3rd line
An immense thank you to Crys71 for placing this cache.
Fun fine print:
No night caching is allowed for this hide! All final caches are 30 caliber ammo cans or larger. Permission was given to place this cache by the land owner / manager. Please respect their property by leaving no trace, practicing Cache-In-Trash-Out and replacing the cache better than you found it. Enjoy!