This Geocache is located very near the legendary ruins of the Rhinelander's Mansion. The ruins is between the cache and Elm Lake Road. Elm Lake Road ( a.k.a. East Road) is located at the four-corners of Speculator along route 30/8. Just follow the road about 3.2 miles. The cache is near the wall that is behind (Or what some say, in front) of the stone foundation of the Rhinelander's Mansion. Do not move the amo-box. Please cover the amo-box well with dead branches and leaves. Thank You Soooo Much.
I wish to give thanks to Bev Hoffman and Don Williams for their Historical Information. Other Information was also found in many, many books. Thank you to all the authers who help preserve this legend for all times.
Warning:
Beware of Log Trucks. Park as much off the road as you can. Watch your step. Many fallen trees, branches,stones, and bricks along the ground. It might be best not to read the history or legend of this location till after you've found the cache and left the area.
The Historical Facts of Rhinelander's Baronial Estate:
Philip Rhinelander (Born of William & Mary Rhinelander in New York City in the year 1788) arrived at Lake Pleasant from New York City in 1815. He owned some land that his brother, Frederick Rhinelander, had since 1786. The land was passed to him in 1805. He cleared off 300 acres of land along a sloping hillside overlooking Elm Lake for a stock farm of cattle, horses, sheep, extensive gardens, and orchards. A mansion was built with other buildings such as stables, a barn, a creamery, some mills and a servant's house. The bricks that were made for the mansion's oven were done near the shoreline of the lake. His wife Mary Colden Hoffman, servants and a boy slave moved into the mansion soon after. Mary and Philip had a son (who died at the age of 24) and a daughter, who was also named Mary.
Philip became a founding father of Lake Pleasant. He was an assessor, commissioner of schools, overseer of highways, election inspector, supervisor, and a representative of the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. He also helped many families settle in Lake Pleasant.
Philip's wife died in the mansion in 1818. How she died is unknown. Philip was last heard of when he left Lake Pleasant in 1823. He left for New York City because he had paralysis. He died on February 21, 1830. Thomas Wayne from England was the caretaker and used the estate until 1828. Another caretaker was Isaac Page (believed to be a local of this area). The mansion was then boarded up because of haunting stories.The mansion burned down in 1875 while it was abandoned. A man was seen leaving the area by some loggers when the building burned. They said he was of ill nature, but nothing was done about it.
What is said about the mansion:
The mansion at the time had a center hall with dark mahogany staircase running the length of it. Off the hallway were large rooms, two of which contained hugh fireplaces with marble table shelves. In the kitchen was a vast elevated oven.
Nails that were used for the mansion were said to be made on the estate. Probably in the barn or stables.
The second floor of the mansion had a centered hall that ran the length of it. Master bedrooms were of significant dimension. The house was lavishly furnished, with mahogany furniture and paintings covering the walls. Before the house burned down the furniture and paintings were auctioned off to pay the taxes and nothing was left inside.
The Legend:
Philip Rhinelander was deeply in love with his very beautiful wife, Mary and equally had intense jealousy for her. He built a lovely mansion out of love for her and kept Mary virtually a prisoner in it. She would always want to go into town and meet people, but Philip just wouldn't let her mingle with the town's folks. She would often write letters to her friends and family in New York City, then hand the letters to her husband to be sent to the post office. Without Mary looking, Philip would tear up the letters into bits and burn them. Soon Mary found out and tried to find other ways to send the letters to her family. She would have letters sent by a peddler she befriended. Soon Philip found out and the peddler was never seen by anyone again. (Some say they found his body on the estate, others say his body was thrown into the well and was never found.) Those who visit the estate and befriended Mary would soon be found dead near the Rhinelander's estate. How they died was always a mystery. Even some of the Rhinelander's servants would be found dead and the cause was always unknown. One day they found the body of the mansion's washwoman along Elm Lake's shore. Mary soon fell ill and died without the aid of a doctor. The towns folks said she was slowly poisoned. Others say she slowly died after giving birth to her daughter. It is siad that Philip built a stone vault for Mary's body until they moved her to New York City. After the departure of Philip Rhinelander, the house was abandoned and soon tales of a ghost were heard throughout town.
Thomas Wayne, a caretaker of the estate, had a visitor sleep in Mary's former bedroom. While trying to sleep, the visitor saw a beautiful woman sobbing in grief as she drifted toward the bed. He had no sleep that night. Another night a workman slept in the same bedroom. He was awakened by the sound of rustling skirts and of a woman brushing her long hair. Other visitors have heard the heels of a man's riding boots storming up the staircase, but no one was seen. One time a cadaverous figure was spotted passing through the hallway - finally disappearing into the boarded-up fireplace.
The daughter of another caretaker, Isaac Page, saw candles flying upward into the air. She and her father searched the house with iron pokers in their hands, but found no-one.
Many times the washwoman's ghost was seen wandering across the grounds both day and night.
The mansion was soon boarded up. People still saw a ghost in the second floor window and swore they could hear babies crying. Some who broke into the house, said they saw a floating candle stick going up and down the staircase. They say it was the ghost of Mary Rhinelander, other's say it was one of the victims that Philip murdered, like the peddler. After the house burned to the ground, the ghost stories still grew. People who camped within the foundation's walls said they would hear ghostly sounds and see bricks floating around. Some saw a ghost coming from the direction of the Elm Lake.
Today, ghost stories have died away, but people still say they feel scared when they are within sight of the mansion's foundation and a heavy dark feeling falls upon them. A feeling of loneliness and sadness exists, as if the land is asking you to stay and bring back the glory it once had, or as if the ghost of Mary is asking for people to come and visit. Is the estate still haunted? I do not know, but when I go there, I feal a sense of peace and yet a mystery that doesn't want to be solved hangs in the air.