Michigan Spirit Quest #63-"Almost An Island" Traditional Cache
Hidden : 10/23/2011
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


“Michigan Spirit Quest”

The Michigan Spirit Quest series of geocaches will take you to a number of historic cemeteries built by MICHIGAN Pioneers. This series is inspired by and is a continuation of the Indiana Spirit Quest caches created by SixDogTeam. In just over four years, the SPIRIT QUEST has grown to over seven hundred caches and the hiders have grown to fifty cacher teams in 5 states and one province, most of which are comprised of Dogs and their Humans. Over 1,000 cachers have logged over 20,000 finds. One cache machine found 102 ISQ caches in a single day (daylight hours only).


(Photos by TeamMina)



Michigan Spirit Quest #63

"Almost An Island"

Presque Isle Twp. Cemetery, Presque Isle, MI

Prior to European settlement, the northeast Michigan area was inhabited by Native American Tribes, including the Chippewa and Ojibwa. In the 1600's, the earliest European visitors were French explorers, missionaires, and fur traders. In 1836, the land was officially ceded to the United States, and Michigan became a state in 1837. What later became the the north half of Presque Isle Township was first surveyed in 1840. This area was first part of Mackinac County, then Cheboygan County, then Alpena County, and finally in 1871, part of the newly formed Presque Isle County.

Because of the isolated location and lack of roads, water transportation was the key to development and trade. Much of the area's early settlement began along the Lake Huron shoreline. The name "Presque Isle" comes from the French term and means "almost an island". This phrase describes the Presque Isle peninsula, which juts out into Lake Huron in the northern part of hte Township. The natural Presque Isle Harbor offered boat traffic safe refuge from Lake Huron storms, and the surrounding woods supplied fuel for steamboats plying the shorelines. The development of Burnham's Landing in the southern part of the harbor established Presque Isle Harbor as a thriving port by 1954.



Lighthouses were also essential to Great Lakes navigation and early land settlement. Two lighthouses were built in Presque Isle Township; the Old Presque Isle Light was built in 1840, and later replaced by the New Presque Isle Light in 1870. The New Presque Isle Light is the tallest on Lake Huron.



Early industries in the Township were resource based, and included fishing, lumbering, and mining. Little development occurred until the late 19th Century when lumbering of white pine became an active industry. Lumbering of pine continued until about the turn of the century when the supply was exhausted. Hardwood and swamp timbering activities continued until about 1930, when these operations effectively ceased. The Township's population during the 20th Century was at its lowest level at the time of the 1930 Census with only 77 residents.

Tourism and recreation have been a part of the fabric of Presque Isle Township since the late 1800's. Numerous areas of the region can trace their development to tourism. The Grand Lake area was probably the first part of Presque Isle County to actively solicit tourist business during the late 1800's. Several resort hotels were constructed along Grand Lake. Before the advent of good roads, tourist access was via steamboat from Lake Huron. Fireside Inn and Presque Isle Lodge, both dating from the early 20th Century, are surviving examples of Grand Lake's early leadership in lake resort development.



FIND LOGS ON THIS CACHE THAT INDICATE NIGHT CACHING WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE!

The cache container is a camoed lock & lock. BYOP. The cache is not located near a grave... If you find a fallen flag, please stick it back in the ground or replace it. As always, please be respectful, and cache in, trash out.


MSQ caches are brought to you by the following fellows of GEOMSQ: SixDogTeam (Earthdog Patrick, Lead Dog, Wheel Dog), Wolverine Warriors, The Outcaches, SafariBob & Tweety, PairOMedicChick, Cyclops, Son of Cyclops, The Herd, Menstown1, Ali Kat, Geo's Loulog, MI Chickenlegs, Jagman714, TeamMina, Handyman & Fam, Gnarly Twotrack, Allenite & Aleenite's Mom. If you are interested in spreading the Quest to your neck of the woods AND WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, email Wolverine Warriors.

*Grand Exalted Order of the Michigan Spirit Quest*

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybgf bs gvzore ynlvat nebhaq urer.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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