I named this cache Mackie House but there is no need to go onto the Mackie House private grounds in order to log this cache.
DO NOT GO ONTO THE GROUNDS UNLESS YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY
All the neccesary information you will need can be found by visiting the adjacent Sovereign park. The Mackie House property is ONLY open to the public by appointment. They hold private tours, summer concerts and afternoon teas.
HIstory of Mackie House:
After the Coldstream Ranch was subdivided for apple and pear orchards in the early 1900's, Rupert Charles Buchanan, a Montreal businessman, had Mackie House built on the lake. At the time (1910) it was considered one of the finest private country mansions in the Okanagan. In 1925, the Buchanans left the area and sold their home to the Gordon Shakespear Layton family who in 1940, sold it to their friends, the Mackie's
The Mackie's initially used it as a secondary residence until their retirement in 1946. The Mackie family - Hugh, brother Augustine and wife Grace had established the Vernon Preparatory School for boys in1913. It was a boarding school, based in British culture which was greatly appreciated by the English pioneers who settled in the area. Hugh and Grace had 5 sons. The youngest, Patrick (Paddy) served in WWII and after the war became a teacher and taught French at W.L.Seaton for 25 years. He was an accomplished watercolorist, potter, pianist and flautist. He was also a naturalist and historian. He served on various boards in town including director on the local art gallery
In 1993 Paddy formed the Mackie House foundation to preserve the buildings and history for future generations. After his death, in 1999, the house and grounds were bequeathed to this foundation. In Paddy's memory the foundation along with the Vernon art Gallery established an artist in residence program. Each year, an artist was chosen to live in the house for a month, work on their art and then give a private art show at the Vernon art gallery.
The posted co-ordinates are for the Mackie house beach house which is at the NW corner of Sovereign Park.. In order to log the cache you must answer the following questions. Some of the answers are not at the boat house but can be found very nearby or seen on the Mackie house grounds as you walk to the beach. Waypoints are given below - some answers require more than one waypoint
Before you log this cache please email the answers to me. DO NOT post the answers on your log or the log will be deleted.
1. What animal is on the top of the Mackie house barn
2. How many chimneys can be seen on the main house. (you may need to look from more than one position to get them all)
3. How many windows/doors does the bird house have that you can see from the gate between house and the beach. The answer to this varies by season - the house I had in mind is obscured by leaves in the summer but there is another bird house visible from the gate (waypoint 2)- just let me know which you are seeing
4. How big was the watertank in the Mackie House attic and what was the water used for.
5. How much did a cotton, 1 piece, navy blue swimsuit cost at Sears according to the posted historical photo. How much extra for a striped one?
6. Take a picture of yourself or your gps with something of interest found at the site which does not help others answer the questions
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.