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A Park in Monroe County LbNA #12046

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 6, 2004
Location:
City:Rochester
County:Monroe
State:New York
Boxes:3
Planted by:Elba Onions
Found by: bfarowl
Last found:Sep 2, 2011
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Nov 6, 2004
A PARK IN MONROE COUNTY (# Letterboxes = 3)

There is a park located on Lakeshore Boulevard, between East and West Irondequoit (more broadly, between Charlotte and Seabreeze).

This land was owned by George Eastman, who used it to house his tree collection. There are some truly wonderful trees to be found here, along with beautiful lakes, wildlife, hiking trails, picnic pavilions, and a beach. Of course there’s a golf course, too, which makes for great cross-country skiing.

We used to ski there, and sled down the hills. We used to hike in the summer, too, but never at night. And never, ever when the moon is full. Only in the bright sunlight with people you trust and good hiking boots and a compass.

Someone went into the park alone once recently. We don’t know what happened to him; he hasn’t been able to speak a full, coherent sentence since. He keeps muttering “Wh wh wh wh white. Wh wh wh white.” Of course we know what he’s saying; we just don’t know exactly what she did to him.

Bu never mind all that, of course you just want to go find Letterboxes. So anyway, drive down Lakeshore, but don’t try to stop by her house. What’s that you ask? Who is “she”? Well, alright, I’ll tell you. But don’t be afraid to go find our Letterboxes.

It was a long time ago, past the Roaring 20s but before WWII. Depression-Era, which is fitting for a depressing story. She lived in the beautiful wood frame house with the stone foundation. Of course they destroyed her house after it all happened, but you can see the foundation if you know where to look, up the stairs across from the beach.

She had a daughter. Her only child. There was no husband that anyone remembered; just the lady and her daughter, along with a pair of wolfhounds they kept for protection. They lived quietly at the edge of the woods, seeming to enjoy their solitude. People generally left them alone.

One day the daughter was walking through the woods near Zoo Road. A young man from a neighboring road happened upon her. The two struck up a conversation. As he walked her home, he asked if they could meet again. Before the girl could reply, her mother spotted the pair. Shrieking, waving a broom, she screamed at the youth and told him that if he ever approached her daughter again she’d turn the hounds on him.

Surprised and embarrassed, the girl ran to her mother’s side, but not before she heard him say “Meet me at Pinetum B when the moon is full” as he turned and left.

“What did he say to you?” The lady questioned. She had overheard a bit of what the young man had said.

“Nothing! Nothing! Leave me alone!” The girl cried and fled to her room.

Later that night, the moon rose full and silver, great as the Lake. The girl knew that her mother’s threat to the boy was serious. She wanted to warn him, to keep him away from her house and her mother, and to leave her alone. She wanted nothing more than to stay at the house in the woods forever.

Not wanting to provoke her mother’s wrath but worried for the youth’s safety, the girl climbed out her window and slipped down the trail, under the light of the moon, to Pinetum B. As she approached the bench near the parking area, she saw him standing beneath a tree.

“You must go!” She said urgently. “I do not wish to see you again. Leave this place and never return.”

“Come with me!” He responded.

“No! Please, go and leave me alone.” She replied.

A horrible, ferocious barking sound burst out as the lady appeared at the northern edge of the woods with the hounds.

“Come on!” The young man grabbed the girl’s wrist and pulled her toward the southern woods.

“No! No!” The girl scratched and slapped at the man’s hand, but he would not let her go. He dragged her with such strength and force that the two soon disappeared into the woods.

The lady freed the hounds, sending them to attack the young man. They flew into the woods in pursuit. Minutes later the hounds returned, with no success. The lady followed the trail all through the woods but never found a trace of her daughter or the young man.

Night after night she set out with the hounds, retracing her steps, circling the park lakes, counting the trees and the deer and looking for any change, any hint, any clue to her daughter’s mysterious disappearance.

Her anger grew with each fruitless search. Soon she started searching parked cars and picnic pavilions. Any young man was a target for her wrath. Anyone who might have known something about her daughter became a target for her relentless questions, accusations, and punishments. Anyone in the park after dark is fair game.

Eventually she must have died. Everyone does sooner or later, right? Except she never really left. She just changed. She and the hounds -- they’re white now. Night after night, moon after moon, the White Lady searches the park for her daughter and the young man that abducted her.

But I’m sure you don’t really care about that. You just want to search for the boxes, not the daughter. And definitely not the White Lady! Just make sure you’re done before dark……please?

Now that you know where to start, stand at the bench with your compass. Take 48 Onion Steps at 200˚ to the Magnolia Acuminata. Stand next to the tiny pine under this tree and take a reading of 150˚. Twenty Onion Steps will bring you to a Parrotia Persica. Stand by the tin sign bearing this name. Take a reading of 240˚ and go 37 Onion Steps to another Parrotia Persica. Check the tin sign on this tree, just to make sure. Oops, you’re probably standing on something under the roots. I hope she’s not angry about it……

Once you’ve escaped her clutches, stand by her hiding spot and take a reading of 280˚. Count your steps. You’ll pass between two trees at 24 Onion Steps. Continuing on, you’ll encounter a Golden Norway Spruce at 56.

At the Spruce, you’ll see a White Birch at 300˚ and 24 Onion Steps. Go over to it and enjoy the view of the lake below.

Can you see the post? It's a control point for an orienteering course. It says “19E”. Go over to it. At 70˚ and 12 Onion Steps there’s an old fallen tree. Humans aren’t the only ones afraid of the White Lady! Go find out who’s hiding there.

Back to 19E. Go down the trail between the 2 lakes ‘til you’re on a narrow, mossy ridge. You’ll start descending; notice when you climb down two root steps. Look due left to the fallen tree at the base of the pine. If you have trouble locating this spot, go back to 19E and count 74 Onion Steps, but you’ll find the root steps without counting if they’re not snow-covered. You’ll find something tucked away that you’ll probably encounter in the flesh on your way home from here.

Stamp in and get out! What are you waiting for? The sun’s setting….I hear there’ll be a full moon tonight!