Placed: 4-27-02
Placed By: WWW (Formerly known as Chuck Straub and Molly)
Location: Mansfield Center, Connecticut, Tolland County
Rated: Easy

This box is part of a series of letterboxes being planted in honor of Mansfield’s 300^th Anniversary, 1702 – 2002.

Mansfield in the late 1600s was a part of the Town of Windham. The area around what is now Mansfield Center was called Ponde Place. Unhappy about the distance they had to travel to go to church and town business, Ponde Place was allowed to separate from Windham and was called Pond Town in 1702. In 1703 it was incorporated by the General Court under the name of Mansfield.

From the intersection of Route 89 and 195 in Mansfield Center, go south on route 195 headed towards Willimantic. Take a left onto Cemetery Road. You will see a cemetery on the corner when you turn. Proceed down Cemetery Road and quickly see on the left a newer cemetery and then a sign stating "The Pond Lot" "Joshua’s Trust". There is room for 3 or 4 cars to park here. Walk down the yellow blazed trail along the cemetery wall. Continue following the yellow blazes as the trail goes away from the cemetery, following the contour of Echo Lake. The trail goes up and down small hills and twists and turns. You should have several glimpses of the pond. You will soon see a lone white birch tree leaning towards the trail on your left. Go to that birch tree. From the birch, go 120 degrees to several trees growing from one. From that spot, go 250 degrees, 15 steps to the west side of a large oak. Go 310 degrees, 7 steps to a pine tree. Go 290 degrees 19 steps to 3 oaks growing from one, one of which is dead. Go 320 degrees 13 steps uphill to a large pine tree. The letterbox is on the southwest side of the base of the tree, covered with leaves, wood and pine cones.