Jim the Wonder Dog LbNA #18306 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 17, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Marshall |
| County: | Saline |
| State: | Missouri |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | C2B2
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|---|---|
| Found by: | megbrad |
| Last found: | Jul 2, 2006 |
| Status: | FFFaaaa |
| Last edited: | Sep 17, 2005 |
Long before Animal Planet, before the 101 Dalmatians and even Lassie, there was Jim the Wonder Dog.
And what a pooch.
Marshall is a quiet farming town in west central Missouri. While it has produced its share of solid citizens over the years, its best-known resident was a black and white Llwellyn Setter given to Marshall resident Sam VanArsdale in 1925 by a hunting buddy from Louisiana.
While Jim’s prowess as a quail dog was not unusual, he wowed the world with his other displays of canine intelligence. He would find parked cars when Sam read out a license number. He would pick people from a crowd by the color of their clothing or pick race winners.
His feats were legendary and are documented at several Web sites:
Jim's home page
Roadside America
Rural Missouri's look at Jim
A Rock in My Shoe
Read the stories, but plan a trip to the best monument to Jim the Wonder Dog -- the memorial park that bears his name just off the town square in Marshall. And it is there you will find the Jim the Wonder Dog Letterbox.
Marshall can be reached by taking Interstate 70, which bisects Missouri. From Kansas City, drive 70 miles east to U.S. 65. From St. Louis, drive 172 miles west to U.S. 65. Turn north on U.S. 65 and drive 12 miles to Marshall. Follow the signs to downtown, where you will find a classic courthouse square. Jim the Wonder Dog Memorial Park is on Lafayette, just off the square.
Unless you want to stop for a snack first at the combination ice crèam parlor and auto towing business across the street, walk into the garden and admire the handsome bronze statue of Jim. Stop for a moment and locate the security camera that keeps an electronic eye on visitors. You should mark it well so your letterboxing adventure is uninterrupted. Remember, the name of the town is Marshall. . .
Beneath your feet are hundreds of bricks inscribed with the names of park benefactors and endorsers of Jim’s exploits. Throughout the gardern plaques that tell Jim’s story.
It’s a good tale, well worth reading. Read it carefully, looking for details of negotiations to send Jim to Hollywood and why you never saw the dog in the movies. When you read that, look to the right for a small path leading to a wrought iron gate.
Turn to the wall, reach through the gate and lift the gray brick from the small cairn. Exchange stamps without bringing attention to yourself and carefully return the box.
And then go back in the park and ponder Jim’s story.
It’s a howler.
* * *
Poor Jim -- he was abducted in 2006 by uncaring muggles. Here's a peek at the one that got away:
The original Jim the Wonder Dog box
But not to worry -- a new stamp is back in a much sneakier spot -- but here's a peak at what they got away with.
On that small path mentioned above is a stone bench. Sit and take a 300-degree bearing from the northeast corner of the seat. The Wonder of Jim Wonders is 23 paces (46 steps) on that bearing.
But, darn, that wrought iron gate is in the way! You'll just have to navigate around it and recalculate your paces. If your math is right, you will have gone the hole way. Reach left for your prize.
The box has already disappeared once, so don't be an accessory to another dognapping. Watch for suspicious (in the active voice) locals as you approach the prize. And very carefully rehide it so no little tale wags "fetch me" to the curious.
And what a pooch.
Marshall is a quiet farming town in west central Missouri. While it has produced its share of solid citizens over the years, its best-known resident was a black and white Llwellyn Setter given to Marshall resident Sam VanArsdale in 1925 by a hunting buddy from Louisiana.
While Jim’s prowess as a quail dog was not unusual, he wowed the world with his other displays of canine intelligence. He would find parked cars when Sam read out a license number. He would pick people from a crowd by the color of their clothing or pick race winners.
His feats were legendary and are documented at several Web sites:
Jim's home page
Roadside America
Rural Missouri's look at Jim
A Rock in My Shoe
Read the stories, but plan a trip to the best monument to Jim the Wonder Dog -- the memorial park that bears his name just off the town square in Marshall. And it is there you will find the Jim the Wonder Dog Letterbox.
Marshall can be reached by taking Interstate 70, which bisects Missouri. From Kansas City, drive 70 miles east to U.S. 65. From St. Louis, drive 172 miles west to U.S. 65. Turn north on U.S. 65 and drive 12 miles to Marshall. Follow the signs to downtown, where you will find a classic courthouse square. Jim the Wonder Dog Memorial Park is on Lafayette, just off the square.
Unless you want to stop for a snack first at the combination ice crèam parlor and auto towing business across the street, walk into the garden and admire the handsome bronze statue of Jim. Stop for a moment and locate the security camera that keeps an electronic eye on visitors. You should mark it well so your letterboxing adventure is uninterrupted. Remember, the name of the town is Marshall. . .
Beneath your feet are hundreds of bricks inscribed with the names of park benefactors and endorsers of Jim’s exploits. Throughout the gardern plaques that tell Jim’s story.
It’s a good tale, well worth reading. Read it carefully, looking for details of negotiations to send Jim to Hollywood and why you never saw the dog in the movies. When you read that, look to the right for a small path leading to a wrought iron gate.
Turn to the wall, reach through the gate and lift the gray brick from the small cairn. Exchange stamps without bringing attention to yourself and carefully return the box.
And then go back in the park and ponder Jim’s story.
It’s a howler.
* * *
Poor Jim -- he was abducted in 2006 by uncaring muggles. Here's a peek at the one that got away:
The original Jim the Wonder Dog box
But not to worry -- a new stamp is back in a much sneakier spot -- but here's a peak at what they got away with.
On that small path mentioned above is a stone bench. Sit and take a 300-degree bearing from the northeast corner of the seat. The Wonder of Jim Wonders is 23 paces (46 steps) on that bearing.
But, darn, that wrought iron gate is in the way! You'll just have to navigate around it and recalculate your paces. If your math is right, you will have gone the hole way. Reach left for your prize.
The box has already disappeared once, so don't be an accessory to another dognapping. Watch for suspicious (in the active voice) locals as you approach the prize. And very carefully rehide it so no little tale wags "fetch me" to the curious.