Great clues!

Deb


--- In letterbox-usa@y..., drewclan@a... wrote:
> From the Simsbury Historical Society!
>
> In a message dated 10/9/2002 11:54:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Bobryk writes:
>
>
> > Name: Simsbury Historical Society (www.simsburyhistory.org)
> > Name of Letterbox: Jeffrey O. Phelps
> > Placed: October 1, 2002
> > State: Connecticut County: Hartford
> > Town: Simsbury
> >
> >
> > This imaginary letter was found in an attic in the center of
Simsbury,
> > Connecticut near the Phelps Homestead and launched the search for
a relic
> > left behind in 1880 by Jeffery O. Phelps, Jr. Perhaps if you
read it
> > carefully you may discover its location. Begin at the Phelps
Tavern Museum
> > and Homestead, 800 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury Connecticut 06070.
> >
> >
> > May 19, 1880
> >
> > Dear Cousin,
> >
> > You have asked me to describe Simsbury and the farm we live on
but so much
> > has changed I know not where to start. When my father Jeffery O.
Phelps
> > and others dreamed of building a canal from New Haven to
Northampton
> > Massachusetts, they could never have imagined the coming of the
railroad.
> > Instead they saw water as the way to transport goods especially
the stones
> > that were quarried here in Simsbury. Now we have four train lines
passing
> > through town. I myself worked as a conductor and stationmaster
and lived
> > in the village of Tariffville almost thirty years ago. It was
such an
> > exciting place with hotels, mills and music halls. I was
determined not to
> > end up as a farmer. But now that the farm is mine (Father passed
last
> > year) I find myself drawn to it on those week-ends when I can get
away from
> > the social whirl in Hartford.
> >
> > Today, as I walked the property checking the barns and the cows
and horses
> > they hold, I imagined what it will be like in one hundred years
when my
> > descendants are still raising cattle here. While pacing the
grounds I
> > decided to hide something for posterity. When you and the
children visit us
> > next try out my clues and see if you can find it.
> >
> > From Hopmeadow Street on the east stands a sycamore tree of large
dimension
> > the furthest south near the pass way labeled Phelps Lane. From
the east
> > side of the trunk go 50 paces to the green tavern door where my
> > great-grandfather used to sit on the porch and wait for travelers
to arrive
> > by foot or stagecoach. From this southernmost door of our home,
you must
> > cross southeast to the corner of the calving barn. (I hope it
does not
> > catch fire as some barns have lately and leave just the walls
standing.)
> > From the northwest corner of the back stone wall of the barn go
northeast
> > to stand of birch trees. Looking to your right you can see the
new
> > passenger depot. Looking to your left you can see a chunk of
quartz topped
> > granite on top of the hillside. It still has Mr. Barber's
blasting marks
> > in it. To the left of the granite you will see the stand of
trees we
> > planted when you and I were children to screen the pigsty from
the train
> > noise. Here behind a large rock with cobblestones is your
treasure. Leave
> > me a note to let me know that you found it as I will be away
traveling for
> > the next few months.
> >
> > Your loving cousin,
> > Jeffery O. Phelps
> >