This cache was orginally placed for the annual Greater Omaha Grave Hop, an event that takes place in the Omaha area. The caches are located in and around cemeteries. Please be respectful and seach for the caches between dawn and dusk.
The Modern Woodman of America, a fraternal benefit society, was founded in 1890 in Omaha, Nebraska by Joseph Cullen Root. After hearing a sermon about “pioneer woodsmen clearing away the forest to provide for their families.” You will notice symbols of axe, mallet, wedge. A life insurance organization that supported the family after the death of the policy holder. Along with life insurance benefits a marker would be provided at their death. This was the benefit until about 1920. You will see many tree stumps ( the reference to the sermon) with these letters on them, the letters MWA and WOW, and the symbols of the organization. After a falling out with MWA, Mr. Root founded WOW (Woodmen of the World) with very similar standards and benefits.
It is unknown why this young man (27years), Michel Borcherts, chose this type of monument at his final resting place. Log Cabin monuments can be found across the United States and are fairly rare because they were and still are costly to make. Usually cut from a large granite block it took skilled mason’s time to cut these cabins from one or two blocks. Then it took considerable time to be placed in the cemetery. Most monuments are found near by railroads as it was difficult to transport these large masses of stone. Can you imagine bringing this stone up by horse to the top of this hill here in this cemetery in 1899?
N 41 00.ABC W 96 0B.DE0
A = How many windows minus how many chimneys
B= How many cut in half, mostly vertical logs across the roof on the door side
C= Number of letters above the door plus 4
D= The digit that represents the month of death
E= Number of letters in the first name on this man.