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Names of Richmond Mystery Cache

Hidden : 8/20/2006
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

The posted coordinates will take you to the entrance of Earlham Cemetery.

Warning: The gates close at 5pm. They are very strict about this. Please don't try to cut this close. Starting in 2012 they have summer hours (April 1 to October 1) until 8pm. There is a banner announcing these so don't assume 8pm without seeing the banner.

The cache is a small Lock-and-lock with a log and small trade items. Please do not log a "find" without having signed the log.


Earlham Cemetery is just west of Earlham College but they have no relationship besides the name. Many of the "names" in Richmond are buried here. This cache was placed to give you a chance to visit their final resting locations and to learn a little of Richmond's history.

Charles F Butler is not a "name" in Richmond except to friends and family. We brought you here because he was a member of the Greatest Generation.

Singin’ Sam was the stage name of Harry Frankel, who lived in Richmond for much of his life. Beginning his career as a minstrel performer and vaudevillian, he was a famous personality in the early days of commercial radio. He was best known as Singin’ Sam, the Barbasol Man for his long association with that company.
Singin' Sam

Jonas Gaar and his sons, Abram and John Milton Gaar, and Jonas' son-in-law, William G. Scott were founders of Gaar-Scott and Company, the leading manufacturer of threshing machines and steam engines from 1842 to 1911.
Gaar Mansion

There was once a tradition at Earlham College to bring your date to the cemetery to search for the glass tombstone. Many doubted such a tombstone existed but here it is. The tradition probably died in the 1960s when the cemetery erected fences around the entire perimeter.

The McGuire family has made generous donations to support the arts in Richmond. McGuire Hall is an auditorium at the Richmond High School. It is also believed that this is the only art museum located at an American high school.
Richmond High School

Benjamin Starr, son of Charles W. Starr and younger brother of James Starr, enlisted as a private in the 2nd Indiana Cavalry soon after the start of the Civil War. He received a serious head wound in August 1862 and, while recovering from the wound was stricken with typhoid fever. Honorably discharged soon after, he returned to Richmond to engage in business. His first enterprise after the war was the Nye & Starr Stove Store, and soon after he became part owner of the Richmond Gas Company. In 1878, he joined his brother as part owner of the Chase Piano Company, which in 1884, became James Starr & Co., and in 1893, the Starr Piano Company
Benjamin Starr

The cache is at N39 49.ABC, W084 55.DEF. The values of ABCDEF can be determined by visiting the locations listed below.

After the original cache location was damaged in early 2008, I found a replacement cache location fairly soon. However, it took me nearly 3 months to fix the puzzle. When I went back to verify the cache was still there, I had a hard time finding it. The hint is provided to reduce frustration when finding the final location.

Before the cache was moved in 2008, it really was difficulty 1 to find the final. Based on comments on the new location, I've increased it to 1.5

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Final location] Va gur fcyvg bs n fznyy gerr ng tebhaq yriry.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)