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Laurel Signs LbNA #59940

Owner:wood thrush
Plant date:Oct 23, 2011
Location:
City:Laurel
County:Howard
State:Maryland
Boxes:4
Found by: CTEagleEye (4)
Last found:Jun 16, 2013
Status:FFFFOFF
Last edited:Oct 23, 2011
NOTE Clues updated on 12.15.13. Thanks to DC Stones.

This is part of a series of plants celebrating landmarks along historic U.S. Route 1 in Maryland. Because of the busy and sometimes dicey nature of Route 1, for box longevity I am planting them in parks relatively near each landmark, but including a component in the clue that requires the finder to actually visit the landmark itself.

About the signs
The Laurel section of Rt. 1 is home to a fine selection of vintage signs and buildings. Before proceeding to the boxing site, drive by each sign and take a few notes.

Arby's. Corner of Rt. 1 and 198 west. This is an original Arby's location, building and hat sign from the late 1960s. The building is one of the original "covered wagon" designs, and the sign was designed by the original signmakers, Peskin Sign Co. It's worth stopping inside for a jamocha shake just to view the inside ceiling and admire the old building. Make a note of two things: the street address of this Arby's location and how much you will be fined if you violate a handicapped parking space.

Giant Food. On Rt. 1 in the old Laurel Shopping Center, south of the intersection with Rt. 198 west. This is one of the few remaining original 1950s Giant Food signs in the area. I love how all the letters in the sign are uppercase except for the "n" in Giant. It towers over the shopping center parking lot, famous as the place where George Wallace was shot as he campaigned for president in 1972. Visit the sign in all its glory, and note the number on the lightpost closest to the sign.

Tastee Diner. In the median between north- and southbound Rt. 1, just below the intersection with Main St. Originally the Laurel Diner, the building opened in 1951 and is a rare example of a diner manufactured by Cormac. There are two original signs, one on Rt. 1 southbound and one on Rt. 1 northbound. The signs also used to have panels below the main part that said "air conditioned," "steak-chops," "cocktails," "patron parking" and "motel," as the diner catered to the racetrack crowd. These panels have been removed, and only the top part of the sign remains. On the southbound side, park in a space on Rt. 1 and look across the street at one of the few remaining "Little Tavern of Burgers" buildings in the area. It's now the "Laurel Tavern of Donuts." Note the street address number of this building.

Poist Gas Co. 360 Main St. Visit this sign location last; it's the closest to the boxing location. Poist Gas has been in the propane fuel and gas appliance business for a very long time, and their beautiful and historic sign reflects that. You'll want to take a look at it up close. Make a note of the year on the building façade, then drive to the Rt. 216 (7th St.) end of Main St. and make a right on 216 to go to the boxing location.

To the boxes
You want the park at the end of Superior Avenue in Laurel. Take 216 to the light at All Saints Road. If coming from Poist Gas in Laurel, make a left; if coming from I-95, make a right. From All Saints Road, turn right on Old Scaggsville Road, then take the next left onto Superior Avenue. Drive to the end and park in the lot next to the fenced-in basketball court.

Take the paved path at the right of the court into the woods. Walk until you see a tree with a small yellow reflective sign: "2-6-1" and an arrow pointing into the woods. Follow this orienteering trail, which variously is marked by small yellow reflectors, pink, orange and white trail ties, and fire tacks.

HEADS UP! You will need to scan the woods carefully for the subsequent orienteering markers, which are small and sometimes spaced far apart. Sometimes only one type of marker-for example trail ties-will be present. Also note that on the return trip you will need to rely on the trail ties and landmarks you noticed on the way in, as the fire tacks and yellow reflectors were not placed on both sides of the trees. If you walk slowly and carefully, making notes regarding your surroundings, you will not get lost. Still, a cell phone would be a good companion. We do not recommend looking for these boxes if you are in a hurry, if it is late in the day, or if you have young children to care for who would distract you from paying attention to where the trail is.

Cross the small brackish stream and follow the markers. You will immediately see downed trees and cut-up logs, evidence of the derecho. After a short while you will come to a muddy area and a huge fallen double-trunk oak tree, with another "mini-me" version fallen just behind it. (These trees came down in an earlier wind event.) You will also see a distinctive tall broken tree whose innards fan out at the break. You may wonder where the trail goes from here. Walk past the root end of the fallen tree, look to your left, and follow the orienteering markers. You will pick up the trail again. Continue on.

Cross a small babbling brook at a place that seems good to you. From the two-in-one on the opposite side, consult your Arby's notes. Cross out the first number in the fine and walk the remaining ____ steps. Here is massive derecho damage. Two very large double-trunk trees (once quite beautiful elder statesmen when I originally planted this box) now sadly are demised on the ground. Now consult your Arby's street address notes. Cross out the first number again, and take a compass bearing of ____ degrees. You will be facing the root ends of both these trees. Arby's awaits 11 steps away at the remnants of a very old stump, directly to the left of the roots of the tree on the left. This is the original hiding place of the box—amazingly spared when the two trees fell.

Continue on the trail, uphill now, until you can see tree "3" ahead and a 10-foot snag to your right. The trail turns left here; continue on. Follow the various trail markers for a while until you come to tree "4" on your right. The walk to tree 4 might be a little longer than you were expecting. Standing even with this tree, consult your Tastee Diner/Little Tavern street address notes and take a compass bearing of that number ___ + 39 degrees. Walk 20 steps in this direction to a stump, then another eight steps at 218 degrees to what's left of a long-ago treefall. Tastee Diner is inside the trunk end.

Although the trail continues on, it soon becomes brushy and unpleasant. So turn around here and carefully go back the way you came. (Remember, some markers are only visible on the opposite sides of the trees.)

On your way back, look for a place where you see a young, closely spaced, very straight, triple-trunked beech tree on your left. Shortly thereafter you will pass an impression in the ground from a long ago treefall, which is next to a large dead standing tree covered in fungi. Consult your Giant Food notes. From this tree, take the lightpost number ___ - 9 steps ahead to a 12-foot snag. Next to the snag is the rest of the tree. Giant Food is on the ground under the cleft where the tree once turned double, under bark.

Now make your way all the way back out to the asphalt path. Take a right there and keep your eyes open for another yellow reflector pointing to "1." You know the drill! Follow the direction of the arrow until you can see the "1" tree. Follow the cut tree to its root end. Take out your Poist Gas notes and add together the digits in the year you found on the building. Take a compass bearing of this number ___ + 56 and walk to the double-trunked oak. Poist Gas Co. is around the left side at its base, under leaves and twigs.

We hope you've enjoyed seeing these historic Rt. 1 signs, and then finding their stamp images!