I've always
enjoyed visiting cemeteries and reading the history of the
area in the tombstones there. Since I started geocaching I've
visited quite a few caches that were located in cemeteries so
I know that many others enjoy this too.
While looking for potential cache sites I came across "Smith's
Flat Cemetery" and knew that I wanted to place a cache here and
share this interesting cemetery with others.
Admittedly this is not one of the prettiest cemeteries around.
The grounds of the cemetery are plain dirt, there is no
landscaping, and many of the tombstones are in various states of
decay and are unreadable. However even neglected cemeteries can be
interesting, and under the right conditions quite scenic. The photo
above was taken during a winter snowstorm. I thought the
reflections of the falling snowflakes gave the cemetery a peaceful
and interesting appearance.
If you are going to this cache via east-bound 50 and miss the
turnoff it will be awhile before you get the opportunity to turn
around so I recommend that you use exit 49 off the Highway. From
there you are on your own.
The listed coordinates will take you to the cache container.
However there is another piece of information that you will need
before you can successfully complete this cache. So take some time
to wander around and read some of the tombstones. While looking
around keep an eye out for the final resting place of Frank Morphy.
He was was 21 years old when he passed away and his tombstone was
erected by his sister. The year that he died will be the key to
completing this cache.
One final comment: The cache container is an item I found laying
around at work and I thought it would be the perfect container for
this cemetery cache. If only the contents of the cache container
lived up to the advertised contents displayed on its lid.......