As described by the Coast and Geodetic Survey ("CGS") in 1954:
"3.35 MI E FROM HEMPSTEAD.
3.35 MILES EAST ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 290 FROM THE COURTHOUSE AT HEMPSTEAD, 51 FEET NORTH OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE HIGHWAY, 0.15 MILE EAST OF A ROADSIDE PARK, 1.7 FEET SOUTH OF A FENCE, 3 FEET EAST OF A WITNESS POST, SET IN THE TOP OF A CONCRETE POST WHICH PROJECTS 0.7 FOOT ABOVE THE GROUND."
The CGS description and associated reference points (i.e. distances/directions) are a good starting point for locating this station, however please note the following updates (as of the last recovery by a fellow geocacher back in 2007):
* US Hwy 290 has moved further up North, the referenced highway is now called "Old Hempstead Hwy", or "US Hwy BUS-290".
* The referenced roadside park is fenced off with a chain link fence... it is closed and will likely never re-open, as a "road side park" is no longer needed here (read: there are several urban areas nearby).
* The witness post is no longer there.
The station was recovered in fair (not "good") condition: the disk is slightly bent and the monument is missing a piece of concrete: it looks like some machinery may have bumped into it. Also, the witness post has been replaced by some wooden structure in an apparent attempt to avoid any further destruction.
(See posted waymark's gallery images for BM close-up and setting details... some of these pictures are now also posted on the
NGS website itself).
The most recently posted NGS Data Sheet's coordinates seemed to match perfectly with my own personal observations: it states "N 30 04 48.96 W 096 01 25.98", which was in line with my findings as measured with 10' accuracy and 10+ reading averages: "N 30° 04.816 W 096° 01.433".
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Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
visit link)
BM0146 ***********************************************************************
BM0146 DESIGNATION - B 1029
BM0146 PID - BM0146
BM0146 STATE/COUNTY- TX/WALLER
BM0146 COUNTRY - US
BM0146 USGS QUAD - HEMPSTEAD (1980)
BM0146
BM0146 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
BM0146 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0146* NAD 83(1986) POSITION- 30 04 48.96 (N) 096 01 25.98 (W) HD_HELD1
BM0146* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 76.00 (+/-2cm) 249.3 (feet) VERTCON
BM0146 ______________________________________________________________________
BM0146
BM0146_MARKER: DB = BENCH MARK DISK
BM0146_SETTING: 7 = SET IN TOP OF CONCRETE MONUMENT
BM0146_STAMPING: B 1029 1954
BM0146_MARK LOGO: CGS
BM0146_STABILITY: C = MAY HOLD, BUT OF TYPE COMMONLY SUBJECT TO
BM0146+STABILITY: SURFACE MOTION
BM0146_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
BM0146+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - October 16, 2004
BM0146
BM0146 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
BM0146 HISTORY - 1954 MONUMENTED CGS
BM0146 HISTORY - 19910726 GOOD USPSQD
BM0146 HISTORY - 19990710 MARK NOT FOUND USPSQD
BM0146 HISTORY - 20041016 GOOD USPSQD
BM0146 HISTORY - 20060402 GOOD GEOCAC