Sitka Mansion Traditional Cache
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(regular)
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Come see tumbledown ruins of once-magnificent Sitka Mansion, ca. 1880, the premier home of this area, built by H. M. Hutchinson, rich-tycoon president of the Alaskan Seal Skin Company.
Park at N39 01.76 W76 58.95, Hillandale Regional Park. Open sunrise-11PM.
One entry point is N39 01.721 W76 58.865. There are no specific trails, but you can find some good deer tracks to keep you out of troubles.
You can first visit the barn's 'foundation,' an area of peculiar lumps and hollows - straight in around N39 01.738 W76 58.823. Doing so will keep you out of sight from the CHI bus parking lot, as you turn right and pass northeast of the collossal downed trees.
As you march about, sharp eyes will see the trappings of domestic life. Apothecary bottles, slate tiles, pottery shards, bricks, ancient concrete...
A few of the trees may have been here in 1880, while many others probably sprouted in the 1940's.
You will know you've entered the 0.4 acre foundation of this mansion by the peculiar topography. The mansion was one of the finest, and the first, in the region, while today only rough outlines remain.
The cache is tucked away near the top of an exterior foundation wall.
Imagine the excitement in 1889 when it was rumored that President Harrison might acquire this home from Mr. Hutchinson's widow for a Summer White House.
Mr. Hutchinson, having made his millions in Alaska trading, served on Congress' Committee to fund a National Garfield Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC. That was in 1881.
Mansion owners in 1932 were foreclosed upon, the depression being too severe to hold such a large house. The 375 acre Sitka farm was eventaully sold to developer Merritt Lockwood, and Hillandale was born. Unfortunately, the mansion burned down in the 1940s. That fire was one of the first missions of the newly formed Fire Company, which serves the area to this day.
Congrats to mmammel, FTF 9/21/05.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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