Historic Palmyra- E.C.A.L.T. bonus Mystery Cache

 

 

Through the adventure lab, I have taken you around the town to some historic locations. Palmyra is filled with many unique pieces of history. I hope to share some of this history with you through these geocaches. If you're interested in learning more, then please come out on a day that the museums are open. There are five museums within the block around Market st. Check it out at Historic Palmyra NY 

 

These museums along with their director Bonnie Hays, were a big help in creating these caches. I hope you enjoy them.

 

 

This store operated up until 1940 when the owner closed the doors, leaving everything on the shelves the way they were, for decades. This created a time capsule of sorts and is an interesting look into the everyday lives of people nearly 100 years ago.

 

 

100 years ago, this place was an industrial part of town. It was a busy shipping yard where goods and raw materials were loaded and unloaded from boats moving up and down the canal.

 

 

In the early part of the 20th century, this building was a news paper print shop. Newspapers were a vital source of information back then and it seems even small towns like Marion and Palmyra had their own newspapers. Today it's a museum that houses an enormous collection of coverlets. Coverlets are like a decorative, lightweight quilt. My mother would call blankets in general, "covers". I wonder if this is where her expression came from?

 

 

This bar first received it's liquor license in 1933, the very same year prohibition ended. I wonder if before that time they might have sold liquor from rum runners operating on the canal? It's very possible that our police Chief Hilborn, kept a watchful eye on this place 100 years ago.

 

 

This main street landmark was originally built in 1872 by the republican party for the election campaign of U.S. Grant. The wooden structure stood for a while before collapsing in a terrible storm in December of 1889. Then in 1892 a new structure was built again by the republican party for the election of president Harrison. It was meant to resemble the Eiffel tower and stood over 130' tall. Over the years some have climbed the tower and either been seriously injured or arrested, but one person actually died on this spot in 1975. It is reported that a man climbed the tower in a suicide attempt, but was talked down. Talking to locals who were teenagers at the time of the event, they told me that he had climbed up there with a six pack of beer and was belligerent, throwing empty beer bottles at bystanders who came to see the commotion. At some point he had a change of mind (or ran out of beer) and was attempting to climb back down when he lost his footing and fell to his death. Today there are police cameras on this corner to catch those attempting the same thing.