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Magnolia Crossroads LbNA #9717

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 31, 2004
Location:
City:Houston
County:Harris
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Planted by:Tall Texan
Found by: baileys bunch
Last found:Feb 3, 2007
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFa
Last edited:Jul 31, 2004


Reported missing 2/16/2009 - I will re-carve and replace the stamp, logbook and container within the next couple of weeks. Check back.

"Magnolia Crossroads" Houston, Texas - Harris County - Texas Gulf Coast Region located in Magnolia Cemetery @ the intersection of West Dallas and Montrose and bounded on the north by Allen Parkway.

Date of Placement: 7/31/04

Difficulty: Easy for some - moderate for others (will need compass) Total Distance to Letterbox: 75 yards (six direction changes on flat terrain)
The "Magnolia Crossroads" Letterbox is located in the historic and scenic Magnolia Cemetery on the border of the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. The cemetery is unique in the number of cultural traditions and economic realities represented within the modest confines of the site. One can see traditional Southern, German, and Mexican grave markers within the same graveyard. In addition, the surprising mix of materials used for the markers includes sea shells, marbles, ceramic tiles, concrete metal and more modern carved stone.

Directions: Located roughly 2 miles west of downtown on Buffalo Bayou. From I-10, take the Studemont exit and head south approximatey 1.4 miles. Studemont is renamed Montrose as it crosses the bayou so as you cross you will notice the change in the name. The wall of the cemetery rises up immediately along Montrose as you cross the bayou and Allen Parkway, so be on the look out. As you approach the next intersection, (W. Dallas @ Montrose) look for the entry gate on the right at the end of the wall. Turn right into the cemetery and take an immediate right turn upon entry. Travelling about .10 of a mile, take the first left and pull you car over in the shade of a giant willow next to a plain metal trash can. Park your car and get your compass.

To the letterbox: To the left of the tree and trash can is the Arbuckle family plot. Walk down the line of headstones until you find Clara C. Arbuckle. Using your compass, get a bearing of 274 degrees and follow this bearing for 50 paces until you find a prominent marker to a young man who was sadly drowned in 1896. Turn right and get a bearing of 29 degrees and follow it for 105 paces until you find a marker with a tree growing directly behind it. This marker should be for Sara Ruiz Almo. From here find a new bearing of 170 degrees and follow this for 41 paces. Take a second to read the marker then find a new bearing of 30 degrees and walk 51 paces to the similar concrete crosses. Facing the carving on the right concrete marker, look at the birth date. The date should read " ___ - 5 - 1942". Remember the number of the month of this birth date, for your will need it to solve the location of the letterbox. Turn around with your back to the cross and get a bearing of 85 degrees. Move 12 paces to the column in plain site. Counting the column in front of you, move to the north the number of columns that equals the month of the last grave marker you visited. When you get to the correct column, look down near the base. You will see a hole in the face of one of the blocks near the base. Gently lift the block out of place and set it on the ground. Inside you will find a microbox in the cavity behind the block you just removed. Stamp away. Please place the block back exactly as you found it as this is a great hiding place only if it dosen't draw attention. ( I was lucky enough to find this broken block even though there are several great places to hide boxes in these ancient trees.) Access tip: I have been here dozens of times to explore the markers, and have only seen a family visiting a gravesite once. Please be mindful of any family that is paying their respects by coming back later or just exploring the many interesting markers until they leave. The cemetery is large enough to be discrete if visitors are far enough away. The gate is automatic and will open at 9 am and close promptly at 6 pm, so don't get stuck. (To my knowledge it is against state law to be in a graveyard after dusk.)