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Stonehouse Letterbox LbNA #12143 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 13, 2004
Location:
City:Charlotte
County:Mecklenburg
State:North Carolina
Boxes:1
Planted by:Abe, Gail and Roby
Found by: WalkinOrange
Last found:Apr 29, 2007
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFam
Last edited:Nov 13, 2004

- September 3, 2006 - The stamp has been removed from this box by person(s) unknown. Since there is a geocache VERY CLOSE by, suspicions are high. As soon as some of my more serious travelling is done, it will be replaced.
Get Smart - Max & 99 - Concord, NC ... normally on AQ

In 1745, John Selwyn was granted 100,000 acres of land in Mecklenburg County by King George II. Selwyn divided the land for sale and Robert Robinson purchased 212 acres in 1767 and along with his family become the first Europeans to live in the area. Around 1790, Robinson built a large 3-story stone house for his family on the land complete with two living rooms, each with its own fireplace plus it even had an attic. The Robinson spread included several other out buildings. Later, the house served as home to a wealthy cotton farmer, Matthew Wallace, who purchased it and the lands in 1830. The final residents were George Jordan and his family who lived there from 1871 until 1899.

Our grandson Roby helped us plant this one. The stamp is our guess of what Robert Robinson's FIRST house looked like as the stone house was being built. Allow an hour or two at a leisurely pace. While the trail is not difficult, it is not stroller or bike friendly. There are some up and down hills and one short stream rock hop crossing. But it is VERY kid friendly. Enjoy!

The entrance to Reedy Creek Park is in eastern Mecklenburg County on the South side of Rocky River Road just East of the junction of Rocky River Road and Grier Road.

Begin your hunt for the Stonehouse Letterbox by downloading information about Reedy Creek Park and downloading the map you will find at www.google.com with search words “ Reedy Creek Park Map “ WITHOUT THE QUOTES. The first one in the list worked for us.

Study the map and decide how you would like to go to visit the Robinson Stone house. There are several ways to get there. You may want to consider a stop at the Fisherperson Letterbox or any of the several other Letterboxes in the park.

When you arrive at the Stonehouse, take a minute to conjure up visions on how it might have looked when occupied and what activities might have been taking place in the front yard or the back yard. Enter the house and try to figure out where the various rooms might have been. Can you decide which is the front door and which is the back door?

If the Robinsons were there, they could tell you about the old Osage Orange tree that grew about 25 paces to the right of their front door. It is believed to be one of the oldest trees in Mecklenburg county. This huge tree is now resting on its side, probably tired after a long life. When it went over, its mighty root system lifted a large long rock to a vertical position where it eerily stands almost like a tombstone memorial to this mighty tree. If you look between that mighty rock and the immense tree trunk near the base, you will find the Stonehouse Letterbox.

After stamping in and making a note to report the condition of the box, carefully replace it and cover it with bark and leaves.

If you choose, you can continue on past the house to look for other remains of the property or you can proceed to the Nature Center. There you will find some interesting exhibits on local wildlife and knowledgeable people that may be able to answer some of your questions as well as restrooms.

Before you set out, please read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer