SWS - Newaygo on the RHLCo Traditional 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 on the former right of way of the Ryerson Hills & Co. Logging Railroad, in the city of Newaygo. The cache is hidden on land owned by the City of Newaygo.

Map of the Ryerson Hills & Co. Logging Railroad.

The Ryerson Hills & Co. Logging Railroad was a standard gauge railroad that ran from Pickerel Lake to the Muskegon River at Newaygo. At Newaygo, there was a lumber chute where lumber was sent into the Muskegon River, to be collected downstream.

Ryerson Hills & Co. Shay Locomotive and log train

Originally, the Ryerson Hills & Co. used the M&BR for lumber loading at Ryerson (Worchester Hill at the time). The M&BR raised freight rates and the RH&Co. decided they would attempt different means of lumber transport. They had built their own logging railroad with spurs in several directions. The main branch of this railroad ran to Kimball and Pickeral Lakes. RH&Co started dumping logs into these lakes and also floated them down dammed creeks from Long Lake, about two miles south of Worcester Hill. The intent was, to float the logs down Pennoyer Creek into the Muskegon River. D.P. Clay, the owner of an existing mill on Pennoyer Creek was also a stockholder in the Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad, which ran north-south and had a trestle over Pennoyer Creek at Newaygo. Clay claimed that floating logs down Pennoyer Creek would cause damage to both the mill and the trestle. As a result, in 1878, a two mile logging railroad was built from the bottom of Pickeral Lake to just below where Pennoyer Creeks dumps into the Muskegon River on the north end of Newaygo.

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:

• Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan, E.L. Hayes, 1880
• Standard Atlas of Newaygo County, Michigan, G.A. Ogle & Co., 1900
• Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon M. Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
• Lumbering in Newaygo County, Harry L. Spooner, © 1946, Cooper Press, reprinted 1976 by the Newaygo County Historical Archive

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