This cache was hidden as part of the Abandoned Railroads of Newaygo County Geocache Rail Tour, presented by the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center and Silent Whistles. Record the milepost value contained on and/or in each cache container on the Ticket to Newaygo County form. See the additional information below for specific tour requirements.
This day time only cache is on the former right of way of the Pere Marquette Railroad, near the first/second station site in White Cloud. The cache is hidden on land owned by Sally's Restaurant. Please respect their request for day time only caching.
Trains meeting at White Cloud. Train on left is coming from Newaygo, on right is heading to Fremont.
White Cloud was originally called Morgantown (Morgan Station by the railroad) and got its start in the 1870s with the lumber boom. It was named by its founder, a Colonel Morgan. How the name was changed to White Cloud is a question whose answer has not been accurately documented, but one of the more colorful stories was that Colonel Morgan had a daughter who was kidnapped by outlaws and rescued by an Indian band led by Chief White Cloud. Colonel Morgan then renamed the lumber town in his honor.
The first railroad to reach Morgan Station was the Muskegon and Big Rapids, in 1873. The line built a station on the south side of the tracks, on west side of what became North Avenue, between Wilcox and Adda. The second railroad to reach Morgan Station was the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore, in 1875. The two lines soon shared this depot in the photos, which was on the east side of St. Charles Street (M-20).
Railroads in White Cloud, 1900.
What became the Big Rapids Branch of the Pere Marquette Railroad was incorporated as the Muskegon & Big Rapids Railroad, with backing from the owners of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad. Construction began in 1872. Before it was completed, the M&BR was consolidated into the C&MLS. The line was completed to Freemont Center by the end of 1872 and service began to Big Rapids on July 21st, 1873. The line shared trackage north of Muskegon with another C&MLS subsidiary/branch, the Montague, Pentwater and Manistee, as far as Big Rapids Junction, now known as Berry.
In 1878, the C&MLS, was reorganized as part of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad. In late 1899, the C&WM, the Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western Railroad and the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad were purchased and merged into the Pere Marquette Railroad, which began operations January 1st, 1900, a few short years before the end of the railroad boom in Michigan. In 1926, with dwindling business, redundant coverage into Big Rapids from Ionia, and competition from the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, the PM abandoned the portion of the original Big Rapids Branch from White Cloud to Big Rapids.
In 1947, the PM was merged into its parent, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. In 1963, with revenues down and another C&O line running north-south through White Cloud, the line between Freemont and White Cloud was abandoned. Today, the remaining portion, from Berry to Freemont, is operated by Michigan Shore Railroad.
The White Cloud Depot was moved to a location near White Cloud and has been restored and is used as a private residence.
White Cloud depot 2005, courtesy of RRHX and Alan Loftis.
A big thank you to Sally's Restaurant for being our gracious hosts.
To claim a prize:
- Download and print the Ticket to Newaygo County form (PDF). See alternate below.
- Find 28 of the 35 cache hides in the table below.
- Find at least five of the seven mystery and multi caches in any combination.
- Record the milepost number from the label or log of each cache you find on a printed copy of the form. Milepost numbers are on cache labels and log book covers.
- Each individual GC account holder making the find must sign and date the paper log book in the cache with their GC account name. No group logs please.
- Optionally, upload a photo of your log entry. Be careful to not include the milepost value in the photo.
- Send the completed form via US Mail to the address on the form. Each GC account holder must send in a form.
Once your answers have been verified, the prize will be sent back to you via US Mail to the address you provide on the form.
The first 95 cachers to complete the tour will be awarded a Silent Whistles pathtag commemorating the Big Rapids Branch of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad.
One prize per completed form. One prize per GC Account.
Download the Ticket to Ride form:
Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PDF) to download a printable version the form (PDF).
Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PNG) to download an alternate, less clear graphic version of the form.
If you don't have access to a printer, printed copies can be obtained at the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center, or by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to the address on the bottom of the form.
Sources:
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Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center at: 12 Quarterline Road, Newaygo, Michigan (at the downtown light).
Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center on Thursday, September 11th, 2014 at 7:00PM for the Heritage Speaker Series topic: Logging and Railroads in Newaygo County by Dr. Carl Bajema. Reservations are required.