The tricentennial letterboxing adventure includes visits to historic sites and local parks. For those of you that visit all of the places on our letterboxing series, a FREE numbered commemorative coin is your reward! There is no time limit to complete the series.

The clues below will give you directions for finding the hidden letterboxes. If you follow the directions but still can't find the letterbox, email us and we will try to help out with more directions. After you visit a box, be sure to put it back, exactly as you found it, with all of its contents. Please contact us if you find a damaged box.

HOW DO I GET MY COIN? To receive your commemorative coin, bring your stamped passport to Lou Okell at Arkettype, 221 Danbury Road - 2nd Floor • 860-350-4007. DIRECTIONS: from New Milford High School, head north on Route 7. We are in the first building on the right after Italia Mia. The building includes other businesses like Hometown Liquor, Jazzercise, J & R Appliance, and Computer Marketing. Go through the center double doors, up the stairs, and to the end of the hall. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call if you would like to meet up at another time and we will try to accommodate you.

Huge thanks go to Lisa Lawson who is the backbone behind the whole letterboxing project and Lou Okell who assisted. Thanks also to Katie Francis who headed up the Tri-Centennial Commission and the many volunteers who made our 300th year truly memorable.

We hope you have a wonderful time discovering New Milford -- Happy Hunting!

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Here Are The Clues!

Please be discreet when letterboxing. Respect property and replace letterboxes as you found them. Use reasonable caution. The letterboxing committee, the Tricentennial Commission and the Town of the New Milford are not responsible for your personal safety while you are letterboxing. Report any missing or damaged boxes to lou@arkett.com or 860-350-4007.

Band Stand
Located on the Green in New Milford. Up the steps and look around. Look for the Pilgrims who look to the ground.

Gaylordsville School
Follow Rt. 7 north to Gaylord Road. Turn left and follow for 1/4 mile. School is on the right.
To the left of the school, these are all in a row. One has two and that is the clue.

Northville School
Follow Rt 202 north to Buckingham Rd. Make a right and follow approx. 150 ft.The red building on the left is the school.
Get out of your car and don't go far. This one is really easy so don't get STUMPED!

Hill & Plain School
The old school house is located on Sullivan Road. Park in the lot and go to the back of the school.
Look where the stone wall meets the rocks. Is it treasure or is it a fox?

Merwinsville Hotel
Follow Route 7 North to Gaylordsville bridge. Make a right & follow the road straight. Do not turn with the road. Go forward to the forge(big red barns), continuing left and across the tracks. the Hotel will be on your left.
Follow the porch to the end on the side you see a half moon. The treasure to be found will be on the ground.

Friends Meetinghouse
Follow Rt 7 south 2.6 miles from Veterans Bridge. Look for the cemetery on the right. The meetinghouse is next to it. Parking is in the back.
Looking at the Meetinghouse from the back, there are 3 of these, long and wide. If you are little, you will be the right size.

Merryall Chapel
Go down Merryall Road to where it meets with Bear Mtn. Road. At the intersection go left (straight) about 1/4 mile. The Chapel will be on your left.
Check out the chapel guarded by a gnome. Circle 'round and check out the firewood's home.

Veteran's Bridge/Helen Marx Park
This park is located on Young's Field Road. Stand with your back to the ballfields.
Find the wall with the shrubs all along, and the last to the south holds the treasure so strong.

Lovers Leap Bridge
Park in the new lot on the western side of the bridge. Cross the bridge and enjoy the view. Turn right and walk up. At the crest, look before you leap. The large boulder furthest right is "1," counting from the left "2-3-4-5-6-7." It's 2007. Happy 300th birthday, New Milford!

Library
Library is located in the middle of the green.
Enter at the children's library & take 9 steps ahead.
Turn north and go all the way to the end.
To find the answer, look up to the furry friend.

Park & Recreation
This building is located on Bridge Street. Parking is in the back of the building.
Go in the back entrance and through a door. Five feet in the pilgrims adore.

Guarding Mountain
Is located on Fort Hill Road Go up Peagler Hill (road alongside Big Y). At the intersection with Fort Hill you will see across the street and to the left, the trailhead. There is room to park one car. Property is privately owned so please be respectful. The organic farm uses an electric fence to keep out deer -- be careful!

