South Bend History/Mystery Tour LbNA #17575 (ARCHIVED)
Contact
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Armadillo Jo
  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 21, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | South Bend |
| County: | St. Joseph |
| State: | Indiana |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Found by: | Angel Winks |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Oct 21, 2010 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFaFa |
| Last edited: | Aug 21, 2005 |
The South Bend History/Mystery Tour is a 5 box odyssey through the South Bend metropolitan area, showcasing some of the city's great history and fabulous parks. This series also features mystery clues, meaning that they are not step by step clues and require some sleuting prior to embarking.
Four of the boxes are located within the city limits. One is located in Western St. Joseph County.
A word about urban letterboxing: Several of these boxes are in locations that are perfectly safe during daylight hours, but can become dangerous after dark. Please be aware of your surroundings and take a buddy with you. All boxes are less than a .5 mile hike, two require mild hill climbing. Please lock all car doors!!! It is advised that you don't wear your Sunday best to go looking for these boxes, as at one of the locations, you may get rather dirty (like any REAL letterboxer would wear good clothes, but you never know!)
The clues are numbered in no particular order, however....all six boxes can be found in a loop if you plot out their locations prior.
All logs are fairly small. Feel free to stamp only the identifying portions of your sig stamps.
Box #1: Leep Frog
07/01/06: CONFIRMED MISSING BY PLACER. I'm not sure if i'm going to replace it yet.
South Bend has numerous parks along the beautiful St. Joseph River. This box is at one of them. You can't ice skate here, but you can feed the ducks if you'd like. You can also visit the cabin of the first European to permanently settle in St. Joseph County.
Clues: Walk past Cheeseburgers towards the tip of the island to a large double sycamore facing the Michigan Street Bridge. From the sycamore, 85 degrees to multitrunked tree. In the crux, partially buried and under bark.
Box #2: Studebaker
10/7/06: Alive and Well
Henry and Clement Studebaker began their journey into automobile history by opening a blacksmith shop at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson Streets in 1852. Due to growing success, the Studebaker Brother's Manufacturing Company was founded in 1868. The company began to manufacture wagons and was the leading producer of wagons during the western migration. In the early 1900s, the brothers Studebaker began to experiment with building automobiles. In 1926, Studebaker purchased 850 acres from area farmers. They created a state of the art proving ground, the first of its kind in the United States and became a leader in the automobile industry creating classics such as the Avanti, the Silver Hawk, and the Starlight Coupe. At the proving ground, 8,000 pine trees were planted in a 1/2 mile long area by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. The living sign was planted as a salute to the growing aviation industry and is the largest living sign in the world. As the 1950s came to an end, the manufacturing of Studebakers in South Bend was edging near its end. The company stopped production in 1963, leaving a blight on the southwest side of South Bend. Today, revitalization is reconstructing the old Studebaker Corridor...but the memories remain.
Clues:
At the proving grounds, park in front of the A and walk 5 paces from the "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign to a path through the A to the picnic tables. From the tables, exit the A to the right and cross the clearing to the B. Upon entering B, look to the right for the hiding place.
Box #3: Domers
10/7/06 Alive and well
*sigh*
Football season is bearing down upon me and making it even harder to say anything nice about Notre Dame, being a Boilermaker through and through. However, since I have carved a truly lovely stamp (one even nicer than my Purdue stamp), I'll just have to suck it up.
The University of Notre Dame was founded in late November 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin. The land had been purchased by Rev. Stephen Badin, the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States, and left in trust to the Bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, for anyone who would found a school on the site. Father Sorin and his companion Brothers of St. Joseph called the fledgling school L'Universite de Notre Dame du Lac. The University was officially chartered by special act of the legislature of the State of Indiana on January 15, 1844.
Known for it's "Golden Dome" atop the main building, and for it's famed football tradition, the University of Notre Dame is the most well known Catholic university in the United States. The campus is rich with tradition, from the "Touchdown Jesus" mosaic on Hesburgh Library, to the stunning architechture of the Basilica. It is truly a beautiful campus.
Clues:
***FINALLY***
The easiest way to get on campus is to say you're going to the Basilica. Go there if you'd like to park, and even visit the grotto near the intersection of St. Mary's Road and Holy Cross Drive. From that intersection, head *roughly* northeast on Holy Cross Drive towards the triple stack. You can either walk on the road or on the gravel path along the lake. Either will do. You'll pass a small dam that ducks usually hang out on on your left. Right in front of the triple stack, you'll see a low brick building between the gravel path and the road. Fallen stag on western side. Look in the end pointing towards the Golden Dome.
NOTE: This campus is VERY busy when school is in session. PLEASE USE THE UTMOST DISCRETION!!!!! If you can't get on campus, park at the bookstore, get a campus map, and find the easiest way to get to the Basilica. You can start the clues from there.
