You do well to seek input here, Loraxe, as we still lack generally
accepted policy or guidelines. How did you come by the clues? Is it
still listed, tho unclaimed, or not? When was it last visited? Is the
placer known, and has there been an attempt to contact him/her? All
of these need to be considered. If the box was placed more than a
year ago and shows no sign of maintenance, it is dangerously close to
becoming 'litter'.
But to answer your question . . . no, I don't think you should
replace the stamp, rewrite the clues, or even adopt the box, unasked.
There's been a lot of controversy about that recently. It's better
that it be allowed to fade away. Just my opinion . . .

Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail' F110 P13 X13

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, loraxe@a... wrote:
> Hi all;
> I hope this doesn't cause a lot of controversy as I know there
has been
> quite a bit of debate about a placers intentions of boxes etc. But
I have
> adopted an unclaimed box in NH. It has been quite some time since
it has been
> tended to ( I would guess never) and is in pretty rough shape. The
stamp it
> originally contained was a store bought stamp - not that that is a
bad thing,
> but I would like to replace the stamp with a hand carved one, with
more meaning
> to the local. I don't want to offend anyone, what do people
think? Is this
> acceptable? Thanks for the imput;
> Loraxe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, loraxe@a... wrote:
> ...I have adopted an unclaimed box in NH.
> ... I would like to replace the stamp with a hand carved one, with more >>>
meaning to the local.

I have a similar feeling about placing boxes and creating stamps that are very
specifically designed with the location in mind. Most of my stamps (most) will
show the location with the lettering on the stamp and will also reflect something
stated in the clue or a natural landmark used in the clue.

However, there are no "rules" saying that this has to be so. One person's
interpretation of a hiding spot and what the box and stamp should reflect is so
open to another's.

WRT that, I would NOT replace that stamp unless I had discussed this with the
person that originally planted the box. I might consider planting another nearby
with the clues for that only in the adopted box...? I think instead of fiddling with
someone elses box, I would use it as an example and build on that.

However, in the case that this stamp was destroyed by say oh - fire, flood or
wild animal - then you might have just reasoning behind replacing the stamp
with another that reflects the location.

In general, I have adopted a few recently. One in the local area that I would like
to say has been re-adopted by the placer! I'm very happy to hear this and the
placer was also happy to be back on the list. The others are fairly far away, but
I intend to leave them completely intact and would never consider changing the
stamp or location unless I heard directly from that placer.

Hope that helps.
Phyto

I think it would be fine to do a little upkeep on an abandoned box.
I wouldn't think anyone would mind replacing a plastic bag, pencil or
similar stuff. I would not consider REPLACING a book, but placing a
second volume would be fine if the first was full or damaged. I
consider the stamp the heart of the box. If you change the stamp, it
almost becomes a new box.

I would like to see an archive available for boxes that have been
abandoned or totally lost. This would be great for the those seeking
a little more adventure. It would also be great to help document the
history of this hobby for the future.

Jim D.
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, loraxe@a... wrote:
> Hi all;
> I hope this doesn't cause a lot of controversy as I know there
has been
> quite a bit of debate about a placers intentions of boxes etc. But
I have
> adopted an unclaimed box in NH. It has been quite some time since
it has been
> tended to ( I would guess never) and is in pretty rough shape. The
stamp it
> originally contained was a store bought stamp - not that that is a
bad thing,
> but I would like to replace the stamp with a hand carved one, with
more meaning
> to the local. I don't want to offend anyone, what do people
think? Is this
> acceptable? Thanks for the imput;
> Loraxe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think Bob brings up some very valid points here, especially in
regards to the stamp. Replacing the stamp would be almost (IMHO)
sacrilege, because to me the heart of the box is the stamp. If you
really were hankering to place a special stamp, how about a bonus one
in the box that would have your personal touch? That way it would not
erase its beginnings, but still show it was now under someone's loving
care.

Just my 2 worth of thoughts.
catbead 1


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Bob LaBelle"
wrote:
> You do well to seek input here, Loraxe, as we still lack generally
> accepted policy or guidelines. How did you come by the clues? Is it
> still listed, tho unclaimed, or not? When was it last visited? Is the
> placer known, and has there been an attempt to contact him/her? All
> of these need to be considered. If the box was placed more than a
> year ago and shows no sign of maintenance, it is dangerously close to
> becoming 'litter'.
> But to answer your question . . . no, I don't think you should
> replace the stamp, rewrite the clues, or even adopt the box, unasked.
> There's been a lot of controversy about that recently. It's better
> that it be allowed to fade away. Just my opinion . . .
>
> Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail' F110 P13 X13
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, loraxe@a... wrote:
> > Hi all;
> > I hope this doesn't cause a lot of controversy as I know there
> has been
> > quite a bit of debate about a placers intentions of boxes etc. But
> I have
> > adopted an unclaimed box in NH. It has been quite some time since
> it has been
> > tended to ( I would guess never) and is in pretty rough shape. The
> stamp it
> > originally contained was a store bought stamp - not that that is a
> bad thing,
> > but I would like to replace the stamp with a hand carved one, with
> more meaning
> > to the local. I don't want to offend anyone, what do people
> think? Is this
> > acceptable? Thanks for the imput;
> > Loraxe
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

