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Frank Lloyd Wright Series Final: Boathouse Mystery Cache

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Rayman: Thanks to all who found this one!

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Hidden : 4/17/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is the final cache in the Frank Lloyd Wright series. The posted coordinates ARE NOT the cache's location. They are actually for a benchmark at the north end of the breakwater at the entrance to Buffalo Harbor.

The cache can be found at the following coordinates:
N42° 54.153
W78° 54.L93

DO NOT TRESPASS ON THE WEST SIDE ROWING CLUB'S PROPERTY TO ACCESS THIS CACHE!! PLEASE!!! Park near the paved bike path on Porter Avenue.

This final cache in the series has been placed near the proposed location of the boathouse Frank Lloyd Wright designed in 1905. Originally, the boathouse was meant to built for the University of Wisconsin Boat Club, but it was never constructed. It was apparent the design was always a favorite of Wright as he presented it in a portfolio of his work while on a trip to Europe in 1910. Then 20 years later he included it in an international exhibition of his six greatest works. Some of the design elements can be seen in the Martin House and the former Larkin Building: large vertical piers supporting large horizontal planes.

The Boathouse will a training base for rowers recruited from Buffalo Public Schools as part of an expanding youth program run by the West Side Rowing Club, the nation’s third oldest and largest rowing club. The club has produced 10 olympians, 34 U.S. National Team members and hundreds of collegiate rowers. Construction was completed in September 2007 and opened September 29. It is named after Charles Fontana, a lengendary rowing coach, and his wife Marie. Charles' son Tom, an award winning television writer and producer from Buffalo, donated and raised a large portion of the money necessary to build the boathouse.

ABOUT THE CACHE
There will be about a 1/3 mile walk on a paved bike path to reach the cache area from the nearest legal on-street parking spot. However, you may have to walk a little farther in order to find a better access point. If you choose to take that further route, you will encounter some serious bushwhacking. DO NOT trespass around on the West Side Rowing Club property. The cache should only be accessed from the paved path which can be accessed from Porter Avenue.

CLOSING REMARKS
I hope you have enjoyed the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings in the Buffalo area, and learned what architectural gems we have here. Also in the area along Lake Erie in Derby is the Graycliff Estate, the summer home for Darwin Martin and his wife. Originally, this was to be part of this geocaching series, but permission could not be obtained in time. Instead it is now listed as a stand-alone cache. Plans are underway to build a Wright-designed filling station in downtown Buffalo next to the Pierce-Arrow Auto Museum at the corner of Seneca and Michigan. There is also another house designed by Wright in Rochester, the Edward E. Boynton House.

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)