This cache is a tribute to Lakewood’s historical Stone House, which echoes with memories from the earliest days of the Colorado Gold Rush.
As the nation teetered on the brink of Civil War, two brothers from New York State joined the westward stream of people. Joseph and William Hodgson settled in Bear Creek Valley, and Joseph built the Stone House sometime between 1859 and 1864, using stones from Bear Creek and rough dressed sandstone quarried from the nearby hogback. It was a time when 18-inch-thick walls were needed for protection from Indian Attack. In 1861, the Territorial Legislature ruled on water rights, and the Hodgson brothers began building an irrigation ditch. Visiting the various waypoints should give you an appreciation of the Hodgson farm.
If you post an entry for this cache, please be vague when referring to the locations/answers involving the waypoints. If something is off or you need help, please email me.
The coordinates listed for this cache are for parking.
WAYPOINT ONE: “The Stone House” N39 39.929; W105 05.641
In front of The Stone House you will find a bench placed in memory of Mr. Cain. Assign a numerical value to the second letter in Mr. Cain’s first name (i.e., A=1, B=2, etc.). This number will go into the blanks in Waypoint Two.
WAYPOINT TWO: “A Chip off the Old Block” N39 39. _4_; W105 05. _ _5.
WAYPOINT THREE: “View of Hodgson’s Ditch”
A magnetic experience – Thirteen is a charm.
WAYPOINT FOUR is the final Cache. When you arrive at the Cache coordinates you will find an overgrown pile of "man-made rocks." The cache is an ammo can, well concealed on the creek side of the rock pile. Many people use the nearby sidewalk, so please be discrete and re-cover the cache as good as you found it.