Allegan County Heritage Trail Tour
The Allegan County Tourist Council has developed a self-guided tour so that people can discover and have adventures into the history, sights and sounds of Allegan County. This tour will allow people to see historic villages and towns as well as bountiful farmlands and orchards which were and still are the backbone of this rural county. More information on the Heritage Trail Tour can be found at www.allegancounty.org/heritagetrail/. This tour has numerous stops, but it is not necessary to do them in order, they can be completed in any order.
We plan to place caches at each historic stop along this tour. Our goal with this series is to have fun, but also to enjoy the beautiful sites of Allegan County. We also hope that we can bring some history of the area to people who are interested. Now let’s get on with our journey.
New Richmond and the Swing Bridge
As you descend into the valley created by the Kalamazoo River you will find yourself in New Richmond, a true river flats town surrounded by water. This little village was created when the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad line came through and was chosen as a station because of its easy access by river from Saugatuck. In 1868 a sawmill was built to supply logs and timbers for the railroad track base and construction of railroad bridges in the area.
New Richmond remained a key transportation point, with its passenger and freight station providing access to distant places for people and goods from all over the county, until the Interurban Train began service between Holland and Saugatuck. With the loss of the Saugatuck passengers, and other transportation options becoming available on the eastern side of the county, the New Richmond depot fell into disuse.
The swing bridge was built in 1879 and is the oldest remaining vehicular swing bridge in the United States. The round mechanism in the middle of the bridge would allow it to swing open, enabling river traffic to move on to Saugatuck.
No longer used for vehicular traffic, the bridge has been restored and you can walk over it to enjoy the view of the river.
You will be looking for a larger micro so please bring a pen or pencil to sign the log. Also, please be careful when retrieving and replacing the container. Have Fun!!
The FTF prize is an unactivated geocoin.