Follow the trail signs straight across the field. At the 2nd signpost, turn right and walk along the field. At the end of the field, a third post leans against a tree to mark where the trail enters the woods. Continue until the trail turns up the hill. You will see a rotting tree to the right -- look under for your find. Stand facing town and you might see the steeple of The Congregational Church. From here you can retrace steps to your car or continue on the trail for a better view.

Emmanuel Williamson Park
This letterbox has been discontinued.

Sullivan Farm
The farm is located on Rte 202.Follow route 202 pass the 109 intersection and the farm will be up on your right. Park at the barn.
Go to the pond and there in the sun is a group of five trees all growing from one.

Clatter Valley
This letterbox has been discontinued.

Washington Oak
Follow Route 7 north to Gaylord Road in Gaylorsdville. Turn left and follow approximately a quarter of a mile. You will see the monument on the left. Park next to the wooden fence south of the monument.

George Washington stood here so long ago; how long he stood we do not know. Use your imagination and 10 soldiers you'll see. Pick the right solider and he holds the key.

Norstrand Trail
Follow Route 202 north to Little Bear Hill Road. Turn left and follow to Squire Hill Road. Turn right and follow until you see a mailbox with Gallo 54 on it. Immediately after the mailbox is the driveway to the trail. Pull all the way in to park. The trail is in front and to the right of parking.

Read clue before starting (the trail is rugged at the start but gets easier):
Through the woods and look for the sign, two loops and a road are what you will find.
Follow the beaver the right way; another sign is on your way.
The sign you see is just the same. Look for the beaver-it must have come
Over the second wooden bridge. This is the key. Stop and enjoy, there is no fee.
Up the nine steps and over you go, the treasure you seek is down below.

Railroad Station/Ray Ramsey Park
The railroad station is located on Railroad Street. The station is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the door with the gold plate, go inside and a right you will make. Introduce yourself and say hi; this one is easy, as easy as pie.

Town Hall
Located in the middle of the Village Green in New Milford.
Go up the stairs and through the door.
Turn to the south and take steps (four)!

Peet's "Altar" Cemetery
Take Young's Field Road from Veterans Memorial Bridge and follow road past Agway. Turn right on Aspetuck Ridge Road and follow to its end at a stop sign. Turn left onto West Meetinghouse Road and follow to its intersection with Barker Road. Turn left and follow until you come to a small bridge. Parking is for two cars. Please be very respectful of this very old cemetery.

Follow the river and up on your right two glaciers of stone will look out of sight.
The box that you seek with a stamp and a book are waiting for you, so just take a look.

Historic Society
Located on Aspetuck Avenue near the top of the Village Green in New Milford. Hours are Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Please plan accordingly. There is lots of history to be learned and fun things to see. Take some time to look around.

Lincoln got a facelift! And our letterboxing goes on. He stands proud and shiny-the rust is gone. Go into the building and a horse you will see. How big he is, he's bigger than me.

Center Cemetery
Located at the corner of Route 202 and Elm Street, the cemetery is open from dawn to dusk. Please plan accordingly and be respectful.

Go through the entrance and drive slowly down the road. Circle around to the left where the box will be stowed. You will see an old white building on the right of your car. Check a board on the right; it's not very far. Stop, get out and look around and soon the treasure will be found.

Carlson's Grove
Head north on Route 202 and turn right onto Wheaton Road. You will see the park on your right. There is ample parking. Walk back along Wheaton Road to Old Mill Road and enjoy a stroll down this narrow dirt road. Further down the road, there is a small parking place on the left. Enter the park here and walk toward the benches to your left. Look for the group of five evergreens next to a rock.

Baldwin Park
Located on Hipp Road off Route 202. The park entrance is on the left just past Schaghitcoke Middle School. Once you locate the box, you can continue on the path and enjoy the stream as it loops back (at the intersection: left brings you back to meadow, right to the school then head up the hill).

Facing the sign, go straight through the fence
and across the field, but don't be tense.
Up the hill on your left is a path of dirt.
Follow this path, but be alert.
Bearing right brings you past a little stone wall
which leads to a meadow that's lovely in fall.
At the meadow, stay left and continue straight through
'til you see an opening on the left in the woods for you.
Follow this trail and turn right at the "V."
Stay on the main path to a group of fallen trees.
Ahead by the wall is a log to your right.
Finding it finally is a welcome sight!

