Famous Neighbors Multi-Cache

 There are many famous people buried in Bonaventure Cemetery.  There are authors, actors, patriots, potentates, mayors, murderers and more.  This story is not about them, as they get enough attention.  This story is about their neighbors.  This is a tribute to those residents who, although lesser known, are equally deceased.  They, more than most, tolerate the hordes of tourists who visit Bonaventure's stars, and they, more than most, know the costs and aggravations of having Famous Neighbors.

  Please be very respectful of the fragile nature of Bonaventure Cemetery. These monuments cannot be replaced.  While many do visit Bonaventure as an historical site and tourist destination, it is still an active cemetery.  This means that families, including my own, still have available grave spaces, and funeral services are held not infrequently and should be respected.

  As you follow the path that lies before you, you will come to know people you've never before met.  Stop a moment and listen to their words, for they are seldom heard.  The cantankerous Mr. Ives, who frowns on gaiety in all its forms.  The sweet Kate Smith, who has a difficult time speaking badly of anyone.  And a ribald Bernadine Holdrege, who never met a martini she didn't like.  These are but three of the many characters who now call Bonaventure home. 

  As you pass among these folk, and if you are kind, and if you are observant, they will give you clues.  When you have collected all the clues, you will have all the information you need to find the final cache.  

  Got it?  Good!  Let us begin with Mr. Ives.  He always has a lot to say...  

Anson Jesse Ives

March 1  1858        January 1  1931

Let me ask you. Do you have ANY idea how many times in the last 30 years I've listened to a tone-deaf tourist sing Moon River? Jeepers Creepers, I do try to Accent-tchu-ate the positive, but for the love of all that is HOLY what are these people THINKING? That they can SING? I don't THINK so! Believe me, I could go on. I know more of his dad-gum songs than Emma dad-gum Kelly! I tell you, if I had known that Johnny would end up as my neighbor, I'd have spent a little extra money and bought that waterfront lot I had my eye on. Instead I spent the cash on this silly marble arch. You can bet I've heard enough from my wife on THAT subject! One thing's for sure, that arch sure doesn't do much for sound abatement.

Oh, well, you know what they say, die and learn. It's time this unearthly racket stopped. I don't care much for noise, and I sure don't like all this so-called singing. And the nights when Judy Garland shows up... don't even get me started on that little tramp! The man who is doing all this new-fangled geostuff said if I gave you a clue, you could solve some puzzle and make the singing stop. Frankly, I think he's full of Savannah greys, but what else do I have to fill my time? I'll tell you what. You promise not to sing, and I'll promise not to follow you home. Deal? So, tell me. My son and namesake joined me in the year __ __ __ __?

Kate Mongin Smith

March 10 1854        March 18 1899

32° 02.574            081° 02.705

  I don't mind all the people, not really.  I don't have room to talk anyway, as she was here before me.  I do feel badly for her.  And it's such a sad tale, so sad.  She was only six when she died, did you know that?  Only six.  Pneumonia, you know.  Of course, the death of any child is a tragedy, but Gracie touched so many in her life, so many.  Perhaps, even more in her death.  

  Sometimes it does get to be too much.  All of her visitors, I mean.  But I usually don't mind.  And if they leave me alone, I leave them alone.  One time, not too long ago, one young fellow thought he would stand on my fence so he could get a better look at the back of Gracie's dress.  I showed him a thing or two, yes I did.  That boy had to change his pants, he did.  He's probably still running, I believe he is.  But most of the visitors aren’t like that.  Most are very nice.

  Where were we?  Oh, yes, Gracie.  She's a delightful child, she is.  She's sad that the caretakers had to build a fence around her, but she knows it's for her own good.  I remember that time back in the 1940's, when those boys broke off her nose with a rock.  They didn't mean to, though.  They were just playing.  They still come back every now and again and apologize to her.  She understands.  She's seen a lot in her death.

  Tell me the truth, now.  That's not why you're here, is it?  You already know about Little Gracie, now you want to know something about me.  Someday, maybe someday I might tell you.  But first, answer me this:  The family name on my headstone is__ __ __ __ __ __?

Bernadine Harwood Holdrege

Died March 9 1953

32° 02.604    081° 02.605

  Hi y'all, c'mon over!  Yep, I heard through the skeletal telegraph that you'd be coming through.  Always glad to see a new face around here. The more, the merrier, if you ask me.  It sure ain't often anybody pays attention to us regular folk. Have a seat on ol' Cosmos over there, that's the way he likes it.   I hope that's a martini in your basket, hope you brought enough to share, too!  Don't you dare pour that on the ground; I've got a glass right here, thank you!    

  Yep, destination unknown, truer words were never spoken!  He's hardly ever home.  Always traveling somewhere.  He comes back every now and again to check on his parents, they don't rest well together.  But enough said about that, as I'm sure you've heard that story by now.   No?  Well, you didn't hear it from me, but...would you pour me another darling?  Thank ya, honey.  You didn't hear it from me, but... well, just look at the date they died, you'll figure it out. 

  But you aren't interested in all that, are you?  I know what you want.  And you know what I want, don't you?  Mmmmm-hmmm, you do make a good martini.  Okay, honey, here you go.  My husband was buried at sea off the coast of St. __ __ __ __ __ in the year __ __ __ __? 

You now have everything you need to reach the final location.  If the clue is a date, then you should total all the digits of that date.  For instance, the year 1855 would result in an answer of 19.  (1 + 8 + 5 + 5 = 19) 

  If the clue is a name, then you should total all the letters of the name, with A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, etc.  For instance, ABCD  equals 10.  (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10)  

  Now total all the dates you have collected and add them to the total of all the names that you have collected.   For example, 1855 + AAZZ + 1902 + ABCD  = 095.  (19 + 54 + 12 + 10 = 095)  

Call your result XXX.

307 - XXX =  AAA. 

116 + XXX = BBB. 

The final cache is at 32° 03.AAA  081° 02.BBB

The final cache is hidden a very respectful distance from any gravesite, in a seldom visited area of Bonaventure Cemetery. You will probably want to drive to the final location.  Please re-cover the cache completely. Cemetery gates close at five.

The background image on this page belongs to Savannah photographer Jack Leigh. This photograph graces the cover of his latest book, The Land I'm Bound To and will be a familiar sight to those who make it to the final cache. For more selected images from this recently deceased artist, click here.

Other sites of interest:

Bonaventure Historical Society

A Short Johnny Mercer Biography

A Short Conrad Aiken Biography