Overview
This limited-time Uncharted Lancaster adventure will have you exploring Mount Joy, Marietta, and Maytown as you attempt to unlock the resting place of the Book of Secrets hidden at the Milanof-Schock Library with fun prizes up for grabs! Don’t wait! The adventure ends on Labor Day 2022.
Difficulty: 🤠đź¤
Distance: Approximately a 10-mile drive with short walks at each stop to find the answers.
What to bring: Something to write with, your thinking cap, and a printout of this PDF (or something to record your answers on). Don’t have a printer? No problem. Ask a staff member at the library for a copy.
Where to go: You will be making brief visits to Marietta, Maytown, and Mount Joy before finishing your adventure at the Milanof-Schock Library located at 1184 Anderson Ferry Road Mount Joy, PA 17552. Click here for directions.
When to go: Monday through Thursday between 10 AM and 8 PM and Saturday between 9 AM and 4 PM. You may want to check their website before going to make sure they are open.
Prizes: Completers get to pick a metal replica Spanish Doubloon from the Book of Secrets plus some great prizes from the library. The Milanof-Schock Library is also offering a grand prize for one lucky explorer who completes the adventure and finds a treasure. That winner will be selected at random for all completers on Tuesday, September 6.
Getting Starting
You need a Book of Secrets Handout. You can download a PDF here. Don’t have a printer? No problem. Ask a staff member at the Milanof-Schock Library for a hard copy.
Part 1: Around Town
Part one of this adventure has you visiting the three towns inside of Milanof-Schock Library’s service area of Mount Joy, Maytown, and Marietta.
Directions: Begin by answering the following eight questions. Next, use those solutions to complete this chart. This reveals the card catalog number of the book inside the Milanof-Schock Library where you start part two of your quest.
Hint: A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4 , E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=10, K=11, L=12, M=13, N=14, O=15, P=16, Q=17, R=18, S=19, T=20, U=21, V=22, W=23, X=24, Y=25, Z=26
Mount Joy Questions
| A. | Near the intersection of Main & Barbara Street locate a replica of the ship “Mountjoy” that in 1689 saved the starving Scot-Irish of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Find the sculptor’s name on the monument. Record the second letter of his first name as a number. |
| B. | At the intersection of East Main Street & Marietta Pike is a Verdin Street Clock installed during the Mount Joy Sesquicentennial. Standing at its base, look up towards the four-faced timepiece. What animal’s face adorns each corner? Record the second letter of the animal’s name as a number. |
| C. | In 2001, Mount Joy celebrated its Sesquicentennial. How many years is that? Record the second digit of that number. |
Maytown Questions
| D. | In the middle of the roundabout at Center Square in Maytown is a cucumber pump. Water pumps like these were often painted green which accounts for the odd name. What year is stamped onto the tip of the pump’s handle? Record the second digit. |
| E. | Several stone monuments at Center Square honor Maytown’s fallen heroes. One is dedicated to East Donegal Township Chief of Police Marvin R. Foltz. On the back of the stone is a quote. Who is it attributed to? Record the fourth letter of the poet’s name as a number. |
Marietta Questions
| F. | Visit the grounds of Musselman – Vesta Furnace located at 4 Donegal Place, Marietta, PA. Locate the Frick Stationary Steam Engine. Find the year that George Frick established his company to build these steam engines. Record the fourth digit of that year. |
| G. | At the Musselman – Vesta Furnace grounds find the stone base of the chimney. According to the informational sign, how many feet into the air did the chimney once extend? Record the third digit. |
| H. | At the Musselman – Vesta Furnace grounds are a series of concrete railroad piers. Ore and coal were dumped from these and “moved by shovel and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .” Record the fifth letter of the missing word as a number. |
Part 2: At the Milanof-Schock Library
With the card catalog number revealed, head to the Milanof-Schock Library to begin part two of your adventure. Be sure to check their hours before going. The library is located at 1184 Anderson Ferry Rd, Mount Joy, PA 17552.
Library Questions
Insert the solutions from the following library questions into the corresponding square to reveal the book’s passcode.
| A. | Using the book you just found, find the pages of faculty pictures and locate the Librarian. Record the fourth letter of her last name as a number. |
| B. | The library’s Community Room was named in honor of a local library benefactor. Record the third letter of his last name as a number. |
| C. | Our library was built in large part with generous donations from two local people. There are two plaques on the wall honoring them. Record the last letter of the woman’s last name as a number. |
Claiming the Treasure
When you have answered all three questions, you now have the combination to the Book of
Secrets! Go to the Circulation Desk and tell a library staff member: “I’m here to pick up a hold for
Adam Zurn.” Give both completed clue sheets to the staff person. Then try your combination
and if it opens, you’ve found the treasure!
To be entered into the Grand Treasure Drawing, fill out a Treasure Card. The winner will be drawn
on Tuesday, September 6.
Adventure Awaits!
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