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The Leatherman's Pound Ridge Cave LbNA #39537

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 1, 2008
Location:
City:Pound Ridge
County:Westchester
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:suzietoots
Found by: Phoenix Rizing
Last found:Jun 19, 2011
Status:FFFFFFFF
Last edited:May 1, 2008
The Leatherman's Cave in Pound Ridge

The Legend of the Leatherman:
The mysterious Leatherman found shelter in caves, whenever he passed through the Westchester area. The Leatherman was a mysterious vagabond who regularly walked a 365 mile loop between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers from 1862 to 1889. During this time he completed his circuit ever 34 days, and apparently was so regular in his appearances at the various towns and homesteads along his route that the local residents could easily predict when he would appear. It was so exact that housewives "could set their clocks by him." Some families would regularly prepare food for him. He traveled about 10 miles a day. He made these regular visits all year round and in some cases for 25 years. Farmer's wife vainly tried to get him to talk. He was mostly silent, communicating in grunts and gestures, and mumbled incomprehensibly. He chose to sleep outdoors or in caves even when offered shelter in barns. He gained his name from the fact that he wore a 60 pound, roughly sewn leather outfit consisting of a hat, pants, long coat, and shoes with wooden soles. He was obsessed with leather. He would use old leather boot tops and visited harness shops and accepted donations of scraps which he sewed together into his unusual outfit. His costume weighed over 60 pounds or more. The locals said that you could hear the leather creak as he walked by. Some said you could smell the Leatherman coming.
The Leatherman never harmed a soul. He did have a terrifying appearance but was a gentle and harmless person. He only lost his temper a few times, shaking his staff and shouting at children who pelted him with rocks.

After surviving the blizzard of 1888, the Leatherman succumbed to age, the environment, and very likely oral cancer (which had eaten away a portion of his cheek), dying in one of his caves in southeastern New York. He was buried in the Sparta Cemetary in Scarborough, and later identified as Jules Bourglay, a Frenchman who ruined his fiancee's family business and took up his wanderings in America as a form of penance. As a yound man, he lived in the city of Lyons, France. He had a promising career a leather factory. He was engaged to the factory owner's daughter. Due to a severe oversight on his part to the accounts which in kept, he caused a huge loss to the business. Another story: He accidentally tipped over a lantern late one night and burnt the factory down. The story says he lost his job and was disowned by his fiancee's father. Having lost all hope in life, he took a packet boat to America. He paid pennance for the rest of his life, by following an existence of isolation and physical hardship.


To the Letterbox:
You can retrieve this box by hiking the leatherman trail in Ward Pound Ridge. The alternative way is to take Route 121 to Honey Hollow Road. There is very limited parking on this road. Just past the entrance to the trail on Honey Hollow is a spot to pull off and park next to another preserve. Enter through the two rusty red and chained poles. Cross a wooden bridge, past a large tree laying on it side and stripped of bark in some spots. Just ahead on your left will be a sign marking the Leatherman's cave. At the base of this hill is a sign that was created by a boy scout. Travel up the hill. This climb can be a bit slippery with the leaves and dampness, so watch your footing. On your left will be the cave. It will have some campfire residue on the ground just outside the entrance. Directly across from the cave on your left a few steps further up the trail, a will be a very large boulder laying on its side on a "platform." This large rock lies between two "V" shaped trees. The box sits underneath the large oval shaped rock on the right side, covered with small rocks, branches and bark. This a truly awesome and breath taking spot. Kids will enjoy listening to their echo's here. It looks like the last ice aged may have carved out this little valley. As you leave and go back to your car you can see where tons of rocks were dragged and moved down the hill.

If you are attending the Pound Ridge Gathering on May 10. Inside the box you will find a piece of paper that will give you the combination to a locked box that has a Bonus Stamp. You will only be able to find the combo if you retrieve this box before the gathering. Sign up for this event at Atlasquest.com