Wizard Clip Series LbNA #: 16766
CluesPlaced by The Professor from Hamburg and The White Orchid
On a rainy night in the early 1700s, a Stranger came to the door of farmer John Livingston (aka Livingstone) asking for shelter from a storm. The farmer graciously let the Stranger in, but within a few hours, the Stranger fell gravely ill and, near death, asked his host to send for a Catholic priest so he could receive Last Rites. Livingston, a Protestant, denied the request. At the stroke of midnight, the Stranger died and was buried in unconsecrated ground on Livingston’s farmland. Shortly thereafter, strange occurrences began happening at the Livingston home and throughout the village of nearby Middleway. Heavy rocks would fly up in the air and whirl around, cattle died, and strange demonic sounds could be heard. The most haunting thing that happened, however, was the sound of shears clipping all day and all night. Half-moon shapes began appearing everywhere – in clothing and bed linens, on house shutters, even on saddles and bridles. One night, Livingston dreamed that a man in flowing robes would help him get rid of the “Wizard Clip.” The man in the dream was a Catholic priest. Livingston quickly summoned a priest from a nearby town who performed an exorcism at the farmhouse and consecrated the land on which the Stranger had been curried. The wizard and his demon clippers disappeared. Livingston was so grateful that he converted to Catholicism and deeded nearly 40 acres of his farmland to the Catholic Church for the use of a priest.
Is it just a legend?? Many of the details of the story have been historically validated. The Catholic Church still owns a large section of land near Middleway, and a stranger’s grave can be found there . . .
A 1936 version of the story can be found at http://www.homepagez.com/maclizard/wizard.html
Letterbox 1: Priest Field
Location
The first letterbox is located at the Priest Field Pastoral Center near Middleway, WV, on Route 51 between Inwood and Charles Town. Heading south on Route 51, the somewhat hidden entrance to Priest Field is on the right immediately past the Opequon Creek bridge, which separates Berkeley and Jefferson counties; heading north, the entrance is on the left just before you cross the bridge. Priest Field is a religious education and retreat facility; the forest paths where the letterbox is hidden are open to the public; however, the center appreciates it if visitors go to the main office building (All Hallows Hall) to let staff know they are walking on the trails. Searchers should respect the site, entering only when it is clearly open and leaving quietly if a group is using the trail for retreat purposes.
The woodland paths are well-groomed and wind through a serene forest where the scents of mint and honeysuckle mingle with the sounds of wildlife, including deer. Benches are located along the trails for rest and meditation. Enjoy!
Clues
Go to the brick Livingston Memorial, downhill from the parking lot. To the left of the wood carving is a paved path that follows the Stations of the Cross. To the right of the memorial is a gravel path that leads into the forest; take this path. At the trailhead on the left is a wooden trail map -- you will be walking the yellow O'Reilly Trail, which is named after the priest who oversaw the development of the Priest Field Pastoral Center. Shortly after you begin walking, you will reach a fork; go straight. Another fork will shortly appear; follow the sign for the "Stranger's Grave," which will take you over a wooden foot bridge. Stay on the main path, and eventually you will come to the Grave of the Unknown Stranger. Pay your respects and continue on the O'Reilly Trail. The next fork is marked by two slender trees in the middle of the fork with trail signs on each side. Stay on the O'Reilly Trail, which turns right at the fork. After you pass the second bench (both benches are on your right), the path will turn left. When you pass the third bench (this one on the left), you should start hearing the faint clipping sound of shears at work. Continue walking and look for a tree with four trunks to the right of the path. The clipping sound should be getting louder. The Wizard must be near. From the tree, walk approximately 25 paces to the point where the path turns left at a 40-degree angle, but do not turn left to follow the path. Instead, look straight ahead and you will see a clear area in the woods with a low outcropping of rocks surrounded by a bed of pine needles. Walk behind the rocks; you should hear the clipping of the shears coming from the base of the rock. Hopefully, the rock won't suddenly whirl up into the air as a stone did in the Livingston farmhouse so many years ago . . .
Once you return the letterbox to its secret location, you may continue walking on the O'Reilly path, which circles back to the parking lot, or go back the way you came.
Letterbox 2: Middleway
Location
Exit Priest Field and continue south on Route 51. Turn right on Route 1 (Leetown Road) toward historic Middleway.
Clues
Walk the streets of the village of Clip
In which the invisible scissors snipped,
Zigzagging throughout the days and nights
After a stranger was refused Last Rites.
Rely on the numbers, but don’t be seen,
Discover your goal across from 19.
Come to the place where the dead abide,
Look for the Haysletts side-by-side.
In the crotch of an old maple tree
Pick up the rock and the box you will see!
Please bring your own ink pad. We look forward to hearing if you enjoyed the Legend of Wizard Clip. Please forward us your comments.
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Before you set out, please read the
waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.
Please be sure to reseal baggies and boxes carefully so that they stay dry
and rehide boxes in their original location, completely hidden from view. |
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