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Middlesex Canal Two LbNA #18519 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 7, 2005
Location:
City:Billerica, North
County:Middlesex
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:Tiny Turtle
Found by: ghost
Last found:Sep 15, 2006
Status:FFOFF
Last edited:Oct 7, 2005
Middlesex Canal II

Morgun box, but not hard.
Note: This box has poison ivy in warm weather.

What you will need: Pen/pencil, Paper to write clues on, insect repellant, stamp pad & compass.

Directions: Mapquest 17 Balmoral Drive. ZIP 01862

Alternate Directions:
From the start of Middlesex Canal I Letterbox, (which is the N. Billerica Post Office, see LbNA) proceed East on Lowell St. (along the remains of the Canal). Take the first left, continue past the falls, park in the lot on the right, immediately after the falls. You are parked across the street from the Middlesex Canal Museum. The pond in front of you was the source of water for the Middlesex Canal. Observe the Falls and the stonework on either side of the falls. (There is both new and old stonework – identify the oldest stonework.) The old stonework is very similar to the old foundation you find doing the Middlesex Canal I letterbox. I believe this indicates that the old foundation was built around the same time the canal was. It may have been related to the canal. Therefore that “good looking” foundation is probably over 200 years old. The dam itself was built to provide water for the Middlesex Canal, and it is obviously in good condition. If the Canal Museum is open you can check it out.

Returning to your letterbox quest, continue in the direction you were going, and bear right at the fork, onto Rogers Street. About 3 houses down the left side of Rogers Street is a historical house (20-22 Rogers Street). Notice that it faces the Canal, not the street. When it was built the Canal was where the action was! The parking is poor here, but if you do park, there are views both directions up & down the Canal. Opposite the house is a Middlesex Canal sign noting that this was the location of Roger’s Bridge and Lincoln lock.

Continuing down Rogers Street, take the first left onto Victory Road, quickly bear right, at the fork, onto Balmoral Drive & park at the end of Balmoral Drive. The mini-park actually fronts on High Street, but the parking is bad there. Cut across the end of Balmoral Drive into the Canal area & turn right to walk (South) to High street, the signs & the marker. Check them all out.

Clues & Park Description

The mini-park, on High Street, features a monument to the Middlesex Canal, a path, and a dirt track, both leading North along the canal. The path is more scenic, and affords a better view of the Canal, but is much harder to follow than the dirt track.

1. Check out the monument (AKA the marker).
2. Follow the Middlesex Canal North (Note the grassy area that you cross)
3. Cross the railroad tracks
4. Step right and look behind the kissing stumps. Around 5/2006, the stumps were obscured by a shrub, discarded on top of them.

End of Directions

Notes:

1. Very short & easy (less than 10 minute walk, from Marker to Lb
2. At the letterbox, if you walk along the tracks, toward the canal, you get a good look up & down the canal from the tracks. This is one of the widest areas of the remaining canal (except for the crossing point in #5 below). From this viewpoint you can get an idea of what it looked like 200 years ago. The canal was active from 1793 to about 1853. In the 1700’s this Canal was dug by hand. It was one of our nation’s first great Canals. This is a good spot to reflect on the backbreaking labor it took to dig out this section of the Canal.
3. DO NOT wear a Walkman, earphones, etc. near railroad tracks.
4. These tracks are seldom used, but be careful, Read Waiver & Disclaimer. You are responsible for your safety. The two sets of tracks just East of you are heavily used, so please avoid them.
5. Some good birding here. For more good birding go back along the opposite side of the canal, on the trail/dirt track. When you are opposite the grassy area (Step 2 above), cross back over the canal and return the way you came in. If water prevents you from crossing the canal here you will need to go back around.
6. Avoid the poison ivy. It is pretty dry in the fall, which makes it almost harmless. Due to the ivy & the possibility of bug bites (use deet etc.), this letterbox will be removed during the winter/spring/summer periods.
7. Nearby Lbs: Octopus, 3 Bears & Middlesex Canal I