GG#3 Francis Edward Williams Traditional Cache
GG#3 Francis Edward Williams
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Following in the footsteps of his father and brother before him, Francis Edward Williams was the third Game Guardian (August 1936-March 1954) on the Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary. This cache is an ammo can hidden beside the foundation of his family's home on the sanctuary.
Herbert (Bert) Ernest Williams had been the warden in charge of the original federal Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary from before the time it was established in 1920 until it was turned over to the Provincial Government's Department of Lands and Mines in 1930. During the period 1930-38, the sanctuary was without official supervision. His sons Fred, and later Francis, acted as voluntary/unpaid Game Guardians for the area during that time.
Ducks Unlimited (DU) Canada came into being in 1938 at which time DU obtained a License of Occupation (LOC #745) to manage waterfowl habitat on 4,363 ha. (10,780 acres) in the northern portion of the Ministik Lake Sanctuary. As part of the agreement, DU was to build a fire tower and hire someone to do observation. Francis Edward Williams was hired by Ducks Unlimited to manage the Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary. Spending long days in the outdoors, he always wore a wide-brimmed hat. Both he and his horse, Dixie, were on the payroll for years as humorously accounted in the 40th anniversary Ducks Unlimited history book, Ducks and Men: “On November 5, 1938, Francis was hired by Ducks Unlimited to manage the sanctuary. Salary was $70/month plus $20/month for upkeep of saddle horse since this was the only way the sanctuary could be patrolled—and ammunition for predator control, etc. The $20 was paid by separate cheque which led to much humorous comment that Ducks Unlimited was the only organization with a horse legitimately on the payroll! Even more humorous was that the horse also had an expense account! On Francis’ weekly report, the item often appeared—‘meal for man, oats for horse’” (1978, p. 57). While there had been 77 islands on the lake in early 1900s, by September 1939 only 60-70 remained as the water levels continued to drop.
In June 1945, the Ministik project was adopted by the McIntyre brothers who owned the Munroe Auto Equipment Company at Munroe, Michigan. These sportsmen funded the MAECO-Ministik donor project, with the project name referring to the first letters of their company name. Expanding to an area of 41,000 acres, Francis Williams was to band ducks in order to document migration, harvest sago pondweed, and look out for both poachers and grass fires. The area was given a constant plan of development by DU and by 1950 water impoundments had materially increased the miles of shoreline and the acres under water.
Francis married Catherine “Katie” Ripplinger on July 1, 1936. They had two daughters, Carol and Kathy. During the time that Francis was Game Guardian on Ministik Lake, his family lived in a little gray house built on this foundation. Unfortunately Francis’ health failed leaving his younger brother Keith to continue his work. Francis died of asthma complications in January 1955. After he passed away, the family was forced to move. The little gray house was moved to the north side of Hwy. 14 just west of Rge. Rd. 213 where Katie ran the Ministik store for many years while the girls attended Ministik School. Francis’ position was officially taken over by his brother, J. Keith Williams, who had been doing the work for his brother some months prior to his death.
This cache has been set in memory of Francis Edward Williams (November 10, 1912 - January 30, 1955), the third Game Guardian on Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary—my uncle and godfather; as a matter of fact, I’m named after him. Though he’s been gone now for many years, Francis’ name still comes up on occasion at holiday dinners. This year, my cousin Marie helped me set this cache on Easter Sunday. After dinner, we pored over his journals and the Ducks Unlimited 40th anniversary history book to piece together this story.
In addition to the logbook, pencil and sharpener, the original contents included:
- 3 rolls of wire
- 2 packages of caching ties
- 1 foil blanket
- $5.00 Tim Horton's gift certificate as the FTF prize
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
nzzb pna
Treasures
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