The Secret of Jacobus Stoutenburgh Mystery Cache
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The Secret of Jacobus Stoutenburgh
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A field puzzle cache.
Nancy Drew and her best friend Bess came to Hyde Park to visit the historic sites. While in town, they discovered The Secret of Jacobus Stoutenburgh. It seems that Jacobus hid a treasure in Hyde Park, and Nancy and Bess found the clues to the treasure in an old book in the library. It appears that Jacobus was also clairvoyant, as some of his clues relate to buildings and items that did not appear on this earth in his lifetime! Nancy has provided the clues here so that you can find the treasure just like she did.
You can park at the post office and walk to all of the stages, which will be about a 1.5 mile stroll about town. Or, you can drive to all of the stages, collecting the info, and then park and hike to the final.
The posted coordinates, Stage 1, will take you to the Hyde Park Post Office. There you will find a bench with some numbers. Write them down, and they become A B C D E.
Walk to the southeast corner of the building to the corner stone. Note who was president when the cornerstone was laid. FDR did like the fieldstone buildings. During his term as president, Violet Avenue Elementary, Hyde Park Elementary and the former F. D. Roosevelt High School were all built from Hudson River fieldstone as WPA projects. Write down the date on the corner stone, this becomes F G H I . If the post office is open, go inside and admire the murals. One is of Jacobus Stoutenburgh and his sons cutting wood.
Next stop is Stage 2. This is where the first colonial settler of Hyde Park, Jacobus Stoutenburg built his home. Take note of the date he built his home as noted on the stone, they become J K L M.
From here proceed to Stage 3. Look whose name is above the door, Franklin isn’t the only one in town! Make note of the year on the sign, they become N O P Q.
To get to Stage 4, go right down the main street, you’ll find your next stop on the left. Be careful when you pull in here! Admire the bell in the garden. Make note of the year on the bell, they become R S T U.
Take a look at the sign. This company has been around a long time! Make note of the date it was founded, they become V W X Y.
Next is Stage 5. From here, head south on Albany Post Road, and turn left onto Pine Woods Road, then left into the park. Go to the location, and take note of the sign. What was the old name of the town? When did the name change to Hyde Park? Write down that date, they become Z AA BB CC.
Now you have all of the clues from Jacobus. Take a seat on the nearby bench, and figure out the puzzle just as Nancy Drew did. You will find Jacobus’ secret treasure at:
HR XQ.LZC, IKD YU.WCG
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Wnpbohf'f frperg gernfher vf jurer gur qrpvqhbhf naq aba-qrpvqhbhf zrrg.