That's an idea, Libby, but perhaps a lesser "sacrilege" would be to
leave clues for a nearby satellite (or bonus) box with the additional
stamp. However, these moves do encroach on the original emplacement.
I meant to say in my original response, and someone else subsequently
did, that replacing a leaking plastic bag within the box does seem to
help preserve the original without doing any violence to it. I'll
bet we've all done that, and I'd welcome that degree of help with
mine. But even leaving a pencil or a pen, because there is none
there, is open to question. Maybe the placer intended that
particular omission.
Let me add that I'm impressed by this very democratic process . . .
maybe we'll succeed in arriving at some generally-accepted protocol.
It's apparently needed here.
P.S. Just visited the "Letterbox-basement" (listing 322 unclaimed -
not necessarily abandoned - boxes) . . . oh, my . . .
Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail'

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "catbead1" wrote:
> I think Bob brings up some very valid points here, especially in
> regards to the stamp. Replacing the stamp would be almost (IMHO)
> sacrilege, because to me the heart of the box is the stamp. If you
> really were hankering to place a special stamp, how about a bonus
one
> in the box that would have your personal touch? That way it would
not
> erase its beginnings, but still show it was now under someone's
loving
> care.
>
> Just my 2 worth of thoughts.
> catbead 1
>
>
>

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Bob LaBelle"
wrote:
>>>snip>>>

> P.S. Just visited the "Letterbox-basement" (listing 322 unclaimed -
> not necessarily abandoned - boxes) . . . oh, my . . .
> Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail'

I've been going thru the Lb-basement looking for some lost babies
close to home to adopt, or at least where I could get to 3 - 4 times a
year.

catbead 1

ps, I replaced The Ace of Hearts. I'm thinking it might be somewhere
around under all the leaves, maybe pulled out by an animal.

Hi all:
I would like to comment on this as I have adopted several
abandonded / unclaimed boxes myself. Maybe my procedure could be of
help.

First I went and found the box, to ensure it still exists. If it
was not to be found, I posted a message with the results of my
search for others to review before searching themselves.

Then I checked the clues, log book, and the historical messages on
the talk list to see if I could find the original placer. I emailed
them and told them about the new web site and the necessity of
claiming their boxes. Some were not aware, and they claimed their
boxes. Some were happy that someone else was willing to adopt their
boxes. Most could not be found or did not respond.

If there were other boxes planted near to the unclaimed box, I asked
the planters of the nearby boxes if they would be interested in
adopting it. Some did. This will save trips to check on boxes.

Then I asked the webmasters to assign the clues to me. Which they
were grateful to do.

Then I started to maintain the box as if it was my own.

One box was in a poor location, and I moved it a few hundred feet to
a better location. All the log books were full, so I replaced
them. I am keeping the old log books for the box's history. Some
of the stamps were broken. A friend carved new stamps for me, using
the original image if possible.

I rewrote the clues to the degree necessary to give clear
directions. I tried to keep most of the clues intact and add or
clarify where needed. I kept the original descriptions of the
things to see at the location.

The Bird Stamper

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, loraxe@a... wrote:
> Hi all;
> I hope this doesn't cause a lot of controversy as I know
there has been
> quite a bit of debate about a placers intentions of boxes etc.
But I have
> adopted an unclaimed box in NH. It has been quite some time since
it has been
> tended to ( I would guess never) and is in pretty rough shape.
The stamp it
> originally contained was a store bought stamp - not that that is
a bad thing,
> but I would like to replace the stamp with a hand carved one, with
more meaning
> to the local. I don't want to offend anyone, what do people
think? Is this
> acceptable? Thanks for the imput;
> Loraxe
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Bird Stamper has followed a procedure for adopting a letterbox
that seems above reproach. Certainly there are some among the 300+
unclaimed boxes that deserve being continued, whether for historical
reasons or because of their prime location. I myself have one in
mind here in the Central/Western NY region that qualifies on the
first point.
Bob / 'Cock o' the Trail'

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "birder579"
wrote:
> Hi all:
> I would like to comment on this as I have adopted several
> abandonded / unclaimed boxes myself. Maybe my procedure could be
of
> help.
>
> First I went and found the box, to ensure it still exists. If it
> was not to be found, I posted a message with the results of my
> search for others to review before searching themselves.
>
> Then I checked the clues, log book, and the historical messages on
> the talk list to see if I could find the original placer. I
emailed
> them and told them about the new web site and the necessity of
> claiming their boxes. Some were not aware, and they claimed their
> boxes. Some were happy that someone else was willing to adopt
their
> boxes. Most could not be found or did not respond.
>
> If there were other boxes planted near to the unclaimed box, I
asked
> the planters of the nearby boxes if they would be interested in
> adopting it. Some did. This will save trips to check on boxes.
>
> Then I asked the webmasters to assign the clues to me. Which they
> were grateful to do.
>
> Then I started to maintain the box as if it was my own.
>
> One box was in a poor location, and I moved it a few hundred feet
to
> a better location. All the log books were full, so I replaced
> them. I am keeping the old log books for the box's history. Some
> of the stamps were broken. A friend carved new stamps for me,
using
> the original image if possible.
>
> I rewrote the clues to the degree necessary to give clear
> directions. I tried to keep most of the clues intact and add or
> clarify where needed. I kept the original descriptions of the
> things to see at the location.
>
> The Bird Stamper
>
>