SWS - Stimson on the BR&W (GR&I) Multi-cache

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 a straight forward three stage multi, with the initial stage at the posted coordinates on Newaygo County road right of way, and the final about a mile further west on federal land, part of the Manistee National Forest.

Engine facilities at Stimson.

The settlement of Stimson was on the border of Mecosta and Newaygo Counties. Most of the town, including the Post Office, was on the Mecosta County side. Most of the Railroad facilities and lumber camp were on the Newaygo side. Stimson was established by Thomas D. Stimson around 1885. The post office was opened on August 22^nd, 1889 and operated until August 15^th, 1906.

The railroad built by T.D. Stimson was a standard gauge logging railroad was incorporated April 1^st, 1887 the Big Rapids and Western Railroad. It was built form Stimson Junction on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad north of Big Rapids approximately through Stimson (Doyle City?), and Parks on Thirteen Mile road, on to a camp known as Vincents in section 31, two and a half miles west of Parks. Vincents apparently also had service from the C&WM on the Keno branch. Vincents was short lived, as Col. N.H. Vincent was killed in an accident at the mill in January, 1892, resulting in its closure.

Apparently, the GR&I had an interest in the railroad, as some records show ownership by the GR&I by 1890. The GR&I referred to this as the Ludington Branch. At one time, there was a grand plan to extend this line to Ludington, but that never materialized. The line was shortened back to a camp called Merrits (~1/2 mile east of Parks) in 1896 and abandoned altogether in 1899, as the timber harvest drew to a close. This 1900 plat was made after the line was abandoned.

1900 plat of southern half of Barton Township, showing locations of Simson and Parks, but not the railroad.

Today, the grade is difficult to find. The company that started the line is now in the Pacific Northwest, still active in the timber business.

To claim a prize:

1. Download and print the Ticket to Newaygo County form (PDF). See alternate below.
2. Find 28 of the 35 cache hides in the table below.
3. Find at least five of the seven mystery and multi caches in any combination.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Optionally, upload a photo of your log entry. Be careful to not include the milepost value in the photo.
7. 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.
   
   
   

SWS - Fremont on the M&BR (C&O)	SWS - Newaygo on the RHLCo
SWS - Wooster on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Newaygo on the NPCCo (PM)
SWS - Ryerson Station on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Erwin on the NPCCo (PM)
SWS - Alleyton on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Marl Lake on the NPCCo PM)
SWS - White Cloud on the M&BR (C&O)	SWS - Croton Dam on the CPCo
SWS - Eastman on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Hardy Dam on the CPCo
SWS - White River Club on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - West Troy Junction on the WR (C&WM)
SWS - McLane on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - West Troy on the WR (C&WM)
SWS - Fields on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Sisson on the S&L (C&WM)
SWS - Kinney on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Lilley Junction on the S&L (C&WM)
SWS - Wilcox on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Foxville on the OFCo (C&WM)
SWS - Swains Crossing on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Keno on the OFCo (C&WM)
SWS - Cardinal Junction on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Stimson on the BR&W (GR&I)
SWS - Hayes Siding on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Vincent on the BR&W (GR&I)
SWS - Woodville on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Palmerville on the P&PMR
SWS - Lumberton on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Diamond Lake on the WMLCo
SWS - Hungerford on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Park City on the WMLCo
SWS - Turnbulls Siding on the M&BR (PM)

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:

• Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad
  
• Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
• Standard Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan, G.A. Ogle & Co., 1900
• The October Project, Newaygo County, Michigan
• Lumbering in Newaygo County, Harry L. Spooner, © 1946, Cooper Press, reprinted 1976 by the Newaygo County Historical Archive
• Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, © 1986 Wayne State University Press
• Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon M. Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
• Michigan Railroad Lines, Graydon M. Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press
• A Pictorial History of Railroads of Newaygo County Michigan Newaygo County Historical Society

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

Thank you to paint4fun for pointing out the error at stage 2. This was corrected 9/5/14.
Also, congratulations to them for becoming the first to complete the entire (all 35) tour.