Omo i de Virtual Cache
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Roughly translated, Omo i de means 'memories' or 'recollections' in Japanese. Vacaville and the Vaca Valley were once the home of a thriving, vibrant Japanese community. From 1887 to 1942 they came to work in the orchards and on the farms, to raise families and become Americans. When Executive Order 9066 was issued by FDR in 1942 this came to an end as people of Japanese descent were ordered away from the west coast, transported to internment camps in Arizona and other states. The story of this community was told in a book published by the Vacaville Museum in 2001. It's available at the museum (It's worth a visit - it is at N38 21.385 W121 59.625 - 213 Buck Ave.)
Virtual caches seem to me to be perfect for travelers, there's no need for geo-trinkets and they give you a chance to learn more about the landscape and history of the world around you. And even locals can learn more about their homes by visiting site nearby they might otherwise rush by.
This virtual cache will take you on a brief tour of some of sites in town related to this part of our history. Several are downtown, in and around the Creekwalk, a pleasant place to stroll and enjoy the quiet atmosphere. On Friday evenings during the summer it's not so quiet though, as the city presents a series of free concerts. Come, enjoy and learn.
Find these spots then e-mail us these pieces of information:
Question 1: Park at N38 21.443 W121 59.241 in the city lot. Proceed west on foot to find a plaque embedded in a stone at N38 21.468 W121 59.317. How many Japanese ideograms are on this marker?
Question 2: Walk north to N38 21.532 W121 59.332. This stone marks the former location of the Buddhist Church that served the community from 1912 until it burned in 1951. Who donated this marker?
Question 3: Now walk east over the creek to N38 21.491 W121 59.228. This is one of a series of signs erected by the Vacaville Museum explaining the history of this downtown area. There is one restaurant mentioned on this sign. Who owned it and what was its name?
Question 4: Walk back to your car and drive east to the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery. Clustered on the hillside in the oldest part of the cemetery are the graves of many of the former residents of this area. Look around near N 38 20.842 W 121 57.625, find the grave of a veteran of World War II. What was his name? You should plan to visit waypoint 4 before 4:30pm when they often shut the gate.
As always, don't reveal your answers here in your log, I'll confirm your response after you email me. If possible, use this link to send the email. Just remember to replace the # (Or use the Contact link on my profile, above)
Remember, the reward is in the hunt and in your surroundings.
P.S. - this cache overlaps some with my 'Clang Clang - Vacaville History' virtual cache. Do them together for a two-fer!
Parking N38 21.443 W121 59.241
OMO1 N38 21.468 W121 59.317
OMO2 N38 21.518 W121 59.331
OMO3 N38 21.491 W121 59.228
OMO4 N38 20.842 W121 57.625
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)