And just when Ruthann spent all that time updating the webpages!
These are slightly different directions.
ARCHITECTURAL MYSTERY BOX
Somewhere in the Chicago suburbs, Cook County, Illinois
Accessible by public transportation (CTA or Metra)
Easy, great for families. No poison ivy. No snakes.
Box: not a mini, but maybe a tiny. You can use a stamp up to about 1"
across.
Placed October 6, 2002, by yooperann wfisher47@attbi.com, replaced
1/20/03

In 1898 the man who would become the world's most famous architect
established his first studio in his home in this leafy suburb. Before
he left town for more famous studios in Wisconsin and Arizona, he
designed more than 25 buildings, leaving the town an architectural
legacy that draws tens of thousands of visitors every year.
One of the architect's most beautiful buildings, only a block away
from the Home and Studio, is the Frank W. Thomas House, built in
1901. Across the street from the Thomas House is this town's only
statue of this famous son. Although the architect was very short (and
unappreciative owners of his buildings sometimes complained that
doors and ceilings were built more to his height than to theirs) it
still hardly seems fair that the bust is set in a rock only about
three feet off the ground. Your search for the letterbox begins with
this statue.
Just to the right of the statue a wrought iron gate leads into a
park. Go into the park and take the path to your right. Follow the
path past the wildflower gardens. You will come to a majestic tree,
of the species obvious for the community (and no, it's not a gingko).
The tree rises five or six feet from a huge trunk, and then divides
into two before continuing skyward. Near this tree you'll find a
bench. Have a seat and admire the tree. When you're ready to
continue, turn around and locate the light pole immediately behind
the bench. You might think the letterbox would be under the base of
the light pole, but you'd be wrongthat's where it used to be and
where it disappeared. So instead cast your gaze further north to yet
another bench and a light pole near that bench. That scrunched up
New York Times bag under that light pole? Don't just assume it's
trash.
Please be very discreet removing and replacing the box.