The Old Oaken Bucket - REMOVED and RETIRED LbNA #11748 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | The Christmas Elves  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Oct 16, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | West Lafayette |
| County: | Tippecanoe |
| State: | Indiana |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | speedsquare |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jan 2, 2006 |
| Status: | FFFa |
| Last edited: | Mar 17, 2019 |
Removed and Retired 3/14/2019
Terrain: Varied
Distance: Approximately 5 miles round-trip
Indiana is home to two Big Ten Conference rivals: Purdue University in West Lafayette; and Indiana University in Bloomington. When these teams battle on the gridiron, more than a W is at stake. These competitors are fueled by the desire to reclaim or maintain possession of The Old Oaken Bucket.
Mossy and moldy, The Old Oaken Bucket was found on the Bruner farm in Southern Indiana. A link is added to its chain for each game: I for an Indiana win, P for a Purdue win, and I-P for a tie. The inaugural game in 1925 ended in a 0-0 tie, giving The Old Oaken Bucket’s chain its first I-P link.
After the game in Ross Ade Stadium, many fans walk west along Stadium Avenue to the intramural fields, where some enjoy a little post-game tailgating before heading home. Pickett Memorial Park is located at the end of Stadium Avenue and is home to several colorful sculptures. Climb the hill with the whirlygig for a view of the Purdue campus before hiking or biking to find The Old Oaken Bucket.
At the corner, follow the path north-northwest along the road. In the fall, enjoy the contrast of the bright white fence against the green and brown of the grass and tree trunks. For the truly motivated, a seasonal pit stop may be available on the other side of the fence.
While the trophy you seek is for football, you will see fields for two other athletic events before the path runs east, across the street from McCormick’s woods.
As the path turns north again, you will see an athletic field that is also a scientific research station. You’ve hiked or biked with fences on the right, fences on the left, and now fences on both sides restricting access to potential locations for letterboxes. When a gate appears, you’ll see that these tempting woods are not your destination as they’re in someone’s backyard. At long last, the fences end and unrestricted woods are in sight along with muskrat lodges.
Following the path into the woods, you’ll see several tempting trees. Standing alone, on the right, is a multi-trunked tree spotted with lichens. Do the trunks hide the Old Oaken Bucket? No, a social path could develop quickly and lots of curious onlookers could be watching from their windows.
Soon, the path will branch in several directions and bikers will have an opportunity to park their wheels. After studying the sign, select the trail at 70 degrees. As you approach, steer the middle course. Hike past the three-trunked tree. Do you see the W tree? Don’t be distracted if it has a broken fourth branch. You’ll know the W tree by the strangling vine that once looked like the eye of a giant’s needle or the O in On Wisconsin! The vine is less distinctive today since the O was broken at some point in the past. The Old Oaken Bucket rests in a stump at 170 degrees. This can be a popular place, so enjoy the loop while you wait for your opportunity to retrieve the trophy. When you’re finished, please return the box to its stump, cover it well with bark, and block it from escaping from the stump.
We are unable to maintain this letterbox, but would enjoy hearing about your visit and your stamp design. If the letterbox is damaged, please contact us to arrange for its return. If you are a local letterboxer willing to help care for this box, please contact us.
Terrain: Varied
Distance: Approximately 5 miles round-trip
Indiana is home to two Big Ten Conference rivals: Purdue University in West Lafayette; and Indiana University in Bloomington. When these teams battle on the gridiron, more than a W is at stake. These competitors are fueled by the desire to reclaim or maintain possession of The Old Oaken Bucket.
Mossy and moldy, The Old Oaken Bucket was found on the Bruner farm in Southern Indiana. A link is added to its chain for each game: I for an Indiana win, P for a Purdue win, and I-P for a tie. The inaugural game in 1925 ended in a 0-0 tie, giving The Old Oaken Bucket’s chain its first I-P link.
After the game in Ross Ade Stadium, many fans walk west along Stadium Avenue to the intramural fields, where some enjoy a little post-game tailgating before heading home. Pickett Memorial Park is located at the end of Stadium Avenue and is home to several colorful sculptures. Climb the hill with the whirlygig for a view of the Purdue campus before hiking or biking to find The Old Oaken Bucket.
At the corner, follow the path north-northwest along the road. In the fall, enjoy the contrast of the bright white fence against the green and brown of the grass and tree trunks. For the truly motivated, a seasonal pit stop may be available on the other side of the fence.
While the trophy you seek is for football, you will see fields for two other athletic events before the path runs east, across the street from McCormick’s woods.
As the path turns north again, you will see an athletic field that is also a scientific research station. You’ve hiked or biked with fences on the right, fences on the left, and now fences on both sides restricting access to potential locations for letterboxes. When a gate appears, you’ll see that these tempting woods are not your destination as they’re in someone’s backyard. At long last, the fences end and unrestricted woods are in sight along with muskrat lodges.
Following the path into the woods, you’ll see several tempting trees. Standing alone, on the right, is a multi-trunked tree spotted with lichens. Do the trunks hide the Old Oaken Bucket? No, a social path could develop quickly and lots of curious onlookers could be watching from their windows.
Soon, the path will branch in several directions and bikers will have an opportunity to park their wheels. After studying the sign, select the trail at 70 degrees. As you approach, steer the middle course. Hike past the three-trunked tree. Do you see the W tree? Don’t be distracted if it has a broken fourth branch. You’ll know the W tree by the strangling vine that once looked like the eye of a giant’s needle or the O in On Wisconsin! The vine is less distinctive today since the O was broken at some point in the past. The Old Oaken Bucket rests in a stump at 170 degrees. This can be a popular place, so enjoy the loop while you wait for your opportunity to retrieve the trophy. When you’re finished, please return the box to its stump, cover it well with bark, and block it from escaping from the stump.
We are unable to maintain this letterbox, but would enjoy hearing about your visit and your stamp design. If the letterbox is damaged, please contact us to arrange for its return. If you are a local letterboxer willing to help care for this box, please contact us.