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 cache is hidden on the former grade of the Consumes Power Railroad to the Croton Dam construction site. The cache is hidden on USFS land.
Map of Consumers Power Company's private railroad to Croton, then Hardy dam sites.
Grand Rapids-Muskegon Water Power Electric Company, a predecessor to Consumers Power Company, contracted the Foote Brothers to construct the Croton Dam on the Muskegon River. At the beginning of construction in 1906, the company built a private, standard gauge railroad line from a place called Croton Switch (later Erwin) on the Pere Marquette Railroad north-east of Newaygo. All construction materials and equipment to build the dam were hauled to the dam site over this railroad line. In September of 1907, while the dam was still under construction, the Foote Brothers arranged railroad excursion trains so Grand Rapids government officials, bankers and manufacturers could tour the dam and power house.
After the dam was completed in 1908, the railroad was likely used for a time to transport workers and maintenance materials until roads to the dam were improved. Additional construction occurred at the dam in 1915 and 1930 that may have made additional use of the rail line.
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:
- Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, © 1986 Wayne State University Press
- Croton Hydroelectric Plant, HAER No. MI-81, 1994, National Park Service
- Michigan Railroad Lines, Graydon M. Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press
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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