Hike is about 3 miles with some small hills. I've been told the stamps have been moved around - Flying Geese in Box 9, Drunkard's Walk in Box 9, and Log Cabin in Box 5.
There are folk stories about quilt patterns used as learning devices for slaves preparing to escape using the underground railroad. From 1786 to 1830, Massachusetts residents from Plymouth to Andover helped more than 30,000 slaves escape to Canada.
This is a series of 10 stamps based on quilt patterns associated with the underground railroad. Each stamp is 1.5" x 1.5".
According to Ozella, there were ten quilts used to direct slaves to take particular actions. Each quilt featured one of the ten patterns. The ten quilts were placed one at time on a fence. Since it was common for quilts to be aired out frequently, the master or mistress would not be suspicious when seeing quilts displayed in this fashion. This way, the slaves could non-verbally alert those who were escaping. Only one quilt would appear at any one time. Each quilt signaled a specific action for a slave to take at the particular time that the quilt was on view. The code had dual meaning: first to signalslaves to prepare to escape and second to give clues and indicate directions on the journey.
The stamps are based on the saying "The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on the bear paw trail to the crossroads. Once they got to the crossroads they dug a log cabin on the ground. Shoofly told them to dress up, put on cotton and satin bow ties. Go to the cathedral church, get married and exchange double wedding rings. Flying geese that stay on the drunkards path and follow the stars."
http://www.avisandover.org/goldsmith.htmlOnly the last box has a log.
From the trail head, follow Zack's Way until you reach the first trail that branches to the left, the New Trail. At the intersection, look for the MonkeyWrench at the end of the first dead fall. Watch out, the intersection is easy to miss and may not be marked.
Continue on past a pyramid rock at the base of a tree on the right. After the trail turns right, look for an old stump 8 steps off the trail on the left. The Wagon Wheel is near the base of the stump.
Go over one hill then another. You'll see a boulder on the right. The Bear Paw is next to a smaller rock on the West side of the boulder.
Continue on and look for a flat rock on the right of the trail as you go up a steep hill. Crossroads is under the far side of the rock.
Up the hill you'll come to Zacks Hop Pit. Be careful not to disturb any of the rocks in the foundation. You'll find the Log Cabin in a cleft at the NE base of the foundation.
Cross Zack's Way past Zack's House. Take the first trail to the left (Pond Road) toward Scout Hollow. At the next trail intersection look for Shoofly under a section of bark a few steps on the left between to stumps.
Continue SE back to Al's Trail heading South. X marks the spot for Bow Ties with 2 dead falls a few steps off the trail on the left.
Continue past the chain crossing the road. Take the uphill path to the right just before Birch Cove 55 steps. A suspicious pile of rocks and leaves on the right, behind a medium oak, hides Drunkard's Walk.
Return to Al's Trail and look for an area of the hill to the right of the trail that looks like it's been dug out. Flying Geese rest behind the log at the back of this area.
Continue on until a left fork off Al's Way is blocked by a fence. Walk 10 steps along the fence to find Stars next to some rocks.
