This cache is located on the former grade of Pennsylvania Railroad, near the former site of the passenger depot at Traverse City. The cache is hidden in Clinch Park, along the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation trail (TART).
Postcard view of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Depot at Traverse City, courtesy of RRHX
The first white settlers began arriving in the Grand Traverse Bay area during the 1840’s. After arrival, they seized the potential of turning the area into a booming lumbering industry. Soon sawmills were popping up all over the area. It was also during this time that Traverse City began taking shape, with lumber men beginning to build homes, schools, churches, etc. the village was booming. With all of the lumber being cut, an efficient mode of transportation was needed, the railroad. The Traverse City Railroad was the first to lay tracks into the town. The tracks were built from Walton, on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad's Main line, to Traverse City in late 1872. The GR&I constructed a passenger depot with a nice view of the Boardman River. The railroad was a life source for the city. By 1875, the city boasted a large sawmill, flouring mill, a foundry & machine shop, planning mill, sash factory, tobacco company, five hotels, and a large array of small stores and shops. Today, Traverse City is still a booming city as a center for the area's tourism. Traverse City is the "Cherry Capitol of the World" and it holds the Cherry Festival every Summer.
Traverse City Middle Section, 1908. GR&I Depot is highlighted in red
The Traverse City Rail Road Company , under the control of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, built a 26 mile line between Walton Junction on the main line to Traverse City, in December of 1872. The new railroad brought a wave of immigration to the area. This branch offered service to Traverse City, Northport, and many towns between by 1909.
By 1873, the GR&I started a daily express train running south that left Traverse City at 8:30 a.m., and arrived in Grand Rapids at 5 p.m. and Kalamazoo at 6 p.m. At the peak of its service in 1900 it ran up to six passenger trains a day during the summer, and carried in thousands of summer visitors a year on "resort specials." Beginning in 1903, The GR&I agreed to operate the Traverse City, Leelanau and Manistique Railroad from Traverse City to Northport, connecting with a cross-lake car ferry to Manistique in the Upper Peninsula. Running rights over the Manistee & Northeastern Railroad were used between Traverse City and the village of Hatch’s to connect with the TCL&M . The ferry service out of Northport was not profitable and was terminated in 1908. The GR&I terminated its agreement to operate the TCL&M in 1914.
Traverse City Railroad Map, created by the Silent Whistles Team, with the Google Maps Engine
Sources:
Traverse City Railroad
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
Traverse City Area History
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