THE CACHE HISTORY
Why, you may wonder, is this an addiction cache? Because I really like this place, others have told me they are glad to have been brought here, and mostly because it is the site of the first cache I ever placed, Pindemonium.
The neighbors were unhappy about Pindemonium even though it was on public property, so the reviewers helped me move it to Friendly Grove Park.
A week later I placed with my third cache, Been There, Seen That #1: Bigelow Springs, at this same site. The neighbor kids decided that vandalizing this cache was the thing to do and talking to them didn’t change their actions.
I am now archiving that cache and have come up with this multi-cache replacement. Hopefully this one will last, because I still like this little park.
THE PARK HISTORY
Bigelow Springs became an Olympia park in the 1990’s, many years after Daniel Richardson Bigelow settled in the area during the early 1850’s. This graduate of Harvard law school notes in a diary entry that he cleaned out the spring for its steady supply of fresh water. Over time, he served the community as a prosecuting attorney, probate judge, postmaster, city councilor, and school superintendent. His descendents continued to use the water from this spring into the 1970s.
This little park has wonderful views of East Bay and the Port of Olympia. There is an interpretive sign about the land’s history and groundwater protection. You will also find a memorial to good neighbors behind the area of the spring and stone benches.
Take time to read the interpretive signs and enjoy the views. During the spring months, the hillside is covered with naturalized daffodils.
DISCLAIMER
All coordinates were obtained using Thurston Geodata. I then went to the site to check them and after a few minutes to settle, Little Yellow agreed.
THE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Be sure that your journey from stage 1 to stage 2 is completed on paved/public roads.
2. Go to the posted coordinates and gather the following information from the interpretive sign:
- a) The photo of Bigelow House was taken about 186__.
- b) 1__00 is the number of public water supplies in Thurston County.
- c) The spring was the water source for the surrounding neighborhood until the 19__0s.
- d) There are __ stone benches in the area of the spring.
- e) The photo of Ann Elizabeth White and Daniel Bigelow was taken in 185__.
- f) The interpretive sign quotes an entry from Daniel Richardson Bigelow’s diary dated 18__ __.
3. Now go behind (north of) the shrubbery surrounding the spring to a monument (see coordinates below) to George C. Jr. and Sylvia W. Grubb.
- g) The Grubbs were wonderful neighbors from 1 __ __ __ to 2002.
Now you have all you need to find the second/final stage of the cache. It is located at 47º ab.g W 122º cd.ef. N 47º __ __ . __ __ __ W 122º __ __ . __ __ __
Note - for those of you who may be interested, the Bigelow House down the street and around the corner is now open every Sunday from 1-4 pm for tours.