Holland Sweet Holland LbNA #11177

??? - ???, Tompkins County, NY

DIRECTIONS: To figure out where this letterbox is hiding, name the
1969 Neil Diamond hit that starts, "Where it began, I can't begin to
knowin'". Find the road that is one less than an octogenarian would
be and drive to the site of the holy house that Garret built.

HISTORY: "Although the Netherlands only controlled the Hudson River
Valley from 1609 until 1664, in that short time, Dutch entrepreneurs
established New Netherland, a series of trading posts, towns, and forts
up and down the Hudson River that laid the groundwork for towns that
still exist today. Fort Orange, the northernmost of the Dutch outposts,
is known today as Albany; New York City's original name was New
Amsterdam, and the New Netherland's third major settlement, Wiltwyck,
is known today as Kingston.

In 1609, two years after English settlers established the colony of
Jamestown in Virginia, the Dutch East India Company hired English
sailor Henry Hudson to find a northeast passage to India. After
unsuccessfully searching for a route above Norway, Hudson turned his
ship west and sailed across the Atlantic. Hudson hoped to discover a
"northwest passage," that would allow a ship to cross the entirety of
the North American continent and gain access to the Pacific Ocean, and
from there, India. After arriving off the coast of Cape Cod, Hudson
eventually sailed into the mouth of a large river, today called the
Hudson River. Making his way as far as present-day Albany before the
river became too shallow for his ship to continue north, Hudson
returned to Europe and claimed the entire Hudson River Valley for his
Dutch employers.

After unsuccessful efforts at colonization, the Dutch Parliament
chartered the "West India Company," a national-joint stock company
that would organize and oversee all Dutch ventures in the Western
Hemisphere. Sponsored by the West India Company, 30 families arrived
in North America in 1624, establishing a settlement on present-day
Manhattan. Much like English colonists in Virginia, however, the Dutch
settlers did not take much of an interest in agriculture, and focused
on the more lucrative fur trade. In 1626, Director General Peter Minuit
arrived in Manhattan, charged by the West India Company with the task
of administering the struggling colony. Minuit "purchased" Manhattan
Island from Native American Indians for the now legendary price of 60
guilders, formally established New Amsterdam, and consolidated and
strengthened a fort located far up the Hudson River, named Fort Orange.
The colony grew slowly, as settlers, responding to generous land-grant
and trade policies, slowly spread north up the Hudson River." (Taken
from http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/kingston/colonization.htm)

The influence of Dutch colonists on the New York and New Jersey area
can still be seen today. Additionally, many notable Americans can
trace their roots back to Holland, including Humphrey Bogart, the
Wright brothers, the Fonda family, Virginia Apgar, Walter Percy
Chrysler, and at least 3 US Presidents. Visit these websites to learn
more:

http://www.godutch.com/inserts/Year-End02/articles/p09a01.asp
http://www.iloveny.com/travel_ideas/culture_dh_map.asp
http://www.nygbs.org/info/articles/dutchfamilies.html
http://www.sleepyhollowchamber.com/olddutch.html
http://www.wyckoffassociation.org/museum/index.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005615/data/english_text/famousdutch.html
http://www.euroamericans.net/dutch.htm

ESTIMATED HIKE TIME & DIFFICULTY: Approximately a 15 minute stroll.
This is pretty much a drive in, drive out box.

CLUES: After parking your car on the grassy road beside the fence,
walk through the fence opening and head straight up a slight hill.
Keep your eye out for a "hungry" man from Bristol, CT who left his
wife under a weeping willow. Once you've found them, head straight
down that row to visit with Garret. Facing the good Reverend, head
"QUICK"ly towards a large pine tree.

Behind the pine, you should find a Bulgarian seeker adored by many a
Hogwarts student. He'll point you in the direction of a real "gem".
Facing the gem, look ahead at about 345 degrees. A tree too large to
hug should be there, some twenty odd steps forward. Behind this tree
is the remains of a stump. Hidden within is what you seek. Make sure
to cover up the box well - there is plenty of tree debris around for
doing so. Before you leave take some time to enjoy some of the old
stones near Garret.