Start your trek at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial at
the coordinates given for the cache. This is run by the National Park Service
and there is a small fee to enter ($3 for persons 17 and older, Children 16 and
under admitted free). Hours are available at the National Memorial web site www.nps.gov/jofl. Take the time to view the
film and visit the exhibits. While there, be sure to note what hour in the
afternoon on May 31st the dam broke. You will need this later .... Also, pick
up an "Exploring the Park" map and directions from front desk. It
will help you in navigating to the next 4 parts of the cache.
Stop 1 - Coordinates N40 20.930, W78 46.476
Following the directions on the map, park and walk the short
distance across the original spillway and the remains of the north abutment of
the dam. Take in the view of the dry lake bed and imagine the breaking of the
dam that afternoon. Read the description of the dam that once stood here. Take
the year in which the dimensions were taken, subtract 3 times the width at the
base of the dam, then subtract the width at the top of the dam. Use this value
to complete the coordinates for the next stop.
Stop 2 Coordinates N40 20.232, W78 46._ _ _
Using the value from Stop (1), complete the coordinates and
drive to the location where the owners of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting
gathered on weekends. As owners of the dam, they did little to maintain the dam
and ultimately should have been responsible. Take the Door Number plus 3 times
the number of windows on the third floor plus the hour in the afternoon that
the dam broke (from above). Use this value to complete the coordinates for the
next stop.
Stop 3 Coordinates N40 19.685, W78 55._ _ _
Using the value from Stop (2), complete the coordinates and
drive to downtown Johnstown. In this building, you will find displays and
exhibits commemorating the disaster. Information on hours and costs can be
found at www.jaha.org/flood.Take the
time to view the film. It is well done and not a cheesy re-enactment. Look
carefully at all the exhibits on the first floor and make note of the number of
women widowed by the flood and the number of families that were wiped
out. From the front of the building, make note of the year in which Andrew
Carnegie made improvements. Take the Year that improvements were made, subtract
11 times the number of families destroyed, then add the number of women
widowed. Use this value to complete the coordinates for the final stop.
Stop 4 Coordinates N40 18._ _ _, W78 55.616
Using the value from Stop (3), complete the coordinates and
drive to the final location of the cache. At this spot, take the time to absorb
the enormity of this tragedy and the number of people and families affected.
Over 700 victims were never identified and are commemorated here. To claim this
cache, e-mail me the names of the items that each of the seated figures flanking the standing
figure are holding in their hands.
Hope you enjoyed your trek and learned something about this
American tragedy and the unknown victims whom we should remember. This is the
second part of a series of virtual caches dedicated to the unknown victims and heroes
in American History. If ever near Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, DC, be sure to find Part One of this series "The Other Unknowns"