Box #4: East Race
Box is missing and will not be replaced.
Box #5: Council Oak
10/7/06 Box reported missing once. Unconfirmed by placer.
The history of the City of South Bend begins in 1679 when Robert Rene Cavalier Sieur de La Salle landed on the banks of the St. Joseph River. In 1681, he returned and held a council with Native American leaders under a large oak tree. This tree became known as the "Council Oak" and beneath it the foundations for the Miami Treaties were laid. Nearly 150 years passed before a trading post was founded by Alexis Coquillard not far from the site of La Salle's landing, thus beginning the settlement that eventually became South Bend. The Council Oak remained at the site for many years and eventually a cemetery grew up around it. Recently, the Council Oak kicked the bucket, but the gigantic stump remains along with a historical marker.
Clue: Right side of the stump, under a knot. Make sure the box is supported and doesn't slide down into the abyss.
Box #6: Death By Chocolate
South Bend Chocolate Company
3300 W. Sample Street
South Bend, IN
To Whom It May Concern,
On the evening of July 14, 2005, Olive Walkerfield visited your factory in order to partake of some free samples that I believe you offer during your "factory tour". From the information that I have received, she ingested a significant quantity of Chocolate Rum Balls. After eating several of your Rum Balls, Mrs. Walkerfield became intoxicated and stumbled approximately one-two miles southeast of your factory. She was found deceased in a forest within the city of South Bend. Her estate requests that your company investigate the contents of the Chocolate Rum Balls, as the rum contained within might perhaps be poisonous.
Respectfully,
Gertrude Ewing, P.I.
Ms. Gertrude Ewing, P.I.
1500 S. Morris Street
South Bend, IN
Dear Mrs. Ewing,
I am sorry to hear about the recent death of Mrs. Olive Walkerfield. We at the South Bend Chocolate Company are indeed familiar with Mrs. Walkerfield, as she was a regular participant in our factory tour. Perhaps you were not aware, but Mrs. Walkerfield has a long history of eccentric behavior. It is my understanding that she was sighted at Village Bottle Shop approximately 10 minutes before arrival at your factory. Per our witness, Mrs. Walkerfield purchased and ingested a large quantity of Village Rum. She was then seen trailing off towards your factory repeating the following words: Spicebush, Three, Fork, Over The Bridges, Tenth Gravel Step, Stag. While we are sorry to hear about the loss of Mrs. Walkerfield, we are not prepared to accept responsibility for her sudden death.
Regards,
Douglas Kemble
South Bend Chocolate Company
As with all letterboxes, please be aware of muggles and replace all bark!!! Good luck!
Four of the boxes are located within the city limits. One is located in Western St. Joseph County.
A word about urban letterboxing: Several of these boxes are in locations that are perfectly safe during daylight hours, but can become dangerous after dark. Please be aware of your surroundings and take a buddy with you. All boxes are less than a .5 mile hike, two require mild hill climbing. Please lock all car doors!!! It is advised that you don't wear your Sunday best to go looking for these boxes, as at one of the locations, you may get rather dirty (like any REAL letterboxer would wear good clothes, but you never know!)
The clues are numbered in no particular order, however....all six boxes can be found in a loop if you plot out their locations prior.
All logs are fairly small. Feel free to stamp only the identifying portions of your sig stamps.
Box #1: Leep Frog
07/01/06: CONFIRMED MISSING BY PLACER. I'm not sure if i'm going to replace it yet.
South Bend has numerous parks along the beautiful St. Joseph River. This box is at one of them. You can't ice skate here, but you can feed the ducks if you'd like. You can also visit the cabin of the first European to permanently settle in St. Joseph County.
Clues: Walk past Cheeseburgers towards the tip of the island to a large double sycamore facing the Michigan Street Bridge. From the sycamore, 85 degrees to multitrunked tree. In the crux, partially buried and under bark.
Box #2: Studebaker
10/7/06: Alive and Well
Henry and Clement Studebaker began their journey into automobile history by opening a blacksmith shop at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson Streets in 1852. Due to growing success, the Studebaker Brother's Manufacturing Company was founded in 1868. The company began to manufacture wagons and was the leading producer of wagons during the western migration. In the early 1900s, the brothers Studebaker began to experiment with building automobiles. In 1926, Studebaker purchased 850 acres from area farmers. They created a state of the art proving ground, the first of its kind in the United States and became a leader in the automobile industry creating classics such as the Avanti, the Silver Hawk, and the Starlight Coupe. At the proving ground, 8,000 pine trees were planted in a 1/2 mile long area by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. The living sign was planted as a salute to the growing aviation industry and is the largest living sign in the world. As the 1950s came to an end, the manufacturing of Studebakers in South Bend was edging near its end. The company stopped production in 1963, leaving a blight on the southwest side of South Bend. Today, revitalization is reconstructing the old Studebaker Corridor...but the memories remain.
