An
erRATic
in “Michigan’s Salad Bowl”
Background
Geologists define erratics as stones or
boulders that have been carried from their place of origin by a
glacier and then left stranded by melting ice on bedrock of a
different composition. Most glacial erratics appear worn and
rounded, and sometimes include beveled or faceted surfaces. During
the course of their journey, the rocks were jostled against other
erratics or scraped against the underlying bedrock, rounding off
corners and planing smooth surfaces, eventually producing their
characteristic appearance. Glacial transport also caused some
boulders to fracture, producing fresh angular edges. Rocks carried
by rivers also undergo abrasion and become rounded in the
process
Two major rock types are found in Michigan. The Lower Peninsula and
the eastern parts of the Upper Peninsula are underlaid by a series
of sedimentary rock layers. These rock formations consist largely
of shales, limestones, and sandstones. The various layers of
sedimentary rock are piled up on top of one another like a series
of saucers. Igneous and metamorphic rocks compose the western part
of the Upper Peninsula make up the second category of rocks.
Igneous rocks are hard, crystalline, resistant to erosion, and are
largely made up of granites and metamorphic rocks — rocks that have
been changed through heat and pressure — composed mainly of
gneisses and schists. Both major types of rocks found in Michigan
are important to humans. The igneous type contains valuable
minerals such as iron ore and copper, and the sedimentary rocks
contain petroleum, natural gas, salt, gypsum, and limestone
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Local
History
Hudsonville was named after one of the earliest settlers, Homer E,
Hudson, who was born in Cleveland, but moved to this area in 1848.
He bought land in Georgetown Township from the Jenison brothers,
which he developed into a nursery with fruit trees. This was the
beginning of the many orchards throughout the state. Other settlers
joined Hudson and a small community sprang up. They ran a farm and
one of the many sawmills in the area. Growth of the town was
steady, but never spectacular. It helped when, in 1873, Homer
deeded twenty acres to the community and recorded it as the village
of Hudsonville, however, swampland on three sides hampered
development. Previously the settlement had been called South
Georgetown. In 1872 the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad came
through, a factor in subsequent arrival Of Dutch immigrants. The
train went from Grand Rapids to Holland and on to Chicago passing
through Hudsonville. The Dutch immigrants who arrived in the 1890’s
from the low wetlands of their country turned the Tamarack Swamp,
surrounding Hudsonville on three sides, from wasteland into
productive farms. They produced onions, celery, carrots and other
truck farm crops which is why for many years Hudsonville was called
the “Celery Center.” Hudsonville is also
known as "Michigan's Salad Bowl" because of the crops grown in the
muck fields. Celery, onions, carrots, and other vegetables are
prominent throughout the many acres of wet, fertile soil that once
was an ancient river bottom.
Between 1941 and
1945, many young men from the community were killed in action
during World War II. They were first remembered at the Memorial
Park on School Street and more recently, at the Veterans Memorial
Park on Central Boulevard next to the city offices. – which is
where this erratic is located.
Logging
Requirements
To receive credit for this earthcache find:
1. You must post a picture of you, with your face and GPSr visible
with one of the monuments in the background at the time of your
log. Please do not post any
pictures of the erratic, or pictures of you near the
erratic.
2. Take a picture of the erratic – do not take this picture from
distance greater than 4 feet away. Do not post this with your log –
you will use this for requirement #4.
3. Read the nearby sign and determine the weight of the
erratic.
4. Using the following links and your photo of the erratic,
determine the category and type for one of the rock
types that this erratic is composed of.
Please send me an-email through my profile the answers to #3 and #4
when logging your find. All required information and photo
is to be provided within 24 hours of posting your "Found It" log.
Be sure to include in your e-mail the time you were there.
Each person claiming a find on this earthcache is required to
submit the required
information
*** (failure to comply will result in a
deletion of your log).
The purpose of Earthcaches is for everyone to learn
from their visit/experience. Combined photos are acceptable, but
each cacher must be identified.
Failure to complete with the requirements for this earthcache will
result in a deletion of your find.
*** = the only exception to this are young kids that
are caching with their parents (who have their own account, but not
computer privileges).
Congratulations to CacherX4 on the First To Find of this
Earthcache.