Hunt Hill Farm
Located on Upland Hill Road off Route 202 in Northville.
Make a right at the sign and follow to building.

Before entering the door, you will find a plant container on the floor.
The items you spy are very close by.

Dike's Point (The Cove)
Located in the southern part of New Milford. Follow Route 7 south to the traffic light at Sullivan Road. Turn right and take your next right. Follow road past Hill and Plain School until you reach a parking area just before the marina.

Follow the path closest to the lake until you find the beach looking straight out in front of you. When you get there turn to your left and walk up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs you'll see a pair of trees meeting at one base.
Look around and you will peek, for a stump covers the box you seek.

Andrew Gaylord Barnes Park
This box has been discontinued.

Boardman Bridge/Sega Meadow Park
Park at the gate, cross the tracks and follow the path down the hill. Then stroll down the road/path by the riverside. (NOTE: If you park in lot off Rt. 7, walk on the road across the river to the gate -- the old bridge is not safe.) Just before you reach the meadow, the "tree with no thumb" holds your find in its palm.

Lover's Leap State Park
Park in the new lot on the western side of the bridge. Cross the bridge and enjoy the view. Turn right and walk up. At the crest, look before you leap. The large boulder furthest right is "1," counting from the left "2-3-4-5-6-7." It's 2007. Happy 300th birthday, New Milford!

Lynn Deming
Located on Candlewood Lake Road. Take Route 7 north and turn left onto Candlewood Lake Road. Follow until to you see the park on your right. Turn in and park right after the green Lynn Deming sign before the security building. This letterbox should be done after dark (between 8:45pm -10:30pm) for the most fun and easiest way to find it. It should only take you 15 minutes at most. Be sure to say hi to Mr. Security!

Bring a bright flashlight and have fun! You will look for little glitz (glow in the dark tacks) on the trees with your flashlight. Follow the glitz to the letterbox. There are 5 glitz and then the final. There are two glitz together at the final location.


A Short History of Letterboxing

It all started with a letter in a bottle in Dartmoor, England and has now developed into a worldwide hobby/sport. Letterboxing is an intriguing pastime combining map-reading skills, hiking, arts and crafts, with delightful "treasure-hunts" in beautiful, scenic places.


How does Letterboxing work?

A letterbox planter "plants" a waterproof box in a place of their choice. The waterproof box includes a small book and a rubber stamp. The planter then writes clues for finding the box and posts the clues on the internet. Clues can also be distributed in other ways.

A letterbox finder gets the clues, usually from the internet and writes them down or prints them out. The finder brings his own book and rubber stamp and ink pad and follows the clues to the letterbox. The rubber stamp can be anything but should have some meaning for the finder.

Once the letterbox is found, the finder uses his stamp to stamp the letterbox book. Sometimes a note to the planter is also added. The finder then takes the letterbox stamp and stamps his own book. His book becomes a diary of letterboxes visited.


The Tricentennial Letterbox Series

To celebrate the 300th birthday of New Milford, a series of letterboxes have been planted at historic sites around the town. The clues to all these letterboxes are posted here.


Are there any rules?

Letterboxes should be hidden on land to which the public has access. They should be placed so that a casual find by a "non-letterboxer" is unlikely, yet they must be accessible without impacting the natural surroundings. They are not to be buried in the earth, but placed under rocks or in existing natural holes, crevices or cavities. They should not interfere with native wildlife or habitats. They should not be placed close to one another (to avoid damage from over-intensive use of an area), nor should they be located in any potentially dangerous situation. A contact number/address should be provided so that information pertaining to the box can be passed to the owner.

When hunting for letterboxes, please respect the land upon which they are hidden. Do not disturb any historical landmark or private property. Do not break sod, remove native vegetation, disturb natural rock formations, or interfere with animals or their habitats. Leave the site better than you find it; you are encouraged to remove any litter left behind by people who care less for the land than you.

Also, please respect the contents of each letterbox and the effort put into it by its planter. Replace the box carefully and leave it as you would hope to find it: hidden from view, with contents intact. If a box is damaged, please notify its owner.

Finally, you may wish to create some boxes of your own and hide them in interesting places. There are no rules as to size or format; helpful suggestions can be found at the sources below. ENJOY!!!


Reference:

Visit the Letterboxing North America website for more information.