This cache was created by RickyBaturin. Congratulations to roomfr2 on the FTF! On September 19, 2014, this cache was reposted by Bolling, but the final coordinates have changed. The changes to the puzzle are highlighted in red.
The listed coordinates are for the Morris Island Lighthouse itself. It is not the cache location. Solving the clues below will lead you to the real cache!! This cache is intended to shed some “light” on the rich history of one of Charleston’s most recognizable landmarks and the concerned citizens trying to preserve it.
The Morris Island Lighthouse is the third lighthouse to occupy this site off the coast of Charleston, SC. The current lighthouse we see today was built just after the War Between the States. The lighthouse was constructed in the late 1800s and took four years to build. The tower leans slightly toward the Northeast today and is believed it has slowly done so since the earthquake of 1886, along with the slow erosion of the very sand it sits on out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Save the Light is a grass roots, non-profit organization that was formed to save the Morris Island Lighthouse from being lost to the sea. Save the Light purchased the lighthouse from the previous owner in 1999, turned around and gave it to the State of South Carolina at the end of 2000 after working out a lease agreement by which Save the Light would transfer ownership to the state of South Carolina at no cost. Now all the citizens of the state own it. Save the Light retains all responsibility for planning, engineering, fund raising and execution of all aspects for the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse.
The following questions must be answered to achieve the actual coordinates. Most information can be found on the Save the Light website.
You can find parking here: N32 40.849 W079 53.540. This is pay parking; in the cooler months, there is ample free parking on the side of the road depending on time of day. Just be sure to obey all posted signs and make sure if you park on the side of the road, that you have all four tires off of the road or else you might just have a present from the local law enforcement on your windshield upon your return. This cache is not handicapped accessible. From the listed parking coordinates, you will have to walk on foot (or by bicycle) 0.75 miles to the cache location. Walking to the cache takes between 15 and 20 minutes due to the terrain. Please post your favorite picture of the surroundings on your way to the cache location. There are so many incredible photo opportunities on this short walk to view a piece of Charleston’s history.
The coordinates to the final cache can be found here:
N32 4C.EDH W079 5B.AGF
A. This is the year written records show the first navigation aid on Morris Island consisting of a raised metal pan filled with pitch and set afire at night. In the answer, what is the last digit in the year?
B. What we know as Morris Island today was actually three smaller islands divided by narrow creeks in the late 1600s. The northernmost island was named for Captain John _______. The area still carries his name today. To find the value for B, if D=4 and P=16, what does the first letter in the answer equal?
C. The first lighthouse ever constructed on Morris Island to guide ships coming into Charleston Harbor was ______ feet tall. In 1750, His Majesty's legislature in Carolina passed an act calling for a permanent beacon to be built. Never acted on and about to expire, another proclamation in 1757 then authorized the construction of a permanent beacon extending the time for its construction to 1765. However, in late 1757, the funds for the beacon were diverted to complete the steeple at St. Michael's Church which can still be seen today in downtown Charleston. Subtract 41 from your answer to get the value for C.
D. After the ratification of the Constitution, Congress faced the task of running our new country. On Aug. 7, 1789, Congress passed its ninth law, establishing the lighthouse service. This service would take over the operation of the 12 functioning lighthouses. The first public works project ever funded by the US government was the construction of Cape Henry Lighthouse in 1792. On Jan. 20, 1790, the South Carolina Legislature transferred title for the Charleston Light and the 565.5 acres of Middle Bay Island to the United States. Within the year, the tidal waters blocked and silted in the creeks separating the three islands. The resulting island was called Morrison's Island. In May 1800, Congress appropriated $5,950 for the Charleston Light (Morris Island Lighthouse). In 1801 and 1802, the tower was re-built and the height increased to cast the light further out to sea. What was the new height (in feet) of the lighthouse? To obtain the value for D, add 8 to your answer and then divide by 22.
E. When news of the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States reached Charleston on Nov. 7 1860, it seemed all but certain that the southern states would secede from the Union. South Carolina became the first to secede in December 1860. On Dec. 18, 1860, the Lighthouse Inspector for Charleston reported to Washington that he considered it likely that the lighthouse property would be seized by South Carolina troops. On Dec. 20, Commander R. Semmes, Secretary of the Lighthouse Board, wrote the secretary of the treasury that he would not recommend the U.S. Government, against the will of the state government, light the coast of South Carolina. On Dec. 30, the lighthouse inspector filed his report with the Lighthouse Board noting, "The Governor of the State of South Carolina has requested me to leave the state. I am informed that forcible possession has been taken of the lighthouse, buoys and beacons of the harbor and that similar measures will be adapted in regard to all lights in the State." The Lighthouse was destroyed in ________ (year) to prevent the Union troops from using it as a lookout tower. The value of E is the last digit of the year the lighthouse was destroyed.
