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In the Shadow of the Tower LbNA #17838 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 3, 2005
Location:
City:Wellesley
County:Norfolk
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:Six Wizards
Found by: Solar System
Last found:Aug 2, 2008
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFa
Last edited:Sep 3, 2005

Directions to the Letterbox

Placed by: Six Wizards
Placement date: September 3, 2005
State: Massachusetts
County: Suffolk
Nearest City: Wellesley
Number of Boxes: 1

Clues

Terrain: lovely, moderately easy walk, but involves steps
Time: about 40 minutes round trip
Parking: The directions begin at the entrance to Wellesley College at the corner of Weston Road and Central Ave. (Route 135). There is meter parking on both Weston and Central, and a lot behind the Gap that gives 2 hours of free parking.

Wellesley College, one of the Seven Sisters Schools, was founded 1870, and has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Set on Lake Waban in Wellesley, the campus has its own arboretum, greenhouses, and astronomical observatory.

Start your quest by passing through the main gate, between the two guardian eagles. Count the lampposts you pass. Just past the 5th lamppost, walk off to the right onto a hidden wooded trail, beneath towering pine trees.

The trail slopes downward. Go left at the fork and take a moment to sit and relax on an old stone bench, the Maggie C. Ferguson bench. As you sit on the bench, a grassy sward lies directly before you, running like a carpet between tall trees and bushes. Follow this carpet until it ends at two twin oak trees.

Look to the right and you should see a sculpture, like a black spiraling cage. Walk toward this, but don’t get caught in it! Follow your political leanings instead, and turn left onto the paved path.

You’ll know you’re on the correct path when you pass under a large white oak that looks remarkably like the Whomping Willow at Hogwarts School for Witches and Wizards. Look over your left shoulder and you can just see the white domes of the Whitin Observatory. Only a short distance past the oak you will see Paramecium Pond off to your right across a meadow. Despite its name, this is an enchanting little pond, full of water lilies and bordered by birch trees. Walk along the water’s edge to the Dean Pam Daniels bench, which overlooks the pond. Here is another place to pause and enjoy the scenery.

When you are ready to continue, stand next to the two birch trees in front of the bench and look skyward. Do you see the spires of a tower? This Gothic edifice is the Galen L. Stone Tower, the architectural centerpiece of the campus (and the setting of many mysterious episodes in the college’s folkloric history!). It is 182 feet tall, with a working 32-bell carillon. Follow a straight line down from the tower to the ground and identify a lamppost. The lamppost is your next destination.

Standing at the lamppost facing toward the direction of the tower, follow the paved path to the right until you reach a flight of stairs. Ascend the stairs, cross the street and ascend a second set of stairs. You are now at the back of Pendleton Hall. If you went inside and walked through to the front, you would be in the main academic quad. But you don’t want to disturb the students!

Instead, head left on the access road. Just before the access road intersects another road, you will be able to see a mysterious egg shaped hole in a tree on your right---this is not your destination but you are getting close.

Turn right onto the road and follow it up an incline. At the top of the incline, take the path that leads through a set of gothic archways. You will find yourself in a beautiful, ancient-looking courtyard with an old beech tree at the center. This is Green Hall. Walk to the second path on your left, then look up! You are now directly beneath the tower that you spied from the pond.

This is the best part of your adventure. Follow the second path as it descends a dark, winding gothic stairway (beware nightmare creatures and skulking MIT boyfriends lurking in shadowy corners). At the bottom of the steps, follow the path straight ahead. Notice how the stonework of the Green Hall has many nooks and crannies, all laced over with creeping ivy vines. When you see a bike rack on your right you know you are close.
The treasure is in a stone slot, hidden behind a Christmas type plant (deck the halls and all). Look under the fieldstone covering the treasure but be discrete -- this area is well traveled when school is in session. Be sure to replace the stones carefully so that groundskeepers at the College don’t disturb the box.

After finding and returning the treasure, keep following the same path and you will see the Houghton Memorial Chapel on your left, and the Margaret Clapp Library on your right -- both lovely buildings. If you walk past the front of the Library, you can see a view of Lake Waban -- don’t miss the topiaries on the far shore!