Spikehorn: Paul Bunyon's Workshop Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

-allenite-: As there has been no response from owner regarding my previous note, I'm archiving this cache. Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.

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Hidden : 3/1/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:



This cache is part of the Spikehorn series that acknowledges one of the most colorful characters in our state's history, John 'Spikehorn' Meyer. Best known for his Bear Den and Wildlife Park, John E. Meyer was born in Ohio on July 15, 1870 and traveled to Michigan in 1876.
He loved the Chippewa Indians of Mount Pleasant, animals, and controversy.


Spike made money because he was always reinvesting it. From 1928 to 1951 he bought and sold 71 parcels of land in Clare County, including 560 acres in 1946 that ran along side of US-27 for one mile (Section 11 of Hatton Township). This land is now occupied by the Mid-Michigan Community College. He wanted to build a new wildlife park that would be one square mile; however, the last 80 acres belonged to a family that had absolutely no interest in selling.


Spikehorn's table rock

The collection of rocks at the entrance off Old US-27 were used along with a 13-foot, 7-inch thick 'table' rock to build Paul Bunyon's Workshop one-quarter mile South on the NE corner of Mannsiding Road and Old US-27; they were moved to their current location by architect, Mr. Alden Dow. The workshop housed large logging tools from the lumberjack celebration in Edenville but never really saw much use. Folks would rather pass by and visit the old man down the road.


The Pere Marquette Railroad between Clare and Harrison was abandoned after World War II, so Spikhorn bought the remaining railroad ties one mile West where it crossed at Mannsiding Road. Some were used at his Bear Den and some to build a 100' x 115' shack that he intended to call Rock's Bear Ranch. The building had concrete footing walls reinforced with 1 1/2" pipe to help keep the walls straight and a shallow basement to be used for a storm shelter (high winds and lightning were well-respected by him) and for cold storage. The roof was made out of galvanized panels and supported by railroad irons, the remaining wooden ties, and poured concrete.


The structure was never finished and in 1955, he sold the entire parcel of land to John L. Meyer of Detroit. The 'new' John Meyer reinforced the roof, added onto the rear of the building, and opened a general store named Railroad Salvage. The raised, flat land with a lone white birch tree is all that remains at the site today.



Part of the OffBeat Michigan cache series.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

CYRNFR or pnershy jurer lbh fgrc.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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