F. The Morris Island Lighthouse was rebuilt a few years later and the new light illuminated on Oct. 1, ________(year). The lens, fixed white with an arc of 270 degrees and a catadraptric reflector of 90 degrees, was mounted. The new first order Fresnel lens provided 50,000 candlepower with visibility reaching to 19 miles at sea. Once completed, the total cost of the Morris Island Lighthouse was $149,993.50 (in year 2000 dollars the equivalent of 1.9 million dollars). This is the lighthouse you see standing in Charleston waters today. (You can also find this answer on the Save The Light sponsored sign half way down the trail to the cache). To find the value of F, subtract 1875 from your answer.
G. On June 22,_______ (year), the Morris Island Lighthouse was converted to a mechanized light operation. The mechanized light was a four-power acetylene lens. The decision was soon made to remove the remaining buildings on Morris Island. The fear was if they were allowed to wash away, the debris would surely create a hazard for mariners. Many Charlestonians believed that the keepers' house was washed away by the tides. In fact, a local doctor, Dr. Richard Prentiss, bought the dwelling as surplus government property for $55 and used the supplies to build several structures including his home on Edisto Island. To obtain the value for G, divide by 969 and then subtract 2.
H. On June 15, _______(year), the light was permanently extinguished at the Morris Island Lighthouse and the operation of the Sullivans Island Lighthouse began. In June of that same year, Lt. Commander E. R. Tindle of the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington announced that there were no plans for dismantling the Morris Island Lighthouse at that time. He stated, "So long as she remains in reasonably good shape structurally, we will let her stand." In a sharp reversal of position, the Coast Guard, in February a few years later, ordered the demolition of the lighthouse and allocated $20,000 for the project. In Charleston the reaction to this announcement was both predictable and swift. The community expressed its concern in petitions and letters. William McG. Morrison, Jr., of the Preservation Society of Charleston, petitioned the Coast Guard to allow the lighthouse to stand. Defending its decision to demolish the tower, the Coast Guard posted 12 x 4 foot signs at the lighthouse marked, "Danger, Keep Off. Tower in danger of collapse. Trespassers will be prosecuted." Senator Strom Thurmond and Representative L. Mendel Rivers filed separate requests urging the Coast Guard to reconsider plans to demolish the Morris Island Lighthouse. Both Thurmond and Rivers noted that no engineering study had been conducted to determine that the tower was a hazard and there was no eminent danger of collapse of the tower. Mr. Rivers said his office received an average of 10 letters per day for more than a month. To obtain the value for H, subtract 1958 from your answer.
Morris Island Lighthouse Today:
In 1996, Columbia businessman Paul Gunter purchased the lighthouse and 80 acres of submerged land in a foreclosure action against Speedy Felkel. He announced his plans to sell the lighthouse for $100,000. A citizens group, Save The Light, quickly organized to encourage the preservation of the lighthouse for the citizens of South Carolina. While both Charleston County and the State of South Carolina expressed interest in the Morris Island Lighthouse, neither was willing to pay for it. Concerned that yet another real estate developer may purchase the lighthouse, Save The Light, Inc. bought the lighthouse from Mr. Gunter in February 1999 for $75,000.
"The Post and Courier", in a February 1999 editorial, states:
The lighthouse is one of Charleston's best known and most beloved landmarks, and the public owes a debt of gratitude to Save The Light for its willingness to deal with the frustrating title issue and to make the significant investment for its purchase . . . The local community and the state should help complete the job it [Save The Light] has started.
Since the date of purchase, Save The Light has been dedicated to transferring ownership to the State of South Carolina through the Heritage Trust program, a program within the SC Department of Natural Resources. The act establishing the Heritage Trust program gives it the responsibility for the preservation of the important "natural areas" and "cultural areas" of the state. In the Heritage Trust Act, a "cultural area or feature" is defined as an "outstanding example of our historical or archaeological heritage and a site of special historic interest or containing outstanding remnants of the way of life and significant events of the past." It is clear that the Morris Island Lighthouse falls under this definition. In fact, the Heritage Trust Program Board agreed as well. In its February 2000 board meeting, it recognized the Morris Island Lighthouse as one of the top 100 cultural sites in the State of South Carolina and forwarded its unanimous recommendation to the DNR board to acquire the lighthouse from Save The Light. A mutually acceptable transfer has been negotiated with the Heritage Trust Program Board. On April 21, 2000, the Board of Directors for the SC Department of Natural Resources unanimously voted to accept title to the Morris Island Lighthouse.
You will need to enter about 10 feet into the woods. You will not need to walk on uncovered sand dunes. Good luck on your journey and I hope you enjoyed taking the time to learn a little bit about the incredible history behind this beautiful Charleston landmark that has been standing for over 135 years.