The Lost Civilization of Mikesville (#5) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

BakRdz: Unfortunately, one of the caches in this series needed to be archived. Because of this, I'll be archiving the other caches in the series as they require replacement or repair (such as this one).

It was great to have everyone discover this lost civilization while they could, even if sadly this particular cache and series will be lost. Thanks to everyone who participated in the spirit of the cache series. I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

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Hidden : 1/12/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is a part of a series highlighting Winnebago County’s “Lost Civilizations” and also contains one marker with the information needed to find the treasure at the end of The Quest for Lost Civilizations (GC22CJE).



Sometimes evidence of a civilization survives, but the magnitude and history has been lost. Mikesville is one of those cases. If you have ever driven along County Highway T in the Town of Clayton, you may have noticed a cluster of a few homes and the municipality sign for “Mikesville: Unincorporated” near the intersection of “T” and Oakridge Road. Someone once told me that this shouldn’t be recognized as an official community because there isn’t a bar and church. But it wasn’t always like this in this civilization.

As a matter of fact, the area wasn’t even always known as Mikesville. Prior to 1895, this area was called Thompson Corners in honor of the Thompson brothers who first settled the points of the intersection – none of which were named Michael or Mike. It was home to all sorts of business and activity. In addition to farming, a visitor could find a blacksmith, a church, a school, a cheese factory, a general store, and rumor has it, even a saloon! So how did Mikesville get it’s name? It was all about timing and a popular family name.

When the residents of Thompson Corners decided it was time for their community to have a post office of their own, they submitted their application only to find out there were already FOUR other Thompson Corners in the state! Since the residents of THIS Thompson Corners were one of the last to apply, they were told they would need to change the name for the community for the postal application. Because Michael (Mike) Schwarz, owner of the general store and soon to be the first postmaster for the community, was acting as the applicant and host for the general store, it was decided they would use the name Mikesville to thank him. After all, it was only for the post office. The residents all knew the community was Thompson Corners. The residents were granted their Mikesville post office and it opened in 1896.

But as fortune would have it, the railways never came near the area and advancements made travel to other nearby communities timelier. The businesses and other landmarks of “Thompson Corners” slowly disappeared, including the general store that was the home to their desired post office. Even the Thompsons themselves disappeared. Today, the establishments of the civilization are gone and only the name Mikesville remains – the name no one thought of as more than a temporary fix to a short-term situation.

The cache is a pill bottle hidden just down the road from the intersection that was the central part of the civilization. No need to enter private property. Be sure to write down the information found on the “artifact” inside the cache. It will have one of the symbol translations needed to complete the coordinates for the Final.

This cache placed by
a member of:
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*** CONGRATS to ToyotaRyan for being the First Discoverer of Mikesville.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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