The Hidden Graveyard Traditional Geocache
Andromeda321: I no longer live in the area and due to coronavirus won't be able to check on this any time soon. Thanks to all who visited.
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Do NOT park anywhere but at the indicated coordinates at the end of Woodland Farms Road to access this cache! You do not need to disturb any graves or surrounding properties to find this cache- it is on public land administered by the Fox Chapel Land Conservation Trust.
When I was a little girl growing up nearby, one of the biggest surprises of my life was wandering through the woods one day and stumbling across what became known as "the hidden graveyard" in childhood lore in our street. Hey most people are happy to find a great climbing tree in their woods, we had a graveyard to visit on Halloween! A visit to the site will quickly reveal just why we gave it this name: a ramshackle fence is the only thing dividing this sacred ground from the surrounding forest, and it seems hard to believe that people were still being buried here less than a century ago.
For those interested in a bit of history, Strom Cemetery is the final resting spot of over 100 souls; the first person was interred here in 1824 and the last burial took place here in 1923. Several pioneering Fox Chapel families have members buried here, such as the Powers family after whom Powers Run Road is named and at least one Civil War veteran, William Jessep of Co. B. 68th PA Cavalry. Unfortunately when the current trust was given the land the records were not also gifted, so the majority of those interred here will remain anonymous forever.
To get to the site, park at the cul de sac at the end of Woodland Farms Road- there is a defined trail up to the cemetery though it can be slippery and muddy at times. The cache itself is down the hill a little from the gravestones and surrounding houses so as to not disturb them; if you explore the graveyard please remember to shut the gate after you and practice CITO (as no one ever visits this site save the local kids- and judging by the petty vandalism they're not as considerate as my friends and I used to be!).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svany erfgvat cynpr bs n gerr