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Indiana Spirit Quest # 520 - "Carmel Apples" Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

501_Gang: Thanks to everyone that has found this cache. I really have enjoyed reading the log entries.

No future finds will be allowed on this cache.

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Hidden : 8/15/2006
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:




"Indiana Spirit Quest"


ISQ - Except no others!


The Indiana Spirit Quest series of geocaches will take you to a number of historic cemeteries built by Hoosier Pioneers. In just two years, the quest has over five hundred caches hidden in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario and the hiders have grown to over twenty five cacher teams, most of which of which are comprised of Dogs and their Humans.
Over 1,000 cacher teams have logged over 19,000 ISQ finds.


"Indiana Spirit Quest # 520"
"Carmel Apples"
Carmel Cemetery
La Porte County, Indiana



Photos by 501_Gang


Surrounded by a beautiful apple orchard, Carmel Cemetery has been in use for over 100 years.
Besides the Church, the main highlight of this cemetery is the Carriage House.


Carriage House


The carriage house is one of the last remaining carriage houses in Northwest Indiana and its upkeep proves the Carmel Association's determination to preserve the past. There are sliding doors on the front and back of the carriage house which allowed the horse, still attached to the carriage or wagon, to be walked into the carriage house and through the back door so the carriage could be stored inside. The horse would then be unharnessed from the carriage and lead into his stall.

Another use for the carriage house might have been a staging area or temporary pausing area for the coffin of the recently deceased. although just speculation, it is believed that they would bring the deceased to the carriage house on the hearse/wagon, and then the pall bearers could easily lift up the coffin and either set it to rest at the final grave site location, or bring it into the church.


Carmel Church


Around 1855, many of the Swedish immigrants arrived to the county of La Porte and originally attended Bethany Lutheran Church in La Porte city. However, due to unimproved roads, mode of transportation and harsh winter weather the settlers decided to try another 'route'. The Swedish settlers of this faith, living in the New Durham and Coolspring township areas, on April 14, 1872, decided to build a church within their settlement for school and Sunday worship services.


During this meeting it was decided that an acre of land would be purchased in the name of "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Durham Township, La Porte, Indiana." Services were conducted in the Swedish language on Sunday afternoons, with their minister from Bethany Lutheran Church administering the gospel.


Civil War Veteran


On August 9, 1874, the settlers called a meeting for the purpose of establishing a cemetery adjacent to Carmel Chapel. Twenty lots were plotted and soon sold. On June 5, 1882, the church received the name of Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Carmel Chapel.Around 1915 the cemetery and chapel became known as simply Carmel and the Swedish language was dropped from the usage at the Chapel.




The cemetery was opened to all people, regardless of faith. Even with the improvement of roads and transportation, by 1918 the minister stopped coming out from La Porte to the chapel. By then, most of the parishioners had cars and could go to La Porte for services. The church would only be used for special events thereafter.




In 1946 the Carmel Cemetery Board of Trustees transferred the property to Bethany Lutheran church with the stipulation that the association could elect its own board members at annual meetings.


* * * THIS IS A GENUINE INDIANA SPIRIT QUEST CACHE -- ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES! * * *


The cache container is a camouflaged, loc-loc box.

Please leave it at least as well concealed, if not better, than you found it.


~~ Note: This is an active cemetery, please be respectful, if a service is in progress come back at a later date. ~~


FIND LOGS ON THIS CACHE THAT INDICATE NIGHT CACHING WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE!


If you find fallen or worn US flags at the graves of veterans, please take a moment to upright or replace them. Dispose of worn US flags in a respectable manner. As always, no ISQ searching after dusk, and cache in, trash out. God Bless our troops and veterans.





DESPITE WHAT SOME NON-ISQ CEMETERY CACHE PAGES MAY SAY, YOU MAYBE SUBJECT TO ARREST IF FOUND IN A CEMETERY AT NIGHT IN INDIANA IN MOST ALL JURISDICTIONS.


"Indiana Spirit Quest" is brought to you by the following fellows of GEOISQ*:
SixDogTeam (Earthdog Patrick, Lead Dog, Wheel Dog) Kodiak Kid, *The Shadow*, Team Shydog, Rupert2, Torry, ~Mystery Dog~, Team Tigger International, Cache Commando, bbSurveyors, Dover Duo,Los Xile, Prairie Partners, WilliamsFamGC, Bean Blossom Gang, Team Itchy & Scratchy, Wishbone 86, krisNjoe, Yannick Noah, Bikinibottomfeeders, Awsome Ev, 501 Gang, Lord Elwood, Donsdi & Dougsmiley. If you are interested in spreading the Quest to your neck of the woods AND WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, email SixDogTeam.

If you are interested in spreading the Quest to your neck of the woods AND WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, email SixDogTeam.


*Grand Exalted Order of the Indiana Spirit Quest

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

ebpxgerr

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)