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Back in the Saddle Again - Gene Autry, the Singing LbNA #33227

Owner:Puddle-Splasher
Plant date:Jul 20, 2007
Location:
City:Tioga
County:Grayson
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: MoonRabbit2
Last found:Jun 2, 2014
Status:FFFFFF
Last edited:Jul 20, 2007
This box is hidden in Tioga, Texas, the birthplace of Orvon Gene Autry in 1907. Autry became known as the “Singing Cowboy”, and was a star of radio, TV and motion pictures. Always a patriot, he served with the Air Transport command during World War II. In response to his young fans, he created the Cowboy Code of ten rules including always tell the truth, help people in distress, and never go back on your word. Among his best known songs were, “Back in The Saddle Again”, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”, and his biggest hit ever, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. He was the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – one for each category. He retired from show business in 1964 after making almost a hundred films and recording over 600 records. He invested widely in real estate, radio and TV, and in 1961, he bought a baseball franchise called the California Angels (currently the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). He died in 1998 at the age of 91 at his home in Studio City. California. He is buried in Forest Lawn in Los Angeles. As a kid growing up in the 50’s, he was definitely one of my heroes.

Directions:
This box is buried in the Tioga Cemetery, in Tioga, Texas. Tioga is a very small town just north of Pilot Point on Hwy. 377 (the same 377 that goes through Ft. Worth and Denton). When you get into Tioga, you will pass a BBQ restaurant named Clarks Outpost, on your right. (If you have time to stop, this little restaurant has been written up in Gourmet Magazine, Texas Highways and Bon Appetite for having excellent barbeque.) From Clarks, continue one mile north on 377, until you come to FM922 heading west toward Valley View. Drive a short distance (perhaps a mile) until you see the McQuay Stables on your right. The main entrance to the cemetery is located just past the stables on your right. (There is a new section to your left, but that is not the correct area.) When you see the gate, turn in and drive up to the center where you will find a gazebo, a historical market and a flagpole.

Park and walk down the road going 240 degrees southwest past the gazebo until you get to the T. There will be a square of four cedar trees in front of you. Standing on the road in front of the first cedar on your left, look 215 degrees to Paul Canady’s “Barbeque Cooker”, twenty five steps away. Go investigate this most unusual monument to Paul who is “now cooking for the angels”. Facing the inscription on his monument, take a bearing of 135 degrees and approximately 34 steps away, you will find the Fenley’s bench under a cedar tree.

Look up into the tree at about eye level for the letterbox. Please note: these trees are trimmed and well maintained, so it is important to make sure to wedge the box firmly back into the tree out of sight so it will be well protected for the next finders to enjoy.

Other interesting facts about Tioga: Located right behind Clark’s Outpost on Gene Autry St. is the Gene Autry Festival Park with a little museum. Sam Rayburn, Mr. Speaker of the House, was baptized at the little Baptist Church in town. Tioga is an Indian word for “rushing waters” and the mineral springs found in the town used to be bottled at three large companies in town and sold for medicinal purposes.