Aldridge Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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We found this site a couple of months ago and thought that it would be a great place for a cache.
The Aldridge Sawmill was first constructed by Hal Aldridge in 1905. The original mill was of wooden construction, and the equipment both for the construction and for the actual mill operations was brought into the site by ox cart. In 1906, the Burr's Ferry, Browndel & Chester Railway built a spur into the mill, and a town grew up around the mill. By 1911, there were 76 buildings at Aldridge including houses, a warehouse, hotel, company store, and company offices. Later that year, the wooden mill structure burned down and a new mill was constructed using hand- poured concrete. The new mill with its updated equipment produced 125,000 board feet of lumber per day. In 1918, the mill was sold to Kirby Lumber Company who continued to run it on a limited basis until 1923 when it was finally closed. The last of the township itself was abandoned in 1927, and the site was subsequently acquired by the U.S. Forest Service in 1935.
While the town itself is gone, the abandoned shells of the four concrete mill buildings, various concrete foundations, the mill pond, and portions of the old railroad tram still remain.
Unfortunately, whats left of the buildings has been defaced with graffiti but it is still a neat place to visit. The road is unpaved but is passable by any vehicle and once parked, you will have a short .30 mile hike to the cache site. We put a difficulty rating of 3 on this one because of the unpaved road and that finding the most direct route into the area could be a challenge in itself. You will be seeking a half gallon container with screw on lid. We did notice some poison ivy around the area so be aware of that. Above all, have fun and enjoy this scenic area that is definitely away from the hustle and bustle!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N sbbg be gjb bss gur tebhaq. Qrnq naq qrpnlvat gerr fheebhaqf vg.