The Drew Acorn

Planted January 8, 2009
Modified April 15, 2010

Madison, NJ
Morris County

Carving Kudos Go to Winemakerssister.

The Box is planted on Madison Avenue in Madison, NJ.

Drew University started out as the estate of the Gibbons Family – William Gibbons was the son of a steamboat tycoon and had earned his money the old fashion way – he inherited it. It was William's wife Abigail who wanted to purchase the property in Madison NJ – the 205 acre “Forest”... the Gibbons built a plantation style Greek revival mansion in 1833 (now Mead Hall). Mead Hall is both a state and National historic Landmark. The son of Abigail and William sold “The Forest” to Wall Street Financier Daniel Drew in 1867. Drew had converted to Methodism as a teenager and attended St. Paul’s Church in New York City. He had the idea of Founding (read financing) a Methodist Seminary around 1866 - that year was also the centenary of American Methodism - he did so with the purchase of the Gibbons estate and the help of his Pastor John McCintock who became Drew’s first President.

In 1867 the first class of Seminarians arrived at “The Forest”. In 1928, at the time Ezra Tipple was president of the school - Leonard and Arthur Baldwin gave a gift of 1.5 million dollars to found a College of Liberal Arts –The aptly Named “Brothers College”. The Small Methodist Seminary had just become a University – Drew University! Consisting of Brothers College (now just know as the college of liberal arts) and Drew Theological Seminary (Methodist in connection and history but now highly ecumenical)
A graduate school was added in 1955 and was renamed the Caspersen School in honor of Trustee Barbara Morris Caspersen who made a generous pledge to the graduate school.
Drew today calls itself “the university in the forest” and indeed one of the most notable things about the campus is the beautiful trees. . Drew looks so much like a college dream campus several movies and music videos have been filmed here.
The school newspaper is even called the acorn and squirrels easily outnumber undergrads, grad students and seminarians!

Finding the Box: Bowne Memorial Gateway was Built in 1921 The Arch was built with stones taken from the gate houses that had been at the entrance of the property for nearly 100 years.

The Arch is on Madison Avenue in Madison NJ – Find it! (You will also be able to see Mead hall from the road as well as a statue of Methodist Pioneer Francis Asbury dedicated in 1926) I recommend parking on Kings Road or Elm street since there is no parking on Madison Ave - This is not really a Drive-By. You will have to take a suburban hike to get to the Arch! You may want to check LbNA or AQ and get the clues for another box in Madison that is within walking distance of here. Madison Ave is a very busy street so be careful if you are letterboxing with children!

Take a look at the picture and face the arch in the same manner. Go behind the bushes on the left side, at the base of the wall at bush #3 you will find the Drew Acorn hidden by ivy and rocks. PLEASE BE GENTLE WITH THE IVY AND REPLACE BOX AS FOUND any additional dead leaves etc that you can camouflage the box with is appreciated - I do worry about landscaping crews removing the box.

(click for larger image)

THERE IS NO INK IN THE BOX. PLEASE BE EXTRA STEALTHY THIS CAN BE A BUSY SPOT FOR PEDESTRIAN AND ROAD TRAFFIC.

Record your find at LbNA or AQ.

CYA ON THE TRAIL!!!! LBM :o)