SWS - Rugg on the GRK&SE (PM) Traditional Geocache

The location of this cache is on the former grade of the Pere Marquette Railroad Kalkaska Branch, near the one time settlement of Rugg. The cache is hidden on land owned by the Kalkaska County.

^{1927 Base Map of Kalkaska County, Michigan, Seeking Michigan (Michigan Archives).}
Rugg, Rapid River Township, Kalkaska County, Michigan

Rugg:

Rugg, first known as Rapid River, for the township, was a station about half way between Rapid City and Kalkaska.

A post office named Rapid River was established here in 1871 and named for the township, but closed in 1874. In 1885, a second post office was opened here and given the name Mossback, with J.W. Morley as postmaster. The name mossback was that given to men during the Civil War that hid themselves to avoid conscription into the Army of the Confederacy. The notion was they would stay hidden until moss grew on their backs. One might be reminded of the draft dodgers of the 1960s and early 1970s. Later, the term was also used to describe extremely conservative politicians.

On October 3^rd, 1898, the Mossback post office was renamed Rugg in honor of pioneer Roland F. Rugg, a homesteader, Civil War Veteran and former Kalkaska County Sheriff.

In the late 1890s, the village included a general store and a sawmill on the river. A school was also constructed at some time, and appears on the 1927 map. Rugg became a stop on the Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad (later the Pere Marquette Railroad when the line was constructed between Rapid City, Kalkaska and Stratford. The post office closed December 31^st, 1906.

^{Map sketched by A.G. Hudley - 2014, using Google Earth and Google Maps Engine.}
GRK&SE Railroad Map showing other major lines in Kalkaska County

Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad:

The GRK&SE was built from Stratford, through Kalkaska to Rapid City in 1897 to haul the timber harverst from southern Kalkaska County and northern Missaukee County. It was leased and operated by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad and later by its successor, the Pere Marquette in 1899. The GRK&SE was purchased by the PM in 1903. In 1916, the line was cut back to Spencer and two years later, to Kalkaska. The remainder of the line was abandoned in 1921.

Sources:

Grand Rapids, Kalkaska and Southeastern Railroad
Pere Marquette Railroad
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
Seeking Michigan
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