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This is not wheelchair accessible in the winter
Route 77, known historically as Old State Road, was an important highway early in the history of Richmond Township. In the early days when Ohio on the west and New York on the northeast were being settled, there was considerable need for traffic across Pennsylvania. Meadville was settled in the late 1700’s, so a road was made from there to Ohio. Then, from Meadville the northeasterly route, known today as Route 77 was planned. In 1817 $3,000 was appropriated to clear the 50 ft. wide road from the northern boundary of Pennsylvania to Meadville. Lest we think these new highways resembled what we are used to driving on today, one early settler of Richmond Township took 56 days to travel from Connecticut to this area via an oxen-pulled wagon. With limited travel, the route became overgrown with brush. It was cleared again in the late 1820’s and early 1830’s. For years it was reported to be one of the straightest roadways in the state. There was considerable stagecoach traffic, as well as cattle being driven to market, over this route.
By the time the Civil War was over, Old State Route was the shortest route between New York and Chicago. With all the traffic, there developed a need for hostelries along the route. Called “Stands”, these would include a livery barn for horses, a corral for the cattle and oxen, and the inn for people. The property where this cache is located is the site of Navy’s Stand.
Philip Navy came with his family to Steuben Township in 1821 from Lancaster County. He died in 1824, but his descendants bought this land and built Navy’s Stand.
There were two other "stands" located in Richmond Township, but this is the only site that has retained
some of its original purpose, albeit for people only...You are certainly welcome, but your cattle, oxen and wagon would run the risk of getting run over by a semi on State Route 77🙂
Placed with the permission of the owners, you are searching for a cammo match holder, hidden in a typical geocacher hiding spot…BYOP
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