Ninety years ago Camp Fremont, a training base for soldiers headed to the Great War in Europe, stood on the ground that forms much of Menlo Park. From Valparaiso Avenue to San Francisquito Creek (now next to the Stanford Mall), and from El Camino west most of the way to Alameda, it was all Army. At one time, there were 27,000 men barracked here. (Menlo Park itself had only 2,300 residents at the time.)
Originally intended to train National Guard troops from the West Coast, the base was eventually used to organize and train the 8th Division under Major General John Morrison. Pictures of the encampments may be found here and here. From Camp Fremont the troops fanned out into the surrounding countryside to drill, dig (and fill in) trenches, and practice riding, rifle shooting, and artillery spotting. The artillery practice was fired - with live ammunition - into the hills above Menlo Park and Palo Alto and left behind some dud rounds such as a 75mm shell recently discovered in Foothill Park.
Not much remains of Camp Fremont after 90 years, but this cache will take you there.
Waypoint 1: N 37 26.915 W 122 10.475
This building was formerly the officer's club for Camp Fremont. It now houses a restaurant long popular with Stanford students. Parking is easiest on the side street, not El Camino. As you approach, note the old-style ventilators still in place on the roof. Walk around to the front on El Camino, and look for a painted over, three digit street number towards the east end of the building. The last digit is A. The first digit is B.
Waypoint 2: N 37 26.580 W 122 09.931
This old building was formerly the enlisted men's recreation and 'Hostess House' for Camp Fremont. It was relocated here after the base closed and used as a Palo Alto community center for many years. Since it was designed by a famous architect, it rates as a state historical landmark. It's now the site of a well-known local restaurant. Unless you visit when it is closed, you may find it easiest to park on the Palo Alto side of the train tracks and walk through the station to access the spot.
Having read the state landmark plaque, determine these clues to the final: What day of the month was the marker placed? Add its two digits to get C. What is the number of the state landmark? Subtract one from the last digit to get D. (Note there's more than one historical marker in the area - be sure you get the right one!)
Waypoint 3: N 37 26.931 W 122 11.181
Here at the former HQ is a memorial to Camp Fremont, listing the units that trained here. Collect your last two digits: E is the 2nd digit in the number of the machine gun unit in the 16th Infantry Brigade. F is one half the number of the first artillery unit listed on the memorial.
Final: You can find it at N 37 27.ABC W 122 09.DEF. This will take you near a location that is still fulfilling the same purpose it had during the days of Camp Fremont, healing those who serve our country. The current Menlo Park VA site began as the camp hospital. It is open to the public and there is abundant parking.
The cache is a camo pill bottle, with room enough for a few small trade items. Bring your own pen.
Ironically, the 'doughboys' trained at Camp Fremont never fought in Europe. They did see battle, however: A portion of the 8th Division was deployed to Vladivostok, Siberia as part of the little known American Expeditionary Force, Siberia, an intervention in the ongoing Russian Revolution. The US government had sent large quantities of munitions and railroad equipment to that area, to support the Czarist government in fighting Germany. After the Czar's fall, the US supported the short-lived Kerensky government and other 'White' factions against the Bolsheviks, and wanted to prevent its materiel from falling into the Red's hands. The US troops encountered disease, and also skirmished with Bolshevik partisans, suffering 189 deaths before being recalled in 1920. The 5,000 troops from Camp Fremont were part of a force including 70,000 Japanese troops, with smaller contingents from Britain, Italy and French Indochina.
Camp Fremont itself was officially closed in December 1918, the permanent buildings were auctioned off, and the government finally abandoned the site in September, 1919. By the time the last 'doughboys' returned from Siberia, their camp was already gone.