A Short Tour: ECC I of VII Multi-cache

“A Short Tour: Easton Cemetery Cache, I of VII”

This is a multi-stop, puzzle cache. The final, physical cache is NOT located at the coordinates, above.

About the Cache

Rarely does one find a cemetery as unique and historic as the Easton Cemetery. An interesting journey awaits you as you step nearly 150 years back into history. This puzzle cache takes you to the grave sites of a university founder, an internationally famous actress, a Civil War general who was awarded the Medal of Honor, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence; a total of ten grave sites.

You will follow a large loop in the old section of the cemetery. The distance is approximately .75 miles, and you may walk, bike, or drive. NOTE: During snowy and icy conditions, the cemetery may be closed to automobile traffic; however, it will remain open to pedestrians.

About the Puzzle

The cache is located at the coordinates, below. However, your job will be to replace the letters with the correct numbers.

To find the correct numbers, go to each of the ten locations, find the gravestones and answer the corresponding questions. Replace the letters with the number beside the correct answer.

Cemetery Rules

1) HOURS: Dawn to dusk.

2) Pull your vehicle to the side as far as reasonably possible.

3) Dogs permitted, but they must be leashed, and the owner must clean-up after them.

4) Give funeral groups their due privacy; no caching in their vicinity.

To make your trip easier and more enjoyable, it would be prudent to print a copy of the 10 coordinates, questions, and answers. Below the chart you will find this information; then, simply copy and paste it into your word processor.

Final Coordinates:

N 40° AB.CDE

W 075° FG.HIJ

The statue of Dr. Traill Green.

What is the name of the sculpture who created Dr. Green's statue? (Check the southeast corner, above the plinth. His initials are: H.L.R.)

Henry Lewis Rawlins--5

Harry Lewis Raul--4

Herman Larimore Rodgers--3

Herbert Lloyd Richardson--2

B) N 40° 41.710   W075° 13.036

This is the family burial plot of Brigadier General Theophilus Francis Rodenbough (1838-1912). In 1893, 28 years after the Civil War ended, Rodenbough was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads: "For distinguished gallantry in action at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864, where he was severely wounded while handling his regiment with skill and valor."

In front of the large Rodenbough gravestone, you'll find Lillian Rodenbough's stone. What is her MIDDLE name? (Hint: Five letters, beginning with "S.")

Seitz--1

Smith--2

Shultz--3

Shaul--4

C) N 40° 41.728   W075° 13.040

The family plot of Dr. Traill Green (1813-1897). (What an environmentally friendly name!) In 1835, he became a doctor and practiced medicine for nearly 60 years. He was a professor of chemistry at Lafayette College, a member of the Board of Trustees and served as Acting President of the college from 1890-91. He had the observatory built on the college (now torn down), thinking that no one would donate money to the study of astronomy. In 1849, he founded the Northampton County Medical Society, and was a champion of higher educational opportunities for women, especially in the field of medicine.

Resting a few feet, on the EAST side of Dr. Green's large gravestone, is a child's gravestone. What is the name on the stone? (Hint: "Little R-----;" six letters, beginning with "R"). Note: It is easy to miss this stone if there is snow cover.

Little Ronald--4

Little Rickie--5

Little Ronnie--6

Little Robbie--7

D) N 40° 41.760   W075° 13.038

The gravestone of George Taylor (1916-1781), an Irish immigrant, who represented Northampton County in the Pennsylvania Assembly. Eventually he attended the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was originally interred at St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Ferry Street, Easton. The impressive monument, topped with an eagle and cloth drape, was erected after his remains were moved to this site in 1870.

Note: Easton was the site of one of the earliest public readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Every year on Heritage Day (the first Sunday after July 4th), this occasion is reenacted.

As you look east from Taylor's gravestone, you will see a large obelisk (the shape of the Washington Monument). What is the surname at the bottom of the obelisk? (Hint: Eight letters, beginning with "N)

Nachrodt--4

National--5

Nicholas--6

Nestless--7

E) N 40° 41.790   W075° 13.008

The gravestone of James Madison Porter (1793-1862), one of the founders of Lafayette College. He was a colonel in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812, state court judge in Pennsylvania (1839-40), Interim Secretary of War (1843-44), and member of the Pennsylvania State legislature (1849).

