Skip to content

Mineral Aka Tolersville Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Cathy: Archiving at request of nearby resident. Please remove the container as soon as possible.

More
Hidden : 7/3/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

The Town of Mineral is the gateway to beautiful Lake Anna and is strategically located in central Louisa County. Mineral is the crossroads between three major cities, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville and just four miles from the Louisa County Airport/ Freeman Field.


This little area has so much history! While in the area stop and visit the Grace Adams Davis Playground or grab some Ice cream at the local ice cream shop. I love coming to the farmers market on Saturdays. Oh yea and I can't forget how they made history in 2011 with the earthquake

 The container is not big enough for a pen, but can hold some small trade items.

 

History of Mineral

Mineral was originally known as Tolersville, but adopted its current name when it incorporated in 1902 as a result of the mining industry that supported the community. It was the center of gold mining activity in Louisa County and during its heyday there were no fewer than fifteen gold mines located within two miles of the town. A zinc and lead mine also operated in the area into the 1970s. The C&O Depot still stands at the intersection of 1st street and 522 in Mineral.

A brief history of the Town of Mineral, Virginia
Compiled by Town Historian Janice Luck Abercrombie

In 1795 Abraham H. Davis, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, bought 50 acres with a tavern building from Thomas Merewether. This tavern still stands on the west side of Old Tolersville Road. In 1801 trustees for Abraham Davis sold the tavern property to Nathan Harris who ran the tavern until his death in 1829.

William F. Toler became the owner of the tavern tract at a public auction of the Nathan Harris estate. By this time the "tavern tract" contained about 331 acres. Toler had a tavern license renewed each year from 1829 to 1843. At this time the area was called Tolersville.

Toler built another tavern near the new Virginia Central Railroad - the present day site of the Mineral Volunteer Fire Department. There were several iron furnaces near the area that shipped their ore on the railroad from Tolersville. Before Toler had died, Reuben B. Davis had received a tavern license and is believed he rented the store-tavern and post office at the newer Tolersville Tavern.

Davis bought the tavern after Toler's death and purchased other acreage which eventually amounted to 477 acres. Besides the tavern and post office he had a hardware store and a tannery as well as a farm on the property.

A depot was built on property sold by Davis to the Virginia Central Railroad which was burned during the Civil War. At this time the area was called Davis' Turnout.

After his death in 1870, Davis's estate was a number of years being settled. In August of 1890 a group of Louisa County investors known as the Mineral City Mining, Manufacturing and Land Company bought the Davis' farm and tavern. They hired Walter L. Bishop to survey and divide the town into city lots and began to sell the land. This company came into financial difficulties and the property passed through various owners. Mineral City Land Company of Newport News being the last one. Mineral as it is now known was incorporated in 1902.

In 1939 a suit was brought against this company by the County of Louisa and Town of Mineral for nonpayment of taxes and the remaining 1,600 lots not already purchased in Mineral were bid in by H. H. Walton for the taxes owed.

The town received its name from the many mines in the area. Iron deposits were discovered along several branches of Contrary Creek in the early 1700s. Rough and Ready Furnace operated from 1835-1852, and Victoria Furnace operated from about 1839-1870s near Mineral. Some gold mines were in operation from 1835-1900. The three largest pyrites mines were: the Arminius Mine sometimes called the Copper Mine because of the high copper content in the ore; the Boyd M. Smith Mine and the Sulphur Mine being in operation between 1880 and 1920. There was a tram road or railroad spur leading from the mines to the depot in Mineral. None of the mine buildings survive today.

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp

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)