GR History #8 - The Weather Ball Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

bretina: The location of this is difficult with the buildings, and the sprinkler on the planet makes it tough to keep the logs dry. Time for this one to go.

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Hidden : 1/16/2011
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This geocache is part of the Grand Rapids History Series, originally started by the Tikibirds. The series is dedicated to somewhat unusual or little known facts about our city.

#8 - The Weather Ball

The Weather Ball was a landmark "forecaster" and an icon of downtown Grand Rapids for 20 years beginning in 1967. The gigantic neon ball, weighing 64 tons, sat on a 125 foot tall steel structure at the Michigan National Bank building (77 Monroe Center).

The landmark was used by many Grand Rapidians for a quick glance to see what the weather forecast was going to be. Lit 24 hours a day, those looking up to the ball could recite a rhyme that allowed them to know how to prepare for the upcoming weather.

Weather ball red, warmer weather ahead
Weather ball blue, colder weather in view
Weather ball green, no change foreseen
Colors blinking bright, rain or snow in sight.  

Many of us growing up in Grand Rapids, would look forward to seeing the weather ball whenever we were going through downtown. And after a long road trip, it always meant we were near home!

During its existence downtown, the Weather Ball survived many storms, even a couple of tornadoes. Records show only one serious instance when one of the 12-by-20 foot identification letters blew off and fell to the street below. However, the large sign on the tower (MN) was no match to perpetual winds over 20 years as those winds created torque on the tower.

As such, in 1987, Michigan National Bank made the unfortunate decision to remove the Weather Ball, as it was damaging the building's core structure and becoming more unstable. There were some who wanted to save the Weather Ball, but in the end no one was able to stand up to its removal. The neon tubes were removed by Neon Americana (closed in 2009), and over the years, the 288 neon tubes were sold and can still be seen in restaurants, stores, and homes in the area.

The steel ended up in a scrap yard in Kalamazoo. In 1999, WZZM purchased the steel ball scrap and started the work of rebuilding the ball to be brighter with new neon tubes, and steel. In May, 2003, it lit the skies of Grand Rapids again – just a few miles north.

The Grand Rapids History series
GC16CGE GR History #1 - Old Airport
GC16CGF GR History #2 - Roger B. Chaffee
GC16H4V GR History #3 - GR Beltway
GC16H4W GR History #4 - I-296
GC14XZG GR History #5 - Interurban
GC3Y3WA GR History #6 - Ramona Park
GC25YCZ GR History #7 - Moonlight Towers
GC2KJH1 GR History #8 - The Weather Ball
GC2KJGZ GR History #9 - Herpolsheimer's

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qhr gb gur qvssvphygl ng trggvat tbbq TCFe ernqvatf jvgu gur ohvyqvatf vagresrevat, jr ner tvivat irel fcrpvsvp vafgehpgvbaf ba gur ybpngvba sbe guvf svaq. ++Fgbc ernqvat vs lbh qb abg jnag guvf vasbezngvba++ Pnpur vf n zntargvp xrlubyqre cynprq ba gur haqrefvqr bs n zrgny cynagre obk (arne gur rqtr ba fgerrg-fvqr). Arne gur Abegurnfg Pbeare bs Zbaebr Pragre & Bggnjn (arne Znqpnc pbssrr & Ybpny Zbpun). Vs lbh ner snpvat gur ohvyqvat sebz gur fgerrg, vg jbhyq or gur cynagre ba gur evtug. Gur xrl ubyqre vf ba gur fgerrg fvqr bs gur cynagre nybat gur rqtr.

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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