Clues:
At the proving grounds, park in front of the A and walk 5 paces from the "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign to a path through the A to the picnic tables. From the tables, exit the A to the right and cross the clearing to the B. Upon entering B, look to the right for the hiding place.
Box #3: Domers
10/7/06 Alive and well
*sigh*
Football season is bearing down upon me and making it even harder to say anything nice about Notre Dame, being a Boilermaker through and through. However, since I have carved a truly lovely stamp (one even nicer than my Purdue stamp), I'll just have to suck it up.
The University of Notre Dame was founded in late November 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin. The land had been purchased by Rev. Stephen Badin, the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States, and left in trust to the Bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, for anyone who would found a school on the site. Father Sorin and his companion Brothers of St. Joseph called the fledgling school L'Universite de Notre Dame du Lac. The University was officially chartered by special act of the legislature of the State of Indiana on January 15, 1844.
Known for it's "Golden Dome" atop the main building, and for it's famed football tradition, the University of Notre Dame is the most well known Catholic university in the United States. The campus is rich with tradition, from the "Touchdown Jesus" mosaic on Hesburgh Library, to the stunning architechture of the Basilica. It is truly a beautiful campus.
Clues:
***FINALLY***
The easiest way to get on campus is to say you're going to the Basilica. Go there if you'd like to park, and even visit the grotto near the intersection of St. Mary's Road and Holy Cross Drive. From that intersection, head *roughly* northeast on Holy Cross Drive towards the triple stack. You can either walk on the road or on the gravel path along the lake. Either will do. You'll pass a small dam that ducks usually hang out on on your left. Right in front of the triple stack, you'll see a low brick building between the gravel path and the road. Fallen stag on western side. Look in the end pointing towards the Golden Dome.
NOTE: This campus is VERY busy when school is in session. PLEASE USE THE UTMOST DISCRETION!!!!! If you can't get on campus, park at the bookstore, get a campus map, and find the easiest way to get to the Basilica. You can start the clues from there.
Box #4: East Race
Box is missing and will not be replaced.
Box #5: Council Oak
10/7/06 Box reported missing once. Unconfirmed by placer.
The history of the City of South Bend begins in 1679 when Robert Rene Cavalier Sieur de La Salle landed on the banks of the St. Joseph River. In 1681, he returned and held a council with Native American leaders under a large oak tree. This tree became known as the "Council Oak" and beneath it the foundations for the Miami Treaties were laid. Nearly 150 years passed before a trading post was founded by Alexis Coquillard not far from the site of La Salle's landing, thus beginning the settlement that eventually became South Bend. The Council Oak remained at the site for many years and eventually a cemetery grew up around it. Recently, the Council Oak kicked the bucket, but the gigantic stump remains along with a historical marker.
Clue: Right side of the stump, under a knot. Make sure the box is supported and doesn't slide down into the abyss.
Box #6: Death By Chocolate
South Bend Chocolate Company
3300 W. Sample Street
South Bend, IN
To Whom It May Concern,
On the evening of July 14, 2005, Olive Walkerfield visited your factory in order to partake of some free samples that I believe you offer during your "factory tour". From the information that I have received, she ingested a significant quantity of Chocolate Rum Balls. After eating several of your Rum Balls, Mrs. Walkerfield became intoxicated and stumbled approximately one-two miles southeast of your factory. She was found deceased in a forest within the city of South Bend. Her estate requests that your company investigate the contents of the Chocolate Rum Balls, as the rum contained within might perhaps be poisonous.
Respectfully,
Gertrude Ewing, P.I.
Ms. Gertrude Ewing, P.I.
1500 S. Morris Street
South Bend, IN
Dear Mrs. Ewing,
I am sorry to hear about the recent death of Mrs. Olive Walkerfield. We at the South Bend Chocolate Company are indeed familiar with Mrs. Walkerfield, as she was a regular participant in our factory tour. Perhaps you were not aware, but Mrs. Walkerfield has a long history of eccentric behavior. It is my understanding that she was sighted at Village Bottle Shop approximately 10 minutes before arrival at your factory. Per our witness, Mrs. Walkerfield purchased and ingested a large quantity of Village Rum. She was then seen trailing off towards your factory repeating the following words: Spicebush, Three, Fork, Over The Bridges, Tenth Gravel Step, Stag. While we are sorry to hear about the loss of Mrs. Walkerfield, we are not prepared to accept responsibility for her sudden death.
Regards,
Douglas Kemble
South Bend Chocolate Company
As with all letterboxes, please be aware of muggles and replace all bark!!! Good luck!