Historic Grindstone City
In the year 1834, Capt. Aaron G. Peer, with his Schooner, the Rip Van Winkle, was forced to take haven in this natural harbor, during a storm. Capt. Peer is known as the "father" of Grindstone City, and located the first land in what is now Huron County. The sloop took anchorage here in a storm, and that Capt. Peer, his crew and his father came ashore to what was then a wilderness of pine, cedar, ash, beech, and maple, the cedar being so thick that snow remained in places although it was midsummer. In their exploring they found some big flat stone along the beach and on further examination, found evidence that these strata of rock was underlying the area to a lesser or greater extent. Samples were taken to Detroit where they were found superior to the Ohio flagstone which city officials were planning to use to pave some of the streets. He later took some of this rock to Detroit, where it was used to pave a few blocks on Jefferson and Woodward Avenues. This was the first use made of grindstone rock as far as is known.
On one trip, the sailors rigged up in a crude fashion a stone slab and used it to sharpen their tools. That year (1838) Capt. Peer, getting the idea from the sailors began shaping the grindstones at the place later known as Grindstone City. The industry was carried on here for a century by Capt. Peer and several other people and companies. Capt. Peer later bought 400 acres of land, on which to produce grindstones. It was operated by Jacob Peer, Capt. Peer’s father. Later Pierce and Smith took over the quarries, and "turned stone" for ten years, until Pierce died and his share reverted to Capt. Peer. They then built the first mill run by water power. Previously the turning had been done by horsepower. In 1888, The Cleveland Stone Company purchased all the properties and quarries around Grindstone City and became sole proprietors of the industry. They were the last company to own and operate the quarries and company store.
They had a mill to make whet stones and scythe stones. The stones made here varied in size and weight from small kitchen stones weighing from 2 ½ to 10 lbs. and from 6 to 10 inches in diameter; to the huge grinding stones that weighed over two tons. The largest stone ever turned weighed over 6600 lbs. Grindstone City received its name in 1870.
Since 1929....
Due to carborundum taking the place of grindstone after the First World War, the industry was discontinued about 1929. According to some, this is just one more example of science and technology killing an industry and a town. Such is progress. All of the good machinery was shipped from here to Cleveland, Ohio, or sold at private sale. The worn out machinery was cut up by a steel cutter and shipped to Detroit where it was used for scrap iron.
At the corner of Copeland and Rouse Roads, in Grindstone City, is a huge grindstone donated to the town by the Cleveland Stone Co., in honor of the pioneers who spent their lives working at the grindstone industry here. Mr. Steve Kreinke picked and shaped the base stone on which the large stone rests. It was dedicated to The Pioneers of Grindstone City by Dr William Lyon Phelps of Yale University on Sept. 3rd, 1935. Dr. Phelps was the head of the Literature Dept. at Yale and had a summer home "The Seven Gables" at Huron City. This stone said to weigh 4750 lbs. stands as a fitting tribute to a very important industry that was once famous as the only place in the United States where this particular stone is found.
My grandfather was raised in Grindstone City and even attended the Grindstone City School until 8th grade. This cache is placed in his memory. We come here several times a year just to have a yearly picture at the huge grindstone and to walk out on the manmade peninsulas. When I was younger, there were a lot of old grindstones that were part of the peninsulas. Now there are only a few that remain to help tell the history of this neat little village. We hope that you enjoy this area as much as we do.
You are looking for a small lock and lock container. There is some room for trade and it has a start up of kid friendly swag. There is no need for bushwhacking. The higher difficulty rating is due to the muggle factor. During peak times of the year, this spot can have a lot of traffic flow. Please return cache as found.
This cache is part of the Michigan's Lost Towns cache series.
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