In addition to finding Geocaches we have had quite a bit of fun finding (recovering) Benchmarks before Geocaching.com added this feature to the website. We sent our reports directly to the NGS and our report became part of the data sheet for the station. Our specialty was First Order Horizontal Triangulation Stations. These benchmarks are always on the highest hill or mountain and included 3 marks, the station mark itself and 2 reference marks, RM1 & RM2. The NGS would send crews with lights to triangulate the stations position with two other hill tops. In Western and Central NY much of this work was done (monumented) in the 1930s
First Order Horizontal Triangulation Stations have names in addition to an identity number (PID). If they were placed on private property the landowners name became the Station Name.
One of these stations that we recovered in 2001 stuck out in our mind as the Station name was changed in 1941 to correct an error.
Although the Station mark was replaced in 1964 both RM1 & RM2 are the original marks monumented in 1939 and if you look close you can see where the name was changed from SPROUT to SPROUL.
Here are the comments from the NGS data sheet that a kind surveyor added in 1941 when he righted the wrong done to the landowner:
“THERE IS A STATE FOREST FIRE OBSERVATION TOWER NEAR THE STATION MARK.
THE STATION IS LOCATED ON PROPERTY OWNED FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS BY THE SPROUL FAMILY AND THE STATION NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SPROUL BY REQUEST.”
The Forest Fire Observation Tower Remains, you can even climb it if you would like. RM1 with the T changed to an L can be found at:
N42 23.237 W077 00.165
Same with RM2 at:
N42 23.229 W077 00.150
Take a close look to see how things were made right.
The cache is located near the Fire Tower and NGS marks.
There is a very interesting non-traditional farm that is open to the public located nearby at: N42 23.104 W077 01.718
Although you may not agree with their politics you have to give them credit for their fine efforts, consider a visit to the Farm Sanctuary.