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Cabin in Wildflower Woods LbNA #15978 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 19, 2005
Location:
City:Rome City
County:Noble
State:Indiana
Boxes:1
Planted by:Tiptoe & Tonto
Found by: Maude
Last found:Aug 19, 2009
Status:FFFFFFFFFam
Last edited:Mar 31, 2016
*** As of 3/30/2016 THIS BOX IS MISSING
"CABIN IN WILDFLOWER WOODS" LETTERBOX
**Box is in order with slightly new clues as of 5/21/09

"It's possible that the Fairy Queen may have set the Princess spinning silk for the caterpillars to weave their little houses with this winter; and if she has, she may have left a letter there to tell me. If there is one, put it in your pocket, hold it close every step of the way, and you?ll be safe coming home as you are going. But you mustn't let a soul see it; you must slip it into my pocket when I?m not looking. If you let any one see, then the magic will be spoiled, and the Fairy won?t come again.
Excerpt from Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter - 1913

Gene Stratton Porter, one of Indiana's native daughters was a widely read author, naturalist, photographer and artist in the early part of the twentieth century. Her first novel, The Song of the Cardinal, was published in 1903. Before her untimely death in 1924, she wrote 13 novels, 10 books on nature study and 3 books of poetry. Eight of her novels were made into motion pictures.

Much of her work was done at Limberlost North, her two-story "Cabin In Wildflower Woods". The site is maintained as an Indiana Historic Site. There is a Visitor Center and guided cabin tours are available Tuesday through Sunday - check website for more information: www.genestratton-porter.com - Take in the whole site rather than just hunting the letterbox!
There are 123 acres of woods, fields and gardens to hike. A hidden jewel in the Hoosier State!

Clues:

Take State Rd. 9 south of Rome City and look for signs south of the Sylvan Lake Dam for Limberlost Road (900N) or the ?Gene Stratton-Porter Historic Site? green sign. You will turn left on this road if coming from Rome City. You will zig and zag past a regal red barn on your way to the "Gene tratton-Porter Historic Site." At the entrance you will be spied by two owls as you pass through the entry. Make your way down the lane and park in the south visitor parking lot by the picnic pavilion. Bug spray is advised!


Starting at the pavilion take the path making sure you don't swim or bring in your pets. Walk a short distance through the woods looking for the second path on the right to Gene's final resting place. Look for the largest tree (Gene?s favorite tree) with Psalm 104:24 placed upon it. At that point, take a compass reading of 20 degrees that shows the path to take to the memory orchard.

Soon you will see a wysteria covered tunnel in the center of the formal gardens - duck your head and watch your step as you travel through! Take time to enjoy the gardens before passing the drinking fountain that leads to the back of the cabin.

Circle to your right after the fountain around to the front of the cabin - pretty impressive! Take time to peer out at Sylvan Lake too! When you finish at the waters edge continue around the cabin and up the hill passing the large Indiana State tree on your right. Head toward the Garden Shed and see if the resident cat is tending to his chores!

When you come to the Garden Shed, head up the wide stone path to the large wooden Carriage House Visitor Center. (If they are open, and if you wish, you can look at Gene's memorabilia or purchase tickets to tour her cabin.)

After either touring or "memorabiliaing" continue to take the large gravel road in a SE direction past the old large beech tree on your right until you come to a path on the right that has an inscription mentioning a paw paw thicket. Take this path staying to the left that forms a circle, but about halfway, just past the second bench, take a narrow path on the left leading you to a road. Stop and look both ways before heading across and into the woods on the other side.

Take the path into the woods until you cross a hodge-podge bridge **(new clues from this point: bridge is in the process of being replaced..from the new bridge construction continue straight 120 steps to a large fallen tree on your left. From that point follow the fallen tree at 150 degrees to two large tall standing trees with a pair of smaller fallen trees between. Look at the center of those trees to find the letter the Fairy Queen has been keeping for you.

After you've re-hidden the letter (box) return to the bridge, but don't step there! Instead take the path to the right (south) counting 70 paces to a bench and picnic table. Once in the light turn to your left and follow the trail to the road and soon your carriage should be in plain sight!

The placer would enjoy hearing from you if you find the box!..or if it needs repair!