This cache is located on the former grade of the Pennsylvania Railroad, north of the former station of Herrington. The cache is hidden on the Muskatawa Trail, please obey trail rules.
The former Herrington Grange Hall, now the Marne Post 376. Courtesy, Marne American Legion
The village of Herrington was established in 1886 when the Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad began constructing a line from Grand Rapids on the GR&I to Muskegon. The MGR&I constructed a depot and elevator just north of Arthur St. (Main St. at the time). The town was given a post office on April 13, 1888 with George W. Sovey as the first Postmaster. By 1895 the town had a population of 18, a grange hall, post office, and general store.
The Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad was incorporated January 18th, 1886, under the control of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. The GR&I formally leased the MGR&I on June 9th of that year. The first train reached Muskegon from Grand Rapids on November 4, 1886. Construction was completed by December 1st. The MGR&I branched off the GR&I at Muskegon Junction, near Fuller Street in Grand Rapids, and terminated on the shores of Muskegon Lake.
The GR&I, under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad, purchased the MGR&I outright on May 5th, 1917. The MGR&I became the Muskegon branch of the GR&I. On January 1st, 1921, the GR&I was leased in perpetuity by the PRR and the company began to lose its identity, with equipment gradually repainted for the parent PRR.
The line from Walker to Muskegon was abandoned on December 14th, 1989. The remainder of the line, from Muskegon Junction to Walker had previously been abandoned in two phases, in 1961 and 1983.
Between 1997 and 2000, the twenty-five mile portion of the line from north of Marne to Muskegon was developed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, with considerable help from the Friends of the Musketawa Trail. The resulting Muskatawa Trail is popular with geocachers, cyclers, hikers and horseback riders in the summer and cross country skiers and snowmobilers in the winter.
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