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 located just north of the former settlement of Foxville, on a branch of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, originally the Osterhout, Fox & Company Railroad The cache is hidden on land owned by the DNR.
The settlement of Foxville began as a camp around the mill of Osterhout, Fox & Co. It was in section 23 of Monroe Twp, just north of Woodville. The mill was constructed by Hartt & Horning, operating for OSCo. A private logging railroad was constructed from Foxville to the M&BR at Woodville. Around 1880, the mill burned down with a loss of $10,000. It was rebuilt in 1883. The mill continued to operate for 4 more years until it ceased operations in 1887. With the mill gone, the people left and Foxville faded away.
1880 County Atlas showing Foxville on the Osterhout, Fox & Co. Branch.
The C&WM built a branch line from Woodville to Foxville in 1881 to service Osterhout, Fox and Company mill, being operated by Hartt & Horning. Keno was established in 1887 when the Horning & Hartt Lumber Company moved its sawmill operation from Foxville, in section 23 to the east half of section 11, Monroe Township. The town got its name from a dog belonging to Mr. Horning. A post office was established on June 17th, 1889 and lasted until May 21st, 1897.
The C&WM extended its lumber branch from Foxville to Keno at that time, and extended it north from Keno to Vincent's, McDuffie's and Clark & Hary mills in 1891. A branch from Keno was also built west and north to Phelps Lumber Co. mill in section 23 of Home township. This line operated until around 1897, when the last mill on the line closed.
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