Welcome to the Museum of the Cape Fear, first a little history of
the area, then on to the cache.
Adjacent to the Museum is the E.A Powe House.
"On August 10, 1896, Lot #2 of the former U.S. Arsenal was
deeded to Josephine Poe, wife of Edgar Allen Poe. This was the land
on which E.A. Poe began construction of his two-story frame house,
along with a barn, woodhouse, smokehouse and wellhouse in 1897.
Poe, a successful businessman, politician and civic leader, was one
of several person to settle in the Haymount area at the turn of the
century. Built by Ruffin Vaughn, the Poe House exhibits rare
Eastlake detailing. Other architecturally significant elements of
the house include the entrance bay, a wrap-around porch, exterior
sawnwork, tongue-and-groove wainscoting and bullseye molding
throughout the interior. The house is owned by the Museum of the
Cape Fear. Following its recent restoration, it serves as a
historic house museum interpreting late nineteenth and early
twentieth century social, cultural and family history."
Behind the Museum is Arsenal Park.
"The first half of the 1800's was a period of expansion in the
national system of defenses and the construction of arsenals. This
was in part a reaction to the nation's preparedness in the War of
1812, but it was also a response to the growing territorial limits
oft he country. Congress appropriated monies for the purchasing of
land and the building of an arsenal of deposit and general
construction in the south. This was the highest classification for
this type of military installations: arsenals of construction store
various types of arnaments and manufacture equipment and material
in all categories from pistols to heavy artillery.
Shortly after North Carolina seceeded from the Union and joined the
Confederacy, it transferred the arsenal to the Confederate
Government. During the Civil War, the Fayetteville arsenal produced
a pistol-carbine, and a two-barreled rifle, known today as the
Fayetteville rifle. Constant Supply and skilled labor shortages
hindered production, and it is estimated that the Fayetteville
arsenal produced just over 10,000 weapons throughout the war. At
the same time, from September 1862 - September 1863, more than
113,000 small arms of british caliber were brought through the
blockade. The arsenal's greatest contribution to the Confederate
war effort was in providing ammunition. Records from January to
August 1864 show that over 900,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
were produced.
On March 11, 1865, the Union Army under General William T. Sherman
entered Fayetteville. Naturally the arsenal was his prime
objective. The facility was blasted, burned, and battered to the
ground on March 14, ensuring that Fayetteville would never again
produce arms to use against the United States.
Now on to the cache!!!
For some this may be a simple Park N' Grab...
but, then again, probably not!
There is ample parking nearby, and you are looking for a micro. If
you don't like looking for micro's move on to the next cache. Bring
your writin' stick and write small.
Once you find the cache, return it to the position in which it was
found. And please don't leave any spoilers in your logs, I'd
hate to ruin the experience for the next cacher.
I hope you enjoyed the History Lesson.
As always, I will happily give hints, but I will give better hints
if a DNF is posted.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Adventure!
This cache was placed by a member of the
North Carolina
Geocachers Organization