(For those who are not local: As you continue north on the cemetery road, you will come to a "T" intersection at the Civil War cannon. To the northeast, you will see a group a buildings atop a hill. That area is known as College Hill, and it is the location of Lafayette College.)

What are the three first names found on the north face of this gravestone? (Hint: The three names begin with "N," "S," and "C.")

Nancy, Sally, Charles--7

Nathaniel, Sabina, Catharine--8

Nathaniel, Sylvia, Catherine--9

Norbert, Sabina, Charles--0

F) N 40° 41.819   W075° 13.017

You will leave the cemetery road to find the next gravestone. You are looking for the gravestone of J. Frederic Osterstock (1884-1957). Fred managed the State Theater in Easton from 1936 until his death. Some claim that his ghost still visits the theater. The annual "Freddie Awards," given to local high school students for achievement in theater arts, are named after him.

What is the word carved atop Osterstock's gravestone?

Father--4

Husband--3

Son--2

There is no word--1

G) N 40° 41.856   W075° 12.978

You will now arrive at the gravesite of Belle Archer (1858-1900). She was a nationally renowned stage actress. She was reputed to be the most photographed actress in the 1890's. Her cameo appears atop her gravestone.

Whose name is engraved on the large gravestone about 10' south of Belle's stone? (Hint: His initials are "L.C.")

Lyman Coleman--3

Lawrence Carson--4

Lloyd Caruthers--5

Larry Chapman--6

H) N 40° 41.857   W075° 12.946

Now you will visit the largest gravestone in the cemetery. In 1885, the Bruch monument was built at a cost of $20,000 (that's roughly $500,000 in today's currency). Dr. W.J.H. Bruch left instructions in his will for a monument to be built, not only as a memorial, but to be a source of beauty for the cemetery.

Historical Note: The gate through which you entered the cemetery is NOT the original entrance. The original Easton Cemetery entrance is located down the hill to the east; it is, however, obscured from your view by the highway (US-22). If you choose, you may walk down the stairway or down the pavement, and you may see the original gate. Horse-drawn hearses brought the deceased along Bushkill Drive, crossed the bridge, entered the gate, rounded the sweeping curve, and pulled their precious cargo up the long hill. The Bruch monument would be the first gravestone mourners would see.

What is the Latin phrase found behind the statuary on the gravestone's front face? (Hint: Three words.)

Veni, vidi, vici--0

Requiescat in pace--1

Morituri te salutamus--2

Amor vincit omnia--3

I) N 40° 41.881   W075° 13.065

The next two gravestones are found on the western side of the old cemetery. Leave the Bruch monument and travel west, past the cannon, past the mausoleum, turn right at the "T" intersection, and follow the curve to the south. These coordinates will take you to the gravestone of Brigadier General Charles Adam Heckman (1822-1896).

"Prior to the Civil War, he served in the Army as an officer in the Mexican war and was a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad. In October 1861, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 9th New Jersey, served in General Burnside's North Carolina expedition and was promoted Colonel in February 1862. In November 1862, he was appointed Brigadier General of the defenses of Norfolk and Portsmouth. At the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, he was captured and sent to the Confederate stockade at Charleston. Prisoner exchanged in September 1864, he commanded the 2nd Division XVIII Corps at Ft Harrison, until relieved of duty in March 1865. After the war he was a dispatcher for the Pennsylvania Railroad." (Biography by John Griffith)

Fill-in the missing words from the inscription found on Heckman's gravestone: “A SILENT TRIBUTE OF ---- AND ------ FOR THEIR BRAVE COMMANDER.”

Endearment and devotion--4

Love and respect--5

Honor and respect--6

Respect and devotion--7

J) N 40° 41.814   W075° 13.124

You are finally at the last gravestone of this tour. Aaron Ogden Hoff (1810-1902) was the first black student to attend Lafayette College and a member of the first graduating class. In 1832, about 30 years before the Civil War, Hoff blew his trumpet to summon the first 43 students and 3 teachers to attend the new college.

What are the sculpture's initials and date, found on the base of the trumpeter?

CRM '05--2

CRM '04--3

CRM '03--4

CRM '02--5