SPROUL NOT SPROUT

Printer Version   Spy on this Cache

Hidden On: 22 Aug 2003
Waypoint (Landmark): N0087F
Open Cache:  Personal use only
Cache type:  Normal
Cache size:   Normal

Difficulty:  (easy)
Terrain:  (easy)

Misc:

Comments:

The NGS would send crews with lights to triangulate the stations position with two other hill tops. In Western and Central NY much of this work was done (monumented) in the 1930s

First Order Horizontal Triangulation Stations have names in addition to an identity number (PID). If they were placed on private property the landowners name became the Station Name.
One of these stations that we recovered in 2001 stuck out in our mind as the Station name was changed in 1941 to correct an error.

Although the Station mark was replaced in 1964 both RM1 & RM2 are the original marks monumented in 1939 and if you look close you can see where the name was changed from SPROUT to SPROUL.
Here are the comments from the NGS data sheet that a kind surveyor added in 1941 when he righted the wrong done to the landowner:

“THERE IS A STATE FOREST FIRE OBSERVATION TOWER NEAR THE STATION MARK.
THE STATION IS LOCATED ON PROPERTY OWNED FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS BY THE SPROUL FAMILY AND THE STATION NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SPROUL BY REQUEST.”

The Forest Fire Observation Tower Remains, you can even climb it if you would like. RM1 with the T changed to an L can be found at:

N42 23.237 W077 00.165

Same with RM2 at:

N42 23.229 W077 00.150

Take a close look to see how things were made right.
The cache is located near the Fire Tower and NGS marks.

There is a very interesting non-traditional farm that is open to the public located nearby at: N42 23.104 W077 01.718

Although you may not agree with their politics you have to give them credit for their fine efforts, consider a visit to the Farm Sanctuary.

Thought we logged this one here when we found it! Walked in the from the gate with a lot of snow on the road. Enjoyed climbing the fire tower. Took nothing, left nothing.

I (Mark) grew up in the Fingers Lakes and never knew about this place. The best part was going up in the look out tower! We found the cache with no problems. We took the light up hand and left a Clear Globe. Thanks for a cache in a great area.
Team Ferret
Mark & Terre

2nd of 3 Finds Today 9 Sep 03, Found at 4:20 PM
Did this one as my 300th cache in honor of the hider Rocky, the guy that got me into this hobby. Another nice cache in a very fascinating place. No trouble finding it with the good coordinates provided. Signed log, TN/LN. Then went to find the reference marks and climb the tower and enjoyed the fantastic view. Found both the Reference Marks with the corrected spelling. Also found the Station Mark that was replaced in 1964 as SPROUL 2. This time they got the spelling right the 1st time. Rocky only mentioned the Reference Marks but the Station Mark, PID NB1908, is at N 42 23.230 W 77 0.161, which is about 7 paces NNW of the NW corner leg of the fire tower and flush with the ground in contrast to the Reference Marks which stick up a few inches. Interestingly when standing on the Station Mark my GPS was off by only one digit. It read 42 23.231 instead of 42 23.230, that’s 6 feet, and had an elevation of 2099 feet instead of 2096 feet which is the bench marks actual elevation. But then again I was holding it 3 feet above it???? Make sure you climb the tower for the view. It’s more than worth it. By the way the tower is 65 feet high but you can only get to the last stair landing which is at 57 feet.
Thanks again Rocky for another fun cache and introducing me to the hobby.
Harv & Donna (without Donna)(I WILL BRING HER HERE) Dansville, NY