Fort Drum Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Off Highway 441 in Fort Drum Florida. 20 miles nort of Okeechobee, 13 miles south of Yee Haw Junction.
In the 1830s and 40s a series of forts were built in this part of Florida to deal with the Indians during the Seminole wars. Roads were built to connect these forts; one from Fort Kissimmee to Fort Floyd,Fort Van Swearingham, on to Fort Jupiter, and another from Fort Bassinger around the west end of the St. Johns marsh, to Fort Vinton, near present day Vero Beach. Where these two roads crossed was Fort Drum.After the wars were over,Fort Drum was deserted and quickly went back to nature. For the next 30 years, except for the occaisional Seminole or hunter, not much went on.After the Civil War, a few settlers moved into the Kissimmee Valley and started spreading around the area. In 1877 Elder Swain and family became the first residents of Fort Drum, followed by the Parkers, Holmes, Normans and more. By the time the FEC Railroad came through in 1914, Fort Drum was a small but busy town. There was a fairly large trading post and store, and Mr. Swain donated 10 acres for a school, church and cemetary. (the cemetary at n27 31.416 x w080 48.145 is still in use. There is also a virtual cache there entitled "Bring Some Flowers")After the boom years the population fell, the businesses closed and Fort Drum became almost a memory. Today there is a diner, a convenience store, a church and little else, except scattered homes, ranches and groves.At one time there was a 'Wayside Table' here and that is where you will start to find the cache. Park on the old circle drive and walk south. The cache is in an ammo can,about 150' down an old fireline and a certain amount of bushwhacking my be involved at the very end. Do not cross the fence and do not block the gate. When placed the cache containeda Travel Bug (Sgt X), a $2 Wheresgeorge, some of the regular fare, and a very special prize for the FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Uvqqra haqre gur cnyzrggb ohfurf whfg n yvggyr jnlf orsber naq npebff sebz gur cvar gerr, lbh pna'g frr vg fb xvpx nebhaq va gur jvertenff n yvggyr
Treasures
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