This geocache is part of the West Bend GeoTour:
Twenty geocaches have been hidden throughout our historic city that highlight the best of West Bend in any season!
To earn a geocoin, teams must pick up a West Bend GeoTour Passport from the Chamber of Commerce (preferred method) or download a passport. Collect 25 points as detailed in the passport. Link to Updated Passport: West Bend GeoTour Passport.
Remember to record the password from this cache in your GeoTour Passport!
GeoTour Stop #3: Historic Washington House
The Washington House dates back to 1852 as a Grand Hotel built by Balthasar Goetter when travel was by foot, saddle, oxcart, or stage. It was known for its hospitality and the overnight place between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac for travelers journeying along the "Old Stage Coach Road".
On a very frigid night in January 1864, the wood hotel burned to the ground in a fire believed to be caused by a stove overheating. It was re-built and re-opened on Oct 15, 1864, as the only brick building in West Bend complete with a natural well in the basement, a fine stable, a vegetable garden, and a “wine hass”.
In 1874, influential citizens of West Bend had a gala banquet and formed the Old Settler's Club, now known as the Washington County Historical Society. Annual meetings were held here on Washington's birthday and were often the social event of the year.
For most of the 20th century the building housed a theater and over 50 hotel rooms starting at $2.00 per day known as the Mermac Hotel. This historical building held numerous speeches, meetings, and banquets all through its years including visits from President John F. Kennedy in 1964 and President Ronald Regan in 1987.
The Geocache: You are looking for a magnetic micro container. Read the hint. Getting accurate coords was impossible here. This cache is available any season, but would be trickier to find with a lot of snow. Permission was granted to hide this cache by manager Kim.