Symbols of Freedom Series

Placed by: Mark & Sue
Placement date: July 4 2003
State: Vermont
County: Windham
Nearest city: West Dover
Number of boxes: 3
Location: Cross Town Trail/Deerfield Valley Trail
Difficulty: Easy to moderate - about 2 miles round trip

Box #3 is reported missing

After the past several difficult years with September 11th and the Iraqi Freedom War, we thought is was appropriate to celebrate the roots of our freedom with this letterboxing series of 3 meaningful symbols that help us commemorate the 4th of July and all of the many blessings that we share in this wonderful country of ours.

Directions: Take Route 100 North from Wilmington center. Just past Taddingers gift store [about 2 miles], take a left onto Coldbrook Road following signs to Haystack Ski Area. Coldbrook Road changes it's name to Handle Road. Continue on Handle Road to the first stop sign [about 4.5 miles.] Park anywhere on right as this is where the Cross Town Trail/Deerfield Valley Trail begins.

Liberty Bell Letterbox

Background:

In 1751, the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania ordered a bell made by Whitechapel Foundry in England, to weigh roughly 2000 pounds. The inscription chosen for this bell a full quarter century before the revolution read: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof . . . "

The legend of the bell cracking the first time it was rung is historically accurate, although it occurred in March of 1753, not on the Fourth of July. A second recasting corrected that problem and the bell, then known as the State House Bell, was hung in Philadelphia's State House until 1777. It was temporarily removed to Allentown, PA during the threat of British invasion of Philadelphia, and subsequently returned in the summer of 1778.

The Liberty Bell rang in the beginning of American Independence and even to this day stands as a universal symbol proclaiming freedom and justice for all.

Clues:

Clues: Enter the trail and immediately notice the remnants of an old fruit orchard. Cross over the wooden bridge as the trail becomes wooded. Continue on the trail until you count 2 consecutive large rocks on the right. Just beyond the second rock, look for a small 3 to 4 foot stump along the trail, also on the right. Look into the woods behind this stump for a cluster of smaller stumps and find the Liberty Bell quietly ringing. Be sure to cover well and leave as you found it.


Uncle Sam Letterbox

Background:

"Uncle Sam" was originally a real person, but his character has developed and evolved over a century and a half by political and commercial artists into a universal personification of the United States.
Samuel Wilson of Massachusetts (1766-1854) served as a drummer boy and then soldier in the Revolutionary War. In 1789, he moved to Troy, New York, where he built up a thriving business as a meat-packer. Because of his friendly and fair-dealing business manner, Wilson soon earned the affectionate nickname of "Uncle Sam."
In the War of 1812, Wilson provided pork and beef to the Army troops camped on the outskirts of Troy. He shipped these rations in barrels labeled "US" i.e., for the Army and not for retail sale. But the abbreviations "US" and "USA" were not yet in general use at that time. When a Federal inspection crew visited Wilson's plant on October 1, 1812, they asked a workman what "US" signified. Unsure, the worker replied with a laugh that it must mean his employer, "Uncle Sam."
Soon, soldiers and civilians alike transferred the nickname from the real Uncle Sam to the Federal Government. This made it inevitable that caricatures of Uncle Sam like those of "John Bull," already then used to personify England would appear in the press. Though Sam Wilson was tall and thin, the imaginary Uncle Sam first appeared as a portly man, in a black top hat and tails. Later, he was dresspatrioticotically, in the colors of the Flag. Finally, he became tall, gaunt and bearded after Thomas Nast and other 19th-century political cartoonists began to model him on Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the 20th century, Uncle Sam has continued to embody the government and spirit of the United States for critics as well as admirers.

Clues:

Continue on the Valley Trail as it takes a left onto a paved road and down the hill. This paved road is part of the Kingswood condo complex that the Valley Trail cuts through. Follow this road until you see your first red fire hydrant on the right. After the hydrant, continue down the hill to your first manhole cover on the right, just before the "Speed Limit 15 mph" sign. Enter the woods here. Straight ahead are a few evergreens with a large rock between them. Uncle Sam is sleeping beneath this rock. Be sure to replace appropriately.


Fireworks Letterbox
(Please note: This box is missing. We'll recarve and replace in the spring of 2007)

Background:

It would be difficult to imagine Independence Day celebrations without the lighting of the night sky with colorful fireworks. It seems that every town in our nation puts on its own production every year at this time. But the use of fireworks in celebration is no American phenomenon. Chinese used fireworks in celebrations before Westerners had developed Christianity, let alone dreamed of the country whose birthday we commemorate July 4.
The original fireworks watchers had to be content with black and white shows. It wasn't until the 19th Century that someone figured out how to set them off in color. Relatively little is written about their development because a few family-run companies have dominated the fireworks market and they do not want to share their secret recipes with the rest of the world.
Vendors sold $22.9 million worth of fireworks in the U.S in 1992, the last year for which figures are available. And they're still coming from China: of the $2 million worth we imported, $1.6 million came from the country that brought us the fortune cookie!

Clues:

Continue to the bottom of the hill on the paved road and bear right, passing condos on the left as the road flattens out. You will pass a favorite spot for children on the right and continue as the paved road becomes dirt. Just past the metal gate, you will notice that the trail continues to the right. Do not take the trail but continue straight on the dirt road to a group of large boulders on your right. Waiting under the rocks you will find the Fireworks waiting to be ignited! Rest a while in the calm, pleasant spot before heading back up the hill and reversing the way you came to get to your car.

Hope you enjoyed these symbols of freedom, which are the first letterboxes we have placed!

Have fun and just get out there & box!!!