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Stepping Out at Deering Estates Again LbNA #57640

Owner:Southpaw/Jynx
Plant date:Apr 29, 2011
Location: Martha Deering Estates
City:Millbury
County:Worcester
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:4
Found by: roscoe45 (3)
Last found:Mar 28, 2020
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Oct 21, 2015
Martha Deering Estate is located on Riverlin Street in Millbury, between the Transfer station and Brigham Hill Road. A mansion with servants’ quarters once occupied the 182 acre estate but the mansion burned to the ground and the outbuildings have long since fallen down. A brick chimney, rock foundations, and stone walls are all that remain of the estate. The area is now owned by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

HUNTING IS PERMITTED ON THIS PROPERTY. Hunting is allowed here all year long Monday through Saturday. This particular piece of property is a popular hunting area however, most of the hunting occurs during deer season (October through December). Check the Mass wildlife Homepage or bring an orange vest if you are unsure or uncomfortable.

Deering Estates is also the location of Nightmare Before Christmas: The Mayor and Sally. If you want to get those boxes at the same time I suggest following these directions first. They’ll tell you where to continue on for the Nightmare before Christmas Series.
Thanks to jleecod from www.letterboxing.org for letting me adopt this series. The original clues can be found on letterboxing.org under “Stepping out at Deering Estates”. For those who looked for the original series:
Box #1: Duck is the original stamp but has moved slightly due to over growth.
Box #2: Horse is the original stamp but has moved locations slightly to prevent damage to a stone wall.
Box #3: Human is the original box 4. It’s a new carving and has moved drastically due to disappearance.
Box #4: Frog is the original box 3. This box has the original stamp and has moved due to overgrowth

After parking your car and walk through the metal gate and follow the trail. You will go up a few inclines and past a couple of wetlands. Soon you will see a large grassy path leading off to your right, ignore it and continue straight! Shortly on your right you will see a large down tree leaning on an upright nearly barkless snag right next to the trail. On the back side of this snag, under some large pieces of bark you may be able to hear some quiet quacking. Rehide well and be mindful of passersby.
Continue on the way you were heading. At the fork go left, and then almost immediately take another left onto a smaller pine needle covered trail. Follow this trail passing a fire ring on your right (remember this fire ring for later. Notice those rock walls on both sides of the trail? Continue down the trail with walls on both sides, note a large 20ft gap in the wall on the right, but keep walking. When you reach the end of the rock wall on the right (you should also be able to see the end of the wall on the left) stop and turn around. Walk about 4 steps back the way you came see that tree on between you and the rock wall on your left? I think I hear the clip-clop of hooves between that tree and the base of the stone wall. No need to move any stones just sticks. Stamp in and rehide well.
Remember that fire ring you passed a few minutes ago? Walk back to that ring and notice a small path leading through the stone wall to your left. Follow this small winding trail through to more stone walls (not counting the one right next to the fire ring). Soon after you pass through the second stone wall you will see the corner of another stone wall on your right. Just past the corner you’ll see the stone wall dip low. Walk through the stone wall at this dip and immediately turn left. Walk to the first live tree growing right next to the stone wall. Next to the base of this tree and the stone wall hidden by sticks is a very familiar creature. No need to move stones. Stamp in and rehide well.
Back on the trail continue on the way you were heading. You will come to yet another stone wall. Stop BEFORE you pass through it and look towards the corner of the wall on your left. Take about 7 steps (we’re shorties) towards the corner and look down and to your right a largish mossy rock. You may hear some croaking coming from behind some sticks under this rock. No need to move any stones. Stamp in and rehide well.
Back on the path continue the way you were through the stone wall. Immediately after the stone wall take a right at the fork. Follow the path through the field, notice the burned grass on both sides and be glad that fire department was able to control the blaze set by a careless party fire. You will come to another fork. Go left here and follow the trail until you get to a 4-way intersection. Now you have a choice. Go right and follow the trail back to your car (you can go left or right at the fork with the Rhododendrons they both go back to the same place). Or you can go left to find the Nightmare Before Christmas Series. Just follow the directions from where they talk about the path with stone walls on both sides. If you do decide to get this series as well, it will only add a total of 10 or 15 minutes (including stamping time) to your hike.
Happy hunting!!!