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The Old Homestead LbNA #3051 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Beaver People
Plant date:Apr 16, 2003
Location:
City:Hammondsport
County:Steuben
State:New York
Boxes:1
Found by: Waneta Wench
Last found:Aug 26, 2015
Status:FFFFFFFFFr
Last edited:Apr 16, 2003
The Old Homestead Letterbox (aka Trail Steward)
Steuben County
Hammondsport, NY
Placed April 16, 2003
Checked on and found alive and well May 3,2010
The hike to the letterbox is a little more than one mile one way.

The quest for the Old Homestead Letterbox begins at Birdseye Hollow Park located 3/10 mile north of the intersection of Steuben County Road 16 and Steuben County Road 96. Park in the parking area of the park. Walk across the picnic area and look for a blue blazed trail heading towards county road 96. This trail soon meets a white blazed trail as it turns left, running parallel to the road. Follow the white blazed trail through the woods, over a bridge, and out to Birdseye Hollow Road (county road 96). Cross the road, following these blazes. Hike uphill on Munson Road. The trail then turns left into the woods. Watch for signs of deer, turkey, and coyote on this state land. You will eventually turn right and go up a hill. Soon you come to an old logging road. Turn left here, following the white blazes. Still following white blazes, the trail follows this road a ways and then crosses a small stream. Soon you will come to a double white blaze on a tree that stands at the front left corner of the foundation of an old homestead. Just beyond the double blaze there is a sign telling about homesteading in this area and a resting bench dedicated to Mary Years. (Mary Years was our mother. She hiked the entire Finger Lakes Trail as well as the Appalachian Trail.) This is a lovely spot to sit a spell and reflect on the family that once lived here. The letterbox is hidden in the foundation of the homestead. Walk down the old cellar steps. Standing on the bottom step, look near your left shoulder. You will find a triangle shaped rock standing on end. The letterbox is behind this rock. Once you have made your mark and replaced your box, you can return the way you came, or continue following the white blazes until you once again reach Birdseye Hollow Road. Turn left on the road and walk back to the park for your car. This hike is approximately five miles round trip.
The white blazes you have followed are on the Finger Lakes Trail. This 560 mile trail goes across New York State from the Alleganys to the Catskills. Several people have hiked the whole trail end to end. We are two of those people. We now help maintain this piece of the trail. Please sign in at the trail register. It is located near the end of your hike just before you reach Birdseye Hollow Road.
Sincerely,
The Beaver People
pshaw43@rochester.rr.com