Keeper of the Flame - REPLACED! LbNA #8834 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 21, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ashland |
| County: | Middlesex |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Crazy Treehuggers  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Betsy @ The Summit |
| Last found: | Sep 3, 2013 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFaFFFFa |
| Last edited: | Jun 21, 2004 |
LAST FOUND/CHECKED: 10/10/08 - REPLACED with new logbook.
TERRAIN/LENGTH: Easy, 5 minutes excluding stamping. Please contact us with updates at songbird_eagleeye@yahoo.com--we'd love to hear from you!
NOTE: There have been some historical photos added as well as more park benches. This is a surprisingly peaceful spot on a busy road.
BACKGROUND: The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road-racing events. The First Boston Marathon After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize a marathon in the Boston area. Various routes were considered before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from the Irvington Oval in Boston to Metcalf's Mill in Ashland was eventually selected. On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first Boston Marathon in 2:55:10. In 1924 the starting line was moved from Ashland to Hopkinton. In 1927, the Boston Marathon course was lengthened to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to Olympic standards. The Marathon Distance The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend, in which the Greek foot-soldier Pheidippides was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with the news of the astounding victory over a superior Persian army. Exhausted as he approached the leaders of the City of Athens, he staggered and gasped, "Rejoice! We Conquer!" and then collapsed. The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen's royal box. Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.
DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 21A (West Main Street/Hopkinton) off 495. This road becomes 135E, which you'll follow all the way into Ashland (approximately 4-5 miles). Landmarks along the way: Cross Route LXXXV, pass a spot for growing things on the left, and a large religious building on the right. Once into Ashland, go through the T-Stop traffic light and pass a delicious spot for tasty treats. Take a left at the next light onto a street that names the "season of no school." Pass the Kidspot on the left and take a left at the next traffic light into Ashland Center. Cross the railroad tracks and yet another traffic light in front of the fire station. At the next light, take a left onto a happier street. After 0.6 miles, you'll finally reach your destination. CLUES: Parking is at the VFW Hall on the right or across the street at the Dream Station, unless you've walked over from the T-Stop Hitchhiker Hostel. This commemorative area is brand new and represents the location of the original start of the Boston Marathon--a nice little spot right off the roadway and overlooking a pond. Take a stroll to the left of the white posts on the brick walkway, to the end. Sit on one of the benches for a moment to enjoy the sound of the waterfall. Turn to the wooden walkway. What you seek is just beneath the boardwalk on the left, close to the 2nd white cement support (about 8 feet in). Go out via the boardwalk.
NOTE: It is a 5-10 minute walk to the T-Stop Hitchhiker Hostel, but you'll have to cross a busy street, then take the stairs to cross over the railroad tracks.
TERRAIN/LENGTH: Easy, 5 minutes excluding stamping. Please contact us with updates at songbird_eagleeye@yahoo.com--we'd love to hear from you!
NOTE: There have been some historical photos added as well as more park benches. This is a surprisingly peaceful spot on a busy road.
BACKGROUND: The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road-racing events. The First Boston Marathon After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize a marathon in the Boston area. Various routes were considered before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from the Irvington Oval in Boston to Metcalf's Mill in Ashland was eventually selected. On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first Boston Marathon in 2:55:10. In 1924 the starting line was moved from Ashland to Hopkinton. In 1927, the Boston Marathon course was lengthened to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to Olympic standards. The Marathon Distance The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend, in which the Greek foot-soldier Pheidippides was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with the news of the astounding victory over a superior Persian army. Exhausted as he approached the leaders of the City of Athens, he staggered and gasped, "Rejoice! We Conquer!" and then collapsed. The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen's royal box. Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.
DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 21A (West Main Street/Hopkinton) off 495. This road becomes 135E, which you'll follow all the way into Ashland (approximately 4-5 miles). Landmarks along the way: Cross Route LXXXV, pass a spot for growing things on the left, and a large religious building on the right. Once into Ashland, go through the T-Stop traffic light and pass a delicious spot for tasty treats. Take a left at the next light onto a street that names the "season of no school." Pass the Kidspot on the left and take a left at the next traffic light into Ashland Center. Cross the railroad tracks and yet another traffic light in front of the fire station. At the next light, take a left onto a happier street. After 0.6 miles, you'll finally reach your destination. CLUES: Parking is at the VFW Hall on the right or across the street at the Dream Station, unless you've walked over from the T-Stop Hitchhiker Hostel. This commemorative area is brand new and represents the location of the original start of the Boston Marathon--a nice little spot right off the roadway and overlooking a pond. Take a stroll to the left of the white posts on the brick walkway, to the end. Sit on one of the benches for a moment to enjoy the sound of the waterfall. Turn to the wooden walkway. What you seek is just beneath the boardwalk on the left, close to the 2nd white cement support (about 8 feet in). Go out via the boardwalk.
NOTE: It is a 5-10 minute walk to the T-Stop Hitchhiker Hostel, but you'll have to cross a busy street, then take the stairs to cross over the